Dubuque County, Iowa Genealogy

Guide to Dubuque County, Iowa ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Description
Dubuque County was named for Julien Dubuque and is located in east-central Iowa.

County Courthouse
Dubuque County Courthouse 720 Central Avenue Dubuque, IA 52001 Phone: (563) 589-1300 Dubuque County Website

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Bible Records

 * Dubuque County Bible Records at USGenWeb Iowa Archives

Biographies

 * The History of Dubuque County, Iowa: Being a General Survey of Dubuque County History. 2 volumes (includes biographical sketches). By Franklin T. Oldt and P.J. Quigley, Eds. Chicago, IL: Goodspeed Historical Association, 1837. Online at: Vol. I - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vol. II - FamilySearch Digital Library (note: this volume differs from other online versions; brief biographical sketches begin on page 759), Internet Archive; Vols. I & II - HathiTrust.
 * The History of Dubuque County, Iowa: Containing ... Biographical Sketches of Citizens...Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men. Chicago, IL: Western Historical Co., 1880. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust, Internet Archive.
 * Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties, Iowa: Containing Biographical Sketches. Chicago, IL: Chapman Publishing Company, 1894. Online at:  FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust, Ancestry ($).
 * Dubuque County, Iowa Biographies Project at RootsWeb — links to biographies and local histories
 * Dubuque County IAGenWeb Bios

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

 * Iowa, State Employees at MyHeritage — index & images ($)

Census Records
State Census
 * 1836 The first census of the original counties of Dubuque and Demoine (Iowa) taken in July, 1836 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1885 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1895 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1905 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images (individual cards, not family context)
 * 1915 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1925 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Church Records

 * FamilySearch Places

Lutheran


 * Dubuque County IAGenWeb Church Records
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Court Records

 * 1836-1851 (*); County Commissioner at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1837-1838 (*); County Judge at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1837-1847 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1869-1895 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1905-1949 (*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1907-1940 (*); County Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Directories

 * 1749-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1876 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1909 Seventh Edition of the Dubuque and Dubuque County Directory, 1909 - containing an alphabetically arranged list of business firms. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * Dubuque County IAGenWeb Directories

Funeral Homes

 * Behr's Funeral Home in Dubuque
 * Egelhof, Siegert and Casper Funeral Home and Crematory in Dubuque
 * Hoffmann-Schneider and Kitchen Funeral and Cremation Service in Dubuque
 * Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville and Holy Cross
 * Leonard Funeral Home and Crematory in Dubuque
 * Reiff Funeral Homes and Cremation Services Inc. in Cascade, Dyersville, Epworth, Farley and Peosta

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1819-1903   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1834-1857   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1840-1858   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1849-1949   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1852-1981   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1864-1875   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1899-1900   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Local Histories

 * Antique Dubuque, 1673-1833. By M.M. Hoffman. Dubuque, IA: Telegraph-Herald Express, 1930. Online at: Ancestry ($).
 * Brief Early History of Iowa and Dubuque County. Dubuque County Early Settlers' Association. Dubuque, IA: Times-Journal, 1910. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Dubuque County History, Iowa. 1942. Online at: Ancestry ($);.
 * The History of Dubuque County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County. Chicago, IL: Western Historical Co., 1880. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust, Internet Archive.
 * The History of Dubuque County, Iowa: Being a General Survey of Dubuque County History. 2 volumes. By Franklin T. Oldt and P.J. Quigley, Eds. Chicago, IL: Goodspeed Historical Association, 1837. Online at: Vol. I - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vol. II - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vols. I & II - HathiTrust;.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1860-1918 U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918, Dubuque County at Ancestry ($) - index.
 * 1875-2007 Dubuque County 1875-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
 * 1884-1950 Fire Insurance Maps for Dubuque County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1884 and 1950.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * Dubuque County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
 * Dubuque County IAGenWeb Maps.
 * Iowa Digital Library, Dubuque County at Iowa University Libraries.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Dubuque County at State Library of Iowa.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places.

