Cass County, Iowa Genealogy

Guide to Cass 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 Lewis Cass. The County has Atlantic as its seat and the County was created 1851. The County is located in the southwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Cass County Courthouse 7th St. Courthouse Atlantic, IA 50022

(712) 243-2105

Cass County

Parent County
1851--Cass County was created 15 January 1851 from Pottawattamie County and organized 7 March 1853. County seat: Atlantic

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
1932 Courthouse was destroyed by fire in March, but there is no reported record loss.

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
Adair • Adams •  Audubon •  Guthrie •  Montgomery •  Pottawattamie •  Shelby

Census
Iowa recorded not only the federal census but state census through out the years too. The state census contains very valuable genealogical information. Where the census information can be found, what years it was taken, mortality schedules, census substitutions and much more is discussed in the very informative Iowa Census article.

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

 * Compendium of history and biography of Cass County, Iowa : pioneer history and formation of present county system, patriotic war record, detailed township history, with sketches of towns, biographies of old settlers, and others who have made Cass County what it is. Chicago, Illinois : Henry Taylor, 1906.
 * Online at FamilySearch (Free)
 * History of Cass County, Iowa : together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, portraits of prominent persons and biographies of old settlers and representative citizens; history of Iowa. Springfield, Illinois : Continental Historical Co., 1884.
 * Online at FamilySearch (Free)
 * Beard, J. C. Cass County in the World War, 1917-1918-1919. Atlantic, Iowa : J.C. Beard, 1919.
 * Online at FamilySearch (Free)
 * Chase, Charles F. Exposition souvenir album. Atlantic, Iowa : Democrat Pub. Co., 1904.
 * Online at FamilySearch (Free)

Maps

 * Old Antique Atlases &amp; Maps of Iowa
 * David Rumsey Map Collection is a large online collection of rare, old, antique historical atlases, globes, maps, charts plus other cartographic treasures. This collection features the city of Cass County.

Migration
Early migration routes to and from for European settlers included:


 * Mormon Trail 1846 from Nauvoo, Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah

Military

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

Civil War

 * - 23rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company I
 * - 23rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company I

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1859-1990 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers
NewspaperArchive.com ($) has a large collection of digitized Iowa newspapers online. This database is sometimes free at libraries.

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

Marriage

 * 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 Libraries
Cass County Genealogical Society 507 Poplar St Atlantic, Iowa 50022-1241 Telephone:712-243-5466 E-mail: [mailto:casscgs@gmail.com casscgs@gmail.com] Website

Family History Centers



 * Atlantic Iowa Family History Center 56999 650th St., Atlantic, IA 50022

United States Location Map