Keokuk County, Iowa Genealogy

Guide to Keokuk 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 the eponymous chief of the Sac Indians. The County has Sigourney as its seat and the County was created February 17, 1843. The County is located in the east central area of the state.

Parent County
1837--Keokuk County was created 21 December 1837 from Dubuque County. It was attached to Johnson, Washington, and Cedar Counties prior to organization 1 March 1844. County seat:  Sigourney

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.

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
Iowa • Jefferson •  Mahaska •  Poweshiek •  Wapello •  Washington

Biography

 * The History of Keokuk County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &amp;c., a biographical directory of it at Ancestry.com ($)

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 Keokuk County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &amp;c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war records of its volunteers in the late rebellion, history of the Northwest, history of Iowa, map of Keokuk County...constituition of the state of Iowa...&amp;c.. Des Moines, Iowa : Union Historical Co., 1880.
 * Online at FamilySearch (Free)
 * Miller, Cap E. Keokuk County : the home of the Keokuks. Sigourney, Iowa : [s.n.], 1904.
 * Online at FamilySearch (Free)
 * The History of Keokuk County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &amp;c., a biographical directory of it at Ancestry.com ($)

Maps

 * Old Antique Atlases &amp; Maps of Iowa

Military

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

Civil War

 * - 1st Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company I
 * - 3rd Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company C
 * - 5th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company F
 * - 7th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company I
 * - 8th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company F
 * - 13th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D
 * - 18th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D
 * - 47th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), 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 Libaries
Keo-Mah Genealogical Society 209 A Ave East Oskaloosa, IA 52577-2807 Telephone:641-673-9373 E-mail: [mailto:keomahgenealogy@mahaska.org keomahgenealogy@mahaska.org] Website

Keokuk County Historical Society &amp; Museum PO Box 123 East &amp; Elm Streets Sigourney IA 52591 Telephone:641-622-3005 Website