Wayne County, Iowa Genealogy

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



Description
Wayne County was named for Anthony Wayne and is located in south-central Iowa.

County Courthouse
Wayne County Courthouse 100 N Lafayette Street / P.O. Box 435 Corydon, IA 50060 Phone: 641-872-2264 Wayne 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

 * Biographical and historical record of Wayne and Appanoose Counties, Iowa containing portraits of all the presidents of the Un at Ancestry.com ($)
 * Wayne 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
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * FamilySearch Places
 * Bethlehem

Local Histories

 * Biographical and historical record of Wayne and Appanoose Counties, Iowa containing portraits of all the presidents of the Un at Ancestry.com ($)


 * Biographical and historical record of Wayne and Appanoose counties, Iowa: containing a condensed history of the state of Iowa, portraits and biographies of the governors, personal histories of many of the leading families. 1886, Chicago, IL: Inter-State Publishing. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust.


 * History of Wayne County, Iowa.1957, By Warren H. Burton. [S.l.: s.n.]. Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library Vol. 1, FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 2.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * David Rumsey Map Collection is a large online collection of rare, old, antique historical atlases, globes, maps, charts plus other cartographic treasures.
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Migration
Early migration routes to and from Wayne 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
 * Wayne County. Auditor. Civil War veterans, 1861-1930

Civil War service men in Wayne 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:
 * - 4th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company I
 * - 23rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D
 * - 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

Newspapers

 * 1900-1904, 1906-1921 The Humeston New Era at Ancestry.com ($) — Humeston, IA, USA
 * 1885-1891, 1893-1900 The New Era at Ancestry.com ($) — Humeston, IA, USA
 * 1903-1904 Humeston Advocate at Ancestry.com ($) — Humeston, IA, USA

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index and 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 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, ($)
 * 1838-1934 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1951 Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)

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

 * 1907-2012 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Family History Centers
To locate the closest family history center or affiliate library, use the link listed above.

Libraries
Lecompte Memorial Library 110 S. Franklin Street Corydon, IA 50060 641-872-1621 Website Humeston Public Library 302 Broad Street Humeston, IA 50123 641-877-481 Website

Museums
Prairie Trails Museum of Wayne County and Historical and Genealogical Library 515 East Jefferson Street Corydon, Iowa 50060 641-872-2211 E-mail:[mailto:ptmuseum@grm.net ptmuseum@grm.net] Website

Societies
Wayne County Genealogical Society c/o LeCompte Memorial Library 110 South Franklin Street Corydon, Iowa 50060-1330 641-872-1621 E-mail:[mailto:wgenealogy@yahoo.com wgenealogy@yahoo.com] Website Wayne County Historical Society 515 E Jefferson Street Corydon, Iowa 50060 641-872-2211 E-mail:[mailto:ptmuseum@grm.net ptmuseum@grm.net] Website

Websites

 * Wayne County, Iowa Genealogy and Family History Linkpendium
 * GenealogyTrails Wayne County
 * Wayne County IAGenWeb
 * Wayne County USGenWeb Archives
 * State Historical Society of Iowa — Select from research collection topics
 * State Library of Iowa
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collection
 * Webster County at Cyndi's List.


 * – 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.