Franklin County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Franklin County was named for Benjamin Franklin and is located in north-central Iowa.

County Courthouse
Franklin County Courthouse 12 1st Avenue NW, #203 Hampton, IA 50441 Phone: 641-456-5626 Franklin 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

 * Biography Index of History of Franklin & Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. By S. Ferrall. Springfield, IL: Union Publishing Co., 1883. Online at: IA Gen Web.
 * History of Franklin County, Iowa, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement. 2 volumes. By I.L. Stuart. Chicago, IL: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1914. Online at: Vol. I - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vol. II - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Hathitrust, Ancestry ($). Vol. I contains history, Vol. II contains biographies.


 * Franklin County, Iowa Biographies Project at RootsWeb — links to biographies and local histories

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

Court Records

 * 1850-1987 (*); Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1855-1874 (*); County Judge at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Funeral Homes

 * Counsell Woodley Funeral Home in Hampton, Latimer and Sheffield
 * Linn's Funeral Home in Ackley
 * Sietsema-Atkinson Funeral Home in Hampton
 * Surls Funeral Home and Sietsema Funeral Home in Ackley

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1854-1936   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1855-1922   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1856-1931   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1866-1929   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

 * History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo Counties, Iowa. Springfield, IL: Union Publishing Co., 1883. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive.
 * History of Franklin County, Iowa, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement. 2 volumes. By I.L. Stuart. Chicago, IL: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1914. Online at: Vol. I - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vol. II - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Hathitrust, Ancestry ($). Vol. I contains history, Vol. II contains biographies.
 * Franklin County History, Iowa. Franklin County, IA: WPA & Franklin County Schools, 1941. Online at: Ancestry ($).


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

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1860-1918 U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918, Franklin County at Ancestry ($) - index.
 * 1875-2007 Franklin County 1875-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
 * 1882 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * 1883-1944 Fire Insurance Maps for Franklin County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1883 and 1944.
 * 1953 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * Franklin County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
 * IAGenWeb - Franklin County.
 * Iowa Digital Library, Franklin County at Iowa University Libraries.
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Franklin 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 Civil War service men in Franklin 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:
 * 1861-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * - 2nd Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company F

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1855-1918 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — 1 index, images
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers

 * 1951-1966 Hampton Chronicle. 1951-1963, 1966 Hampton, 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 ($)
 * 1855-1899 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1856-1952 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1897-1931 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - 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 & 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 ($)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Cedar Falls/Waterloo Iowa FamilySearch Center
 * Fort Dodge Iowa FamilySearch Center
 * Mason City 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
Alexander Public Library 409 Harriman Street Alexander, IA 50420 Phone: 641-692-3238 Website Facebook Hampton Public Library 4 Federal S Hampton, IA 50441 Phone: 641-456-4451 Email: [mailto:kim@hampton.lib.ia.us kim@hampton.lib.ia.us] Website Facebook

Museums
Franklin County Historical Museum Hwy 8 West (Fair Grounds) PO Box 114 Hampton, IA 50441-0114 Phone: 641-456-5777 Email: [mailto:info@historyinfranklincounty.org info@historyinfranklincounty.org] Facebook Ackley Heritage Center 120 State Street Ackley, IA 50601 Phone: 641-847-8070 Email:[mailto:ackleyheritagecenter@gmail.com ackleyheritagecenter@gmail.com] Facebook

Societies
Franklin County Genealogical Society 4 Federal Street P.O. Box 114 Hampton, IA 50441-0114 Phone: 641-456-5777 Facebook

Websites

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