Military Records
Multiple Wars
 * 1835-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index only
 * 1862-1910 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Dubuque County IAGenWeb Military

Civil War
 * 1861-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Civil War service men in Dubuque County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed here:
 * - 1st Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company G
 * - 1st Regiment, Iowa Infantry (3 months, 1861), Companies H and I
 * - 3rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A
 * - 4th Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company B
 * - 6th Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Companies B and M
 * - 9th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company C
 * - 16th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Companies G and H
 * - 20th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Companies C, E, F and I
 * - 44th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company A
 * - 46th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company A
 * - Engineer Regiment of the West, Missouri Volunteers (Union), Company F

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1836-1933  at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1840-1947  at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers

 * 1859-1868 Weekly Times. 1859-1862, 1868. Dubuque, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1853, 1859 Dyersville Commerrial. 1853, 1859 Dyersville, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1836, 1837 Du Buque Visitor. 1836, 1837. Du Buque, WI, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)

Obituaries
Dubuque County IAGenWeb Obits

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1835-1938 (*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1852-1880 (*); Clerk of the Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog -images
 * 1869-1886 (*); Clerk of the Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1871-1881 (*); Clerk of the Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1874-1891 (*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1874-1897 (*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1881-1897 (*); Clerk of the Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images

School Records

 * Dubuque County IAGenWeb Schools

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records
 * 1934-1958 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Birth

 * 1850-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1909-1921 Dubuque County IAGenWeb Births 1909-1921; index
 * 1921-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Marriage

 * 1518-1996 Iowa, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1809-1992 Iowa, Marriages, 1809-1992 at MyHeritage — index ($)
 * 1836-1926 Iowa, Marriages, 1836 - 1926 at MyHeritage — index ($)
 * 1838-1934 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1951 Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1941-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Death

 * 1850-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and some images; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
 * 1880-1992 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1897-1908 Dubuque County IAGenWeb Death Records 1897-1908; index
 * 1900-1939 Iowa Death Index, 1900-1939 at MyHeritage — index ($)
 * 1904-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1920-1967 Iowa, U.S., Death Records, 1920-1967 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Divorce

 * 1905-1939 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

FamilySearch Centers

 * Dubuque Iowa FamilySearch Center
 * African American Museum Of Iowa - an affiliate library
 * Genealogical Society of Linn County Iowa dba Cedar Rapids Area Genealogy Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Carnegie-Stout Public Library 360 W 11th Street Dubuque, IA 52001 Phone: 563-589-4225 Email: [mailto:cspl@dubuque.lib.ia.us cspl@dubuque.lib.ia.us] Website Facebook Dubuque County Library District Branches 5290 Grand Meadow Drive Asbury, IA 52002 Phone: 563-582-0008 Email: [mailto:library@dubcolib.org library@dubcolib.org] Website Facebook

Museums
 National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium 350 E 3rd Street Port of Dubuque, IA 52001 Phone: 563-557-9545; 800-226-3369 Email: [mailto:info@rivermuseum.com info@rivermuseum.com] Website Facebook The Mathias Ham Historic Site 2241 Lincoln Avenue Dubuque, IA 52001 Phone: 563-557-9545 Website Facebook

Societies
Dubuque County Historical Society 350 East 3rd Street Port of Dubuque, IA 52001 563-557-9545 Email: [mailto:info@rivermuseum.com info@rivermuseum.com] Website

Websites

 * Dubuque County at Cyndi's List - a comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online
 * Dubuque County at Genealogy Trails - volunteer transcriptions of genealogical and historical data
 * Dubuque County at Iowa USGenWeb - free online resources for genealogical research
 * Dubuque County at Iowa USGenWeb Archives - free online data for genealogical research
 * State Historical Society of Iowa — select from research collection topics
 * State Library of Iowa — electronic depository of documents intended for the general public produced by Iowa agencies
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collection — digital images from a variety of Iowa cultural institutions
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.