Lucas County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for Robert Lucas. The County has Chariton as its seat and the County was created 1846. The County is located in the south central area of the state.

Parent County
1846--Lucas County was created 13 January 1846 from unorganized territory. It was attached to Monroe County prior to organization 4 July 1849. County seat: Chariton

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Iowa County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Iowa County Boundary Maps" (1816-1872) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Lucas County was five townships wide from east to west when it was created, but in 1847 it shrank to four townships across. The western border shifted six miles east to its present position, while the other borders were unchanged (and so they are today)

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Places/Localities
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog

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:

Neighboring Counties
Appanoose • Clarke •  Decatur •  Marion •  Monroe •  Warren •  Wayne

Census
State Census
 * 1895 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1905 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1915 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1925 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Local Histories
The History of Lucas County, Iowa: containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc (1881) is available free online from Google Books.

Maps

 * Old Antique Atlases &amp; Maps of Iowa
 * Township Map of 1875 Lucas County, Iowa with enlarged views of each township (My Genealogy Hound)

Military

 * 1835-1998 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1949 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1862-1910 - at FamilySearch — index

Civil War

 * - 6th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company B
 * - 13th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company C
 * - 18th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company C
 * - 46th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company K
 * - 1st Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company H

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1859-1990 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1758 - 1997 Iowa Wills and Probate Records 1758-1997 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Taxation

 * 1934-1958 - at FamilySearch — index

Births

 * 1850-1939 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1921-1942 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Marriages

 * 1518-1996 - Iowa, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1838-1934 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Deaths

 * 1850-1990 - at FamilySearch - index
 * 1880-1992 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1904-1951 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Societies and Libraries
Lucas County Genealogical Society c/o Chariton Public Library 803 Braden Avenue Chariton, IA 50049-1742 Telephone:641-774-5514 E-mail: [mailto:lucasgene@hotmail.com lucasgene@hotmail.com] Website

Lucas County Historical Society 123 N. 17th St P.O. Box 807 Chariton, IA 50049 Telephone:641-774-4464 E-mail: [mailto:lchs@iowatelecom.net lchs@iowatelecom.net] Website