Hardin County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Hardin County was named for John Jay Hardin and is located in central Iowa.

County Courthouse
Hardin County Courhouse 1215 Edgington Ave Eldora, IA 50627 Phone: 641-939-8226 Hardin 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:

Bible Records

 * Hardin County Iowa Bibles at USGenWeb Iowa Archives

Biographies

 * History of Hardin County, Iowa, Together With Sketches of Its Towns, Villages and Townships. Springfield, IL: Union Publishing Company, 1883. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust.
 * Past and Present of Hardin County, Iowa. By William J. Moir. Indianapolis, IN: B.F., 1911. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust.
 * Pioneer Days in Iowa Falls and the History of Iowa Falls, Hardin County. By I.N. Nichols. Fort Dodge, IA: Messenger Printing Company, 1944. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.


 * Hardin 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
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * 1845-1987 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images; selected counties, incomplete; includes, death, church, and cemetery records
 * FamilySearch Places
 * Coonville
 * Union

Court Records

 * 1853-1861 (*); County Court (Hardin County) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Funeral Homes

 * Abels Funeral And Cremation Service in Eldora
 * Boeke Funeral Homes in Hubbard and Radcliffe
 * Counsell Woodley Funeral Home in Iowa Falls
 * Linn's Funeral Home in Ackley and Iowa Falls
 * Surls Funeral Homes and Sietsema Funeral Home in Ackley, Alden and Iowa Falls

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1849-1864   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1853-1904   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1855-1954   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1890-1903   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images

Local Histories

 * History of Hardin County, Iowa, Together With Sketches of Its Towns, Villages and Townships. Springfield, IL: Union Publishing Company, 1883. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust.
 * Past and Present of Hardin County, Iowa. By William J. Moir. Indianapolis, IN: B.F., 1911. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust.
 * Pioneer Days in Iowa Falls and the History of Iowa Falls, Hardin County. By I.N. Nichols. Fort Dodge, IA: Messenger Printing Company, 1944. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1860-1918 U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918, Hardin County at Ancestry ($) - index.
 * 1875-2006 Hardin County 1875-2006 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
 * 1883-1940 Fire Insurance Maps for Hardin County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1883 and 1940.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * Hardin County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
 * IAGenWeb - Hardin County.
 * Iowa Digital Library, Hardin County at Iowa University Libraries.
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Hardin 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 Hardin 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:
 * - 1st Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company G
 * - 6th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company C
 * - 11th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company B
 * - 12th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1859-1914 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — 1, index, images
 * 1872-1906 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Newspapers

 * 1949-1959 Hardin County Index. 1949-50, 1953, and 1959. Eldora, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1950 The Eldora Herald Ledger. Eldora, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1953, 1959 Eldora Herald Ledger (Eldora, Iowa) Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1955 Iowa Falls Citizen Hardin County Times. Iowa Falls, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1854-1927 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1854-1930 (*); 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

 * 1845-1987 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images; selected counties, incomplete; includes, death, church, and cemetery records
 * 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

 * Ames Iowa FamilySearch Center
 * Marshalltown Iowa FamilySearch Center
 * Ames Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Eldora Public Library 1202 10th Street Eldora, IA 50627 Phone: 641-939-2173 Email: [mailto:jgrothoff@eldora.lib.ia.us jgrothoff@eldora.lib.ia.us] Website Robert W. Barlow Memorial Library 921 Washington Avenue Iowa Falls, IA 50126 Phone: 641-648-2872 Email: [mailto:erina@iowafalls.lib.ia. erina@iowafalls.lib.ia.us] Website Hardin County Historical Library 1236 Edgington Avenue Eldora, IA 50627 Phone: 641-939-5137 Email: [mailto:dlbabcock@heartofiowa.net dlbabcock@heartofiowa.net] Website

Societies
Hardin County Historical Society 1603 Washington Street Eldora, IA 50627 Phone: 641-939-5137 Email: [mailto:dlbabcock@heartofiowa.net dlbabcock@heartofiowa.net] Website Steamboat Rock Historical Society 409 West Market Street Steamboat Rock, IA 50672 Email: [mailto:milarks@yahoo.com milarks@yahoo.com] Facebook

Websites

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