Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Mahaska County was named for Chief Mahaska of the Iowa tribe and is located in southeastern Iowa.

County Courthouse
Mahaska County Courthouse 106 S 1st St Oskaloosa, IA 52577 Phone: 641-673-4940 Mahaska 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:

Biographies

 * The history of Mahaska County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of the Northwest, history of Iowa, map of Mahaska County, constitution of the United States, miscellaneous matters, &c.. 1878 Des Moines, IA: Union Historical Company. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry.com ($)
 * Past and present of Mahaska County, Iowa : together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead. 1906. By Manoah Hedge. Chicago, IL: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Portrait and biographical album of Mahaska County, Iowa : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and biographies of all the Governors of Iowa, and of the Presidents of the United States. 1887. Chicago, IL: Chapman Brothers. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry.com ($)
 * Proud Mahaska : 1843-1900. 1900 By Semira A. Phillips. Oskaloosa, IA: Herald Print. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Mahaska County, Iowa Biographies Project at RootsWeb — links to biographies and local histories

Census Records
State Census
 * 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

Court Records

 * 1844-1926 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1851-1864 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1868-1887 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Land and Property Records
Online Land and Property Records


 * 1845-1932   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1861-1991   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1875-1901   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images

Local Histories

 * Roustabout's history of Mahaska County. 1916 By Roustabout. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Beforetime.net
 * Proud Mahaska, 1843-1900. By Semira A. Phillips. Oskaloosa, Iowa: Herald Print, 1900. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive.
 * History of Mahaska, County (Iowa). By Manoah Hedge. Oskaloosa, Iowa, [1905?]. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Beforetime.net.
 * History of Scott Township, Mahaska County, Iowa; War reminiscences; Did the buffalo ever inhibit Iowa? 1907. By Robert I. Garden. Oskaloosa, IA: Globe Press. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Beforetime.net
 * The Oskaloosa Times souvenir of Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa. 1896. Detroit, MI: H. Kirk Watkins Company. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * The history of Mahaska County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of the Northwest, history of Iowa, map of Mahaska County, constitution of the United States, miscellaneous matters, &c.. 1878 Des Moines, IA: Union Historical Company. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry.com ($), Beforetime.net
 * Past and present of Mahaska County, Iowa : together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead. 1906. By Manoah Hedge. Chicago, IL: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry.com ($)
 * Portrait and biographical album of Mahaska County, Iowa : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and biographies of all the Governors of Iowa, and of the Presidents of the United States. 1887. Chicago, IL: Chapman Brothers. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry.com ($), Beforetime.net
 * Iowa Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1875 Mahaska County 1875 Plat Maps at Beforetime.net
 * 1895 Monroe Township 1895 Plat Map at Beforetime.net
 * 1905 Mahaska County 1905 Plat Maps at Beforetime.net
 * 1913 Mahaska County 1913 Plat Maps at Beforetime.net
 * 1914 Mahaska County 1914 Plat Maps at Beforetime.net
 * 1920 Mahaska County 1920 Plat Maps at Beforetime.net
 * David Rumsey Map Collection is a large online collection of rare, old, antique historical atlases, globes, maps, charts plus other cartographic treasures.
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- 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

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

Civil War service men in Mahaska 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:
 * - 3rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company H
 * - 7th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company C
 * - 8th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company H
 * - 15th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company C
 * - 18th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D and K
 * - 47th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company I

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

Newspapers

 * 1950-1965 Oskaloosa Daily Herald. 1950, 1957, 1960, and 1965. Oskaloosa, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)
 * 1844-1881   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1844-1937   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1848-1900   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1851-1939   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images

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 and images, ($)

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
 * 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, ($)
 * 1838-1934 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1951 Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)

Death

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

Divorce

 * 1906-1937 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Family History Centers

 * Oskaloosa Iowa Family History Center

Libraries
Oskaloosa Public Library 301 South Market Street Oskaloosa, IA 52577 641-673-0441 Email: [mailto:opl@oskaloosalibrary.org opl@oskaloosalibrary.org] Website Wilcox Library William Penn University 201 Trueblood Avenue Oskaloosa, IA 52577 641-673-1096 Text 641-569-6745 Website

Museums
Nelson Pioneer Farm and Museum 2211 Nelson Lane P.O. Box 578 Oskaloosa, IA 52577 641-672-2989 E-mail: [mailto:curator@nelsonpioneer.org curator@nelsonpioneer.org] Website

Societies
KEO-MAH Genealogical Society 209 A Ave East Oskaloosa, IA 52577-2807 641-673-9373 E-mail: [mailto:keomahgenealogy@mahaska.org keomahgenealogy@mahaska.org] Website Mahaska County Historical Society 2211 Nelson Lane P.O. Box 578 Oskaloosa, IA 52577 641-672-2989 E-mail: [mailto:curator@nelsonpioneer.org curator@nelsonpioneer.org] Website

Websites

 * State Historical Society of Iowa — Select from research collection topics
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collection — digital images from a variety of Iowa cultural institutions
 * State Library of Iowa — electronic depository of documents intended for the general public produced by Iowa agencies
 * IAGenWeb — Data may be submitted by individuals or complete transcriptions
 * USGenWeb Archives — Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions
 * genealogytrails.com — Data may be submitted by individuals or complete transcriptions
 * – 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.