Dallas County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for George M. Dallis. The County has Adel as its seat and the County was created 1846. The County is located in the centre area of the state.

Dallas County, Iowa Record Dates
 Dallas County Iowa Courthouse 801 Court Street Rm 203 P. O. Box 38 Adel, IA 50003 (515) 993-5804 Website

History
Dallas County was named for George Mifflin Dallas, 11th Vice President of the United States of America, under President James K. Polk. The Early History of Dallas County article gives helpful informaton on the County's beginnings. Other statistical information can be found at Wikipedia.

Parent County
13 January 1846: Dallas County was created from unorganized territory. It was attached to Polk and Mahaska Counties prior to organization 1 March 1847.

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Iowa County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Iowa County Boundary Maps" (1816-1872) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

15 January 1851: Greene County was set off.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Places/Localities
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog



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:

Neighboring Counties
Adair • Boone •  Greene •  Guthrie •  Madison •  Polk •  Warren

Cemeteries

 * Dexter Cemetery, Dexter BillionGraves
 * Iowa Veterans Cemetery, Van Meter BillionGraves

Census
Iowa recorded not only the federal census but state census through out the years too. The state census contains very valuable genealogical information. Where the census information can be found, what years it was taken, mortality schedules, census substitutions and much more is discussed in the very informative Iowa Census article. State Census
 * 1895 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1905 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1915 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1925 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Church History and Records

 * Methodist


 * Methodist Episcopal


 * Presbyterian


 * Cumberland Presbyterian


 * United Brethren in Christ

Court Records

 * 1) Court Records
 * 2) Divorce Records
 * 3) Guardianship

Genealogy
Also see: Biography, History

Local Histories

 * Hastie, Eugene N. Hastie's history of Dallas County, Iowa. Des Moines, Iowa : Wallace- Homstead Co., 1938.
 * Online at FamilySearch (Free)
 * The History of Dallas County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities; biographical directory, 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 Dallas County, constitution of the United States, constitution of the. Des Moines, Iowa : Union Historical Co., 1879.
 * Online at FamilySearch (Free); and at Hathitrust (Free)
 * Cook, Darius B. History of Quaker Divide : struggles and accomplishments of settlers ; the story of their achievements forms interesting reminiscences in the history of early days, meetings, schools, farm and home life. Dexter, Iowa : Dexter Sentinel, 1914.
 * Online at FamilySeach (Free)
 * Wood, Robert F. Past and present of Dallas County, Iowa : together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead. Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1907.
 * Online at FamilySearch (Free)

Maps

 * Old Antique Atlases &amp; Maps of Iowa
 * David Rumsey Map Collection is a large online collection of rare, old, antique historical atlases, globes, maps, charts plus other cartographic treasures. This Collection features the cities of Altoona and Adel.

Military History and Records

 * 1835-1998 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1949 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1862-1910 - at FamilySearch — index

Civil War

 * - 23rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A
 * - 46th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company C
 * - 23rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A :- 46th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company C

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1859-1990 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * Altoona Public Library Archives, Polk County (1876-2000)
 * Johnston Historical Society Archive, Polk County (1970-2007)
 * NewspaperArchive.com ($) has historical newspapers online including Des Moines newspapers. This database is free at some libraries.
 * The Perry Daily Chief. 1895, 1896, 1898, 1902-1910, 1920, 1921, 1924, 1964 Perry, IA, USA. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)
 * The Perry Chief. 1874-1877, 1879, 1883, 1887-1889 Perry, IA, USA. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)
 * The Chief Reporter. 1898-1900, 1908-1910 Perry, IA, USA. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)
 * The Perry Advertiser. 1886, 1898, 1899, 1915 Perry, IA, USA. Online at: Online at: Ancestry.com ($)
 * The Perry Bulletin. 1895, 1896 Perry, IA, USA. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)
 * Perry Pilot. 1883-1885Perry, IA, USA. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)
 * The Bulletin. 1893, 1894, 1914 Perry, IA, USA. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)
 * Chief Advertiser. 1914, 1915, 1937-1941, 1957 Perry, IA, USA. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)
 * The Reporter. 1892, 1893 Perry, IA, USA. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1758 - 1997 Iowa Wills and Probate Records 1758-1997 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Taxation

 * 1934-1958 - at FamilySearch — index

Births

 * 1850-1939 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1921-1942 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Marriages

 * 1518-1996 - Iowa, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1838-1934 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Deaths

 * 1850-1990 - at FamilySearch - index
 * 1880-1992 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1904-1951 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Societies and Libraries
Dallas County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 264 Dallas Center, IA 50063-0246