Clarke County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Clarke County was named for Gov. James Clarke and is located in southwestern Iowa.

County Courthouse
Clarke County Courthouse 100 S Main St Osceola, IA 50213 Phone: 641-342-6096 Clarke County Website

Populated Places
'''Town/city records in the FamilySearch

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

 * Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke, Iowa. 1886. Chicago, IL: Lewis Pub. Co. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; Internet Archive
 * Clarke 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
Church Records and Indexes Lutheran
 * FamilySearch Places
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry ($)

Court Records

 * 1854-1920 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1869-1890 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1873-1889 (*); Courts at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * 1881-1903 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1882-1889 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Funeral Homes

 * Grandview Park Funeral Home in Des Moines
 * Iles Dunn’s Funeral Home in Des Moines,
 * Iles Grandview Park Funeral Home in Des Moines,
 * Iles Westover Funeral Home in Des Moines,
 * Kale Funeral Home in Osceola
 * Pence Reese Funeral Home & Cremation Serices in Newton

Land and Property Records
Online Land and Property Records


 * 1838-1927   at FamilySearch Catalog - images and indexes
 * 1853-1931   at FamilySearch Catalog - images and indexes
 * 1867-1930   at FamilySearch Catalog - images and indexes
 * 1873-1965   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1879-1912   at FamilySearch Catalog - images and indexes
 * 1883-1889   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1935-1951   at FamilySearch Catalog - images and indexes

Local Histories

 * Bicentennial picture book, Clarke County, Iowa. 1776 to 1976. n.p.: Clarke County Historical Society. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke, Iowa. 1886. Chicago, IL: Lewis Pub. Co. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; Internet Archive

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1860-1918 U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918, Clarke County at Ancestry ($) - index.
 * 1875-2007 Clarke County 1875-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
 * 1886-1913 Fire Insurance Maps for Clarke County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1886 and 1913.
 * Clarke County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * IAGenWeb - Clarke County.
 * Iowa Digital Library, Clarke County at Iowa University Libraries.
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Clarke County at State Library of Iowa.
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places.

Migration
Early migration routes to and from Clarke County for European settlers included:
 * Mormon Trail 1846 from Nauvoo, Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah

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 Clarke 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:
 * - 6th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company F
 * - 15th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company I
 * - 18th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company B
 * - 46th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company H

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1870-1925 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1930-1936 (*); District Court (Southern District) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1853-1926   at FamilySearch Catalog - images and indexes
 * 1853-1932   at FamilySearch Catalog - images and indexes
 * 1853-1946   at FamilySearch Catalog - images and indexes

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

 * 1906-1953 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Family History Centers

 * Osceola Iowa Family History Center

Libraries
Osceola Public Library 300 S Fillmore Osceola, IA 50213 641-342-2237 Email: [mailto:osceolapubliclibrary@gmail.com osceolapubliclibrary@gmail.com] Website Facebook

Museums
Clarke County Historical Society Museum 1030 S Main Street Osceola, IA 50213 641-342-4838 Facebook

Societies
Clarke County Genealogical Society c/o Osceola Public Library 300 S Fillmore Osceola, IA 50213 Website Facebook Clarke County Historical Society 1030 S Main Street Osceola, IA 50213 641-342-3550 or 641-342-2773 or 641-342-2573 Website Facebook

Websites

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