Howard County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Howard County was named for Tilghman Ashurst Howard and is located in northeastern Iowa.

County Courthouse
Howard County Courthouse 137 N Elm Street Cresco, IA 52136 Phone: 563-547-9203 Howard County Iowa

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

 * Alexander, W. E. History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa.  Western Publishing Company. Decorah, IA, 1883.  Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Fairbairn, Robert Herd. History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1919. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 1, FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 2.
 * Howard 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

 * FamilySearch Places

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

Court Records

 * 1860-1866 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Land and Property Records
Online Land and Property Records


 * 1855-1987   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1856-1986   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1863-1929   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1911-1921   at FamilySearch Catalog - images

Local Histories

 * History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa. 1883. By W. E. Alexander. Western Publishing Company, Decorah, IA.  Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet archive
 * History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa. 1919. By Robert Herd Fairbairn. Chicago, IL.:  S. J. Clarke Publishing Company.  Online at:  FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 1, FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 2.
 * Iowa Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1860-1918 U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918, Howard County at Ancestry ($) - index.
 * 1875-2007 Howard County 1875-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
 * 1894-1920 Fire Insurance Maps for Howard County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1894 and 1920.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * Howard County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
 * IAGenWeb - Howard County.
 * Iowa Digital Library, Howard County at Iowa University Libraries.
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Howard County at State Library of Iowa.
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- 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 Howard 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:
 * - 9th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company I
 * - 12th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company G

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1877-1951 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Newspapers

 * 1897-1905 The Lime Springs Sun. 1897 and 1902-05. Lime Springs, IA, USA. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1916-1932 The Sun Herald. 1916-32. Lime Springs, IA, USA. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1932-1962 Lime Springs Herald. 1932-35, 1939-42, 1946-62. Lime Springs, IA, USA. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1966 The Times Plain Dealer. 1966. Cresco, IA, USA. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)
 * 1873-1956   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & image

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

 * 1809-1992 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 ($)

Family History Centers

 * Austin Minnesota Family History Center
 * Mason City Iowa Family History Center


 * Rochester Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Cresco Public Library 320 North Elm Cresco, IA 52136 563-547-2540 E-mail: [mailto:webmaster@cresco.lib.ia.us webmaster@cresco.lib.ia.us] Website

Museums
Howard County Historical Preservation & Education Center P.O. Box 83 Cresco, IA 52136 563-547-3875 E-mail: [mailto:barb.prochaska@gmail.com barb.prochaska@gmail.comfair.com] Website

Societies
Howard-Winneshiek Genealogical Society P.O. Box 362 Cresco, IA 52136 563-547-2540 E-mail: [mailto:webmaster@cresco.lib.ia.us webmaster@cresco.lib.ia.us] Website

Websites

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