Greene County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Greene County was named for Nathanael Greene and is located in central Iowa.

County Courthouse
Greene County Courthouse 114 N. Chestnut Street Jefferson, IA 50129 Phone: 515-386-5680 Greene 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 Greene and Carroll Counties, Iowa : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state, engravings of prominent citizens in Greene and Carroll counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the two counties and their cities and villages. Lewis Pub. Co., Chicago, Il., 1887. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Miner, Ed. Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa. S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, IL., 1905. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Greene County, Iowa Biographies Project at RootsWeb — links to biographies and local histories

Cemeteries

 * Greene County at IowaWPAGraves.org

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 and images, ($)

Court Records

 * 1889-1932 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Land and Property Records
Online Land and Property Records


 * 1848-1905   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1854-1938   at FamilySearch Catalog - images and indexes.
 * 1855-1877   at FamilySearch Catalog - images

Local Histories

 * Biographical and historical record of Greene and Carroll Counties, Iowa : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the Sate... . Lewis Pub. Co., Chicago, IL., 1887. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive
 * Stillman, E. B. Past and present of Greene County, Iowa together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead. S.J. Clarke Publishing, Chicago, IL., 1907. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry.com ($)
 * History of Rippey, Greene County, Iowa : a century of progress, 1849-1956 Self Published, 1956. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Iowa Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1860-1918 U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918, Greene County at Ancestry ($) - index.
 * 1875-2007 Greene County 1875-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
 * 1883-1932 Fire Insurance Maps for Greene County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1883 and 1932.
 * Atlas of Greene County, Iowa at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Greene County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
 * IAGenWeb - Greene County.
 * Iowa Digital Library, Greene County at Iowa University Libraries.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Greene 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 Civil War service men in Greene 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
 * - 10th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company H

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1879-1945 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — 1 index, images

Newspapers

 * 1952-1955 The Jefferson Herald. 1952 and 1954-55. Jefferson, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1952-1964 The Jefferson Bee. 1952, 1955, 1957-59, 1961, and 1964. Jefferson, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)
 * 1854-1931   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1855-1932   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 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, ($)

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

Libraries
Greene Public Library 231 W Traer Street PO Box 280 Greene, IA 50636-0280 641-816-4803 E-mail: [mailto:gpl@myomnitel.com gpl@myomnitel.com] Website Facebook Rippey Public Library 224 Main Street PO Box 184 Rippey, IA 50235-0184 515-436-7714 E-mail: [mailto:rippeyli@windstream.net rippeyli@windstream.net] Website Scranton Public Library/Marchant Memorial Library 1110 Main Street PO Box 68 Scranton, IA 51462-0068 712-652-3453 E-mail: [mailto:admin@scranton.lib.ia.us admin@scranton.lib.ia.us] Website Facebook

Museums
Greene County Historical Society Museum 219 E Lincoln Way Jefferson, IA 50129 515-386-8544 E-mail: [mailto:gchsmuseum@windstream.net gchsmuseum@windstream.net] Website

Societies
Greene County Genealogical Society, IAGenWeb Project PO Box 133 Jefferson, IA 50129-0133 E-mail: [mailto:gcgsiowa@hotmail.com gcgsiowa@hotmail.com] Website Greene County Historical Society 219 E Lincolnway Street PO Box 435 Jefferson, IA 50129-0435 Facebook

Websites

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