Clinton County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Clinton County was named for DeWitt Clinton and is located in eastern Iowa.

County Courthouse
Clinton County Courthouse 612 North 2nd Street Clinton, IA 52732 Phone: 563-243-6210 Clinton 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

 * Clinton County Iowa Bibles at USGenWeb Iowa Archives - transcriptions

Biographies

 * The Biographical Record of Clinton County, Iowa. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust, Ancestry ($).
 * Portrait and Biographical Album of Clinton County, Iowa.  Chicago, IL: Chapman Brothers, 1886.  Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Clinton 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

 * 1849-1931 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1860-1905 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1861-1870 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1869-1886 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Directories

 * 1869 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1876 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1883-1884 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Funeral Homes

 * Delaney-Vulich Funeral Home in Clinton
 * Lemke Funeral Service in Clinton
 * Nelson-Heesch Funeral Home in DeWitt
 * Pape Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Clinton
 * Schmitz Funeral Home in Clinton
 * Schultz Funeral Homes in DeWitt and Grand Mound
 * Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes and Crematory in Camanche and Clinton

Land and Property Records
Online Land and Property Records


 * 1840-1885   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1840-1886   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1864-1920   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1865-1933   at FamilySearch Catalog - images

Local Histories

 * The Centennial 1776 to 1876 Gazetteer and Directory of Clinton County, Iowa.  By F. E. Owen. Lyons, IA: J. C. Hopkins Printer, 1876. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive.
 * History of Clinton County, Iowa. By Estelle LePrevost Youle. N.p. : n.p., 1946. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library;.
 * The History of Clinton County, Iowa : Containing a History of the County. Chicago, Illinois : Western Historical, 1879. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust;.
 * Wolfe's History of Clinton County, Iowa. 2 volumes. By Patrick B Wolfe. Indianapolis, IN: B.F. Bowen and Company, 1911. Online at: Vol. I - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vols. I & II - Hathitrust; Vol. II - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive;.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1860-1918 U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918, Clinton County at Ancestry ($) - index.
 * 1874-2007 Clinton County 1875-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
 * 1868-1936 Fire Insurance Maps for Clinton County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1868 and 1936.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * Clinton County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
 * IAGenWeb - Clinton County.
 * Iowa Digital Library, Clinton County at Iowa University Libraries.
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Clinton 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 Clinton 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 B
 * - 2nd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company I
 * - 8th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A
 * - 15th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A
 * - 16th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A
 * - 24th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A
 * - 26th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, all companies, A-K
 * - 44th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company F

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1855-1955 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — 3 indexes, images
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1861-1870 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1870-1886 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Newspapers

 * 1896-1897 The Clinton Mirror, Clinton, 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, ($)
 * 1840-1885 (*); County Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1841-1930 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1851-1925 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1860-1905 (*); County Clerk of Courts at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1861-1870 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1865-1933 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1869-1938 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1907-1934 (*); County Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1909-1923 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images

School Records

 * IAGenWeb Clinton County Schools

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 ($)
 * 1838-1934 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1951 Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)
 * 1941-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & 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 ($)
 * 1904-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1920-1967 Iowa, U.S., Death Records, 1920-1967 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)

Family History Centers

 * Blair Nebraska Family History Center
 * Logan Iowa Family History Center
 * Clinton Public Library Lyons Branch - an affiliate library
 * Danish Immigrant Museum - an affiliate library

Libraries
Clinton Public Library 306 8th Avenue South Clinton, IA 52732 Phone: 563-242-8441 Email: [mailto:info@clintonpubliclibrary.us info@clintonpubliclibrary.us] Website Facebook Lyons Branch, Clinton Public Library - Local History & Genealogy Center 105 Main Avenue Clinton, IA 52732 Phone: 563-242-5355 Email: [mailto:lyons@clintonpubliclibrary.us lyons@clintonpubliclibrary.us] Website Facebook

Museums
Clinton County Historical Society Museum 601 South 1st Street P.O. Box 2435 Clinton, IA 52732-2435 Phone: 563-242-1201 Email: [mailto:clintoncomuseum@gmail.com clintoncomuseum@gmail.com] Website Facebook Central Community Historical Society Museum 628 6th Avenue DeWitt, IA 52742 Phone: 563-659-3686 Email: [mailto:centralcommhissoc@hotmail.com centralcommhissoc@hotmail.com] Website Facebook

Societies
Central Community Historical Society 628 6th Avenue DeWitt, IA 52742 Phone: 563-659-3686 Email: [mailto:ahsoenk@gmail.com ahsoenk@gmail.com] Website Clinton County Historical Society Dept IAGW P.O. Box 2435 Clinton, IA 52732-2435 Phone: 563-242-1201 Email: [mailto:clintoncomuseum@gmail.com clintoncomuseum@gmail.com] Website Facebook ''Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope if sending a request by mail. A small donation to cover copy and mailing expenses is suggested.''

Websites

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