Van Buren County, Iowa Genealogy

Guide to Van Buren 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 Martin Van Buren. The County has Keosauqua as its seat and the County was created December 7, 1836. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

History


The county is named after President Martin Van Buren (1782-1862) who served as United States Vice President at the time of the county's formation.

Parent County
1836--Van Buren County was created 7 December 1836 from Des Moines County. County seat:  Keosauqua

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.

Biography

 * Portrait and biographical album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa : containing full page portraits and biographical ske at Ancestry.com ($)

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

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
Davis • Henry •  Lee •  Jefferson •  Wapello •  Clark County, Missouri •  Scