Iowa, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains the membership records of the Grand Army of the Republic a Civil War veteran's organization of Union veterans living in Iowa after the war. The records are arranged by county and then by posts within each county. They include veteran's name, residence, occupation, date and place of birth, date and place of death, cemetery where buried, war record, dates of enlistment and discharge, names of parents, spouse, children (if given), and sources of information.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Membership
 * Member's name
 * Residence
 * Birthplace
 * Enlistment date
 * Discharge date
 * Rank
 * Organization served in
 * Remarks

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before using this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the individual
 * The place where the person lived

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select the County
 * 2) Select the Post Name to view the images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the information found in the record to locate the death record
 * Use the age or estimated birth date to find vital records such as birth, baptism, and marriage
 * Use the information found in the record to find land, probate and immigration records
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in censuses
 * Search for additional military records, such as service and pension records

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Iowa.
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * Beginning United States Civil War Research
 * Locating a Union Civil War Soldier (1861-1865)
 * Iowa Guided Research
 * Iowa Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research
 * Beginning Research in United States Military Records

Related Digital Books

 * G.A.R. State Encampment 1906
 * Roster of Torrence Post 2
 * Ex-Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Living in Iowa 1866

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.