Jefferson County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Jefferson County was named for Thomas Jefferson and is located in southeastern Iowa.

County Courthouse
Jefferson County Courthouse 51 W Briggs Ave Fairfield, IA 52556 Phone: 	641-472-3454 Jefferson County Iowa

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

 * Jefferson County Bible Records at IAGenWeb Project
 * Jefferson County Bible Records at USGenWeb Iowa Archives
 * Jefferson County, Iowa, Bible records as shared by residents of Jefferson County in 1983 at OpenLibrary.org

Biographies

 * History of Jefferson County, Iowa: a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement. By Charles J. Fulton. Chicago, IL: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1912. 2 volumes. Online at: Vol. II - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust; Ancestry ($). Vol. II contains biographies.
 * The History of Jefferson County, Iowa, Containing a History of the County, its Cities, Towns, &c., a Biographical Directory of Citizens. Chicago, IL: Western Historical Co., 1879. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust.
 * Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa: Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County. 1890. Chicago, IL: Lake City Publishing Company. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust, Ancestry ($).

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

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

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

 * 1840-1861 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Directories

 * 1886 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Funeral Homes

 * Behner Funeral Home and Crematory in Fairfield
 * Cranston Family Funeral Home in Fairfield

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1839-1932   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1909   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Local Histories

 * History of Jefferson County, Iowa: a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement. By Charles J. Fulton. Chicago, IL: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1912. 2 volumes. Online at: Vol. I - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust. Vol. I contains history.
 * The History of Jefferson County, Iowa, Containing a History of the County, its Cities, Towns, &c., a Biographical Directory of Citizens. Chicago, IL: Western Historical Co., 1879. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust.
 * Jefferson County, Iowa Centennial History, 1776-1876. By Charles H. Fletcher. Fairfield, IA: The Ledger Office, 1876. Online at: Internet Archive, HathiTrust.


 * Iowa Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1860-1918 U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918, Jefferson County at Ancestry ($) - index.
 * 1871-2007 Jefferson County 1871-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
 * 1883-1915 Fire Insurance Maps for Jefferson County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1883 and 1915.
 * General Highway and Transportation Map, Jefferson County, Iowa at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * IAGenWeb - Jefferson County.
 * Iowa Digital Library, Jefferson County at Iowa University Libraries.
 * Jefferson County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Jefferson 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

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

Civil War service men in Jefferson 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:
 * - 2nd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company E
 * - 3rd Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company F and H
 * - 17th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D and I
 * - 19th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company B and D
 * - 30th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company G and H
 * - 45th 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
 * 1871-1905 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * (*); Manuscript at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Newspapers

 * 1939 The Fairfield Daily Ledger. 1939. Fairfield, 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 & images ($)
 * 1839-1892 Baird, Verda J. Jefferson County, Iowa, Guardianship Index, 1839 thru 1892. Des Moines at Iowa Genealogical Society, 1983.
 * 1841-1887 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1845-1899 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1849-1887 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1851-1974 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

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
 * 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($)
 * 1880-1992 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1900-1939 Iowa Death Index, 1900-1939 at MyHeritage — index ($)
 * 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

 * 1839-1939 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1900-1991 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

FamilySearch Centers

 * Burlington Iowa FamilySearch Center
 * Fairfield Iowa FamilySearch Center
 * Oskaloosa Iowa FamilySearch Center
 * Ottumwa Iowa FamilySearch Center
 * Burlington Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Fairfield Public Library 104 West Adams Fairfield, IA 52556-3433 Phone: 641-472-6551, ext. 2 Website

Museums
Carnegie Museum 114 S Court Street Fairfield, IA 52556 Phone: 641-472-6343 Website

Societies
Jefferson County Genealogical Society 104 West Adams Fairfield, IA 52556 Phone: 641-472-6551 Email: [mailto:IowaGenealogy.JeffersonCounty@gmail.com IowaGenealogy.JeffersonCounty@gmail.com] Website

Websites

 * Jefferson County at Cyndi's List - a comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online
 * Jefferson County at Genealogy Trails - volunteer transcriptions of genealogical and historical data
 * Jefferson County at Iowa USGenWeb - free online resources for genealogical research
 * Jefferson 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.