Montgomery County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Montgomery County was named for Richard Montgomery and is located in southwestern Iowa.

County Courthouse
Montgomery County Courthouse 105 E. Coolbaugh Street / PO Box 469 Red Oak, IA 51566 Phone: 712-623-4986 Montgomery 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 history of Montgomery and Adams counties, Iowa. 1892 Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Biography Center at Montgomery County IAGenWeb
 * Montgomery 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

Directories

 * 1896- (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Land and Property Records
Online Land and Property Records


 * 1854-1927   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1854-1927   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1853-1869   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1864-1967   at FamilySearch Catalog - images

Local Histories

 * A history of the County of Montgomery from the earliest days to 1906. 1906. By W. W. Merritt. Red Oak, IA: Express Publishing. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust
 * Biographical history of Montgomery and Adams counties, Iowa. 1892 Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Standard atlas of Montgomery County, Iowa. 1907 Chicago, IL: Geo. A. Ogle & Company, Publishers and Engravers. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Directory of Montgomery County, Iowa - 1905-06, 6th ed. 1905, Red Oak, IA: The Red Oak Express Publishing. 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, Montgomery County at Ancestry ($) - index.
 * 1875-2007 Montgomery County 1875-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
 * 1886-1921 Fire Insurance Maps for Montgomery County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1886 and 1921.
 * IAGenWeb - Montgomery County.
 * Iowa Digital Library, Montgomery County at Iowa University Libraries.
 * Montgomery County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Montgomery 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

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1869-1929 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index, images

Obituaries

 * IAGenWeb Obits

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)
 * 1838-1964   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1898-1926   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
Red Oak Public Library 400 N. 2nd Street Red Oak, IA 51566 712-623-6516 E-mail: [mailto:webmaster@redoak.lib.ia.us webmaster@redoak.lib.ia.us] Website Villisca Public Library 204 S. 3rd Avenue Villisca, IA 50864 712-826-2452 E-mail: [mailto:staff@villisca.lib.ia.us staff@villisca.lib.ia.us] Website

Museums
Montgomery County History Center 2700 N. 4th Street Red Oak, IA 51566 712-623-2289 E-mail: [mailto:mchsociet@qwestoffice.net mchsociet@qwestoffice.net] Website Burlington Northern Depot & WWII Memorial Museum 305 South 2nd Street Red Oak, IA 51566 712-621-9099 Website Swedish Heritage and Cultural Center 410 Hilltop Avenue Stanton, IA 51573 712-829-2840 E-mail: [mailto:shcc@myfmtc.com shcc@myfmtc.com] Website

Societies
Montgomery County Iowa Historical Society and History Center 2700 N 4th Street Red Oak, IA 51566 712-623-2289 Website

Websites
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 * Montgomery County at IAGenWeb Project
 * Montgomery County at USGenWeb Archives
 * State Historical Society of Iowa — Select from research collection topics
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collection — digital images from a variety of Iowa cultural institutions
 * State Library of Iowa — electronic depository of documents intended for the general public produced by Iowa agencies
 * Montgomery County at Cyndi's List.
 * Montgomery County at Genealogy Trails.
 * – 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.