Keokuk County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Keokuk County was named for Sauk Indian Chief Keokuk and is located in southeastern Iowa.

County Courthouse
Keokuk County Courthouse 101 S Main St Sigourney, IA 52591 Phone: 641-224-1500 Keokuk County Courthouse

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

 * A Genealogical and Biographical History of Keokuk County, Iowa. Chicago, IL: Lewis Publishing Co., 1903. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust.
 * The History of Keokuk County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, its Cities, Towns, &c., a Biographical Directory of its Citizens. Des Moines, IA: Union Historical Company, 1880. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($).


 * Keokuk 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

Court Records

 * 1844-1864 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1851-1854 (*); County Judge at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1851-1854 (*); County Judge at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Directories

 *  The History of Keokuk County, Iowa at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)

Funeral Homes

 * Holm Funeral Home in Sigourney
 * Powell Funeral Homess in Keota, North English, Sigourney and South English

Land and Property Records
Online Land and Property Records


 * 1844-1913   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1847-1857   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1855-1902   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1866-1924   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1867-1885   at FamilySearch Catalog - images

Local Histories

 * The History of Keokuk County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, its Cities, Towns, &c., a Biographical Directory of its Citizens. Des Moines, IA: Union Historical Company, 1880. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($).
 * Keokuk County the Home of the Keokuks. By Cap E. Miller. Sigourney, IA, 1904.  Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Keokuk history, 1820-1906. The Constitution Democrat, 1906. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Keokuk, a Progressive City. 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, Keokuk County at Ancestry ($) - index.
 * 1874-2007 Keokuk County 1874-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
 * 1886-1940 Fire Insurance Maps for Keokuk County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1886 and 1940.
 * 1895 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * IAGenWeb - Keokuk County.
 * Iowa Digital Library, Keokuk County at Iowa University Libraries.
 * Keokuk County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Keokuk 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
 * 1899-1925 Keokuk County Recorder. Militia register, 1899-1925 at FamilySearch Catalog

Civil War
 * 1861-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Civil War service men in Keokuk 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 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
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1851-1930 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — 2 indexes, images
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)
 * 1844-1968 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - index & 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 & 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, ($)

Divorce

 * 1907-1972 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Family History Centers

 * Fairfield Iowa Family History Center
 * Oskaloosa Iowa Family History Center
 * Ottumwa Iowa Family History Center
 * Iowa Genealogical Society Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Richland Public Library 100 E Main Street PO Box 160 Richland, IA 52585 Phone: 319-456-6541 Email: [mailto:richlib@natel.net richlib@natel.net] Website

Societies
Keo-Mah Genealogical Society 209 A Ave East Oskaloosa, IA 52577-2807 Phone: 641-673-9373 Email: [mailto:keomahgenealogy@mahaska.org keomahgenealogy@mahaska.org] Website Keokuk County Historical Society P.O. Box 123 Sigourney, IA 52591 Phone: 641-622-3005 Website

Websites

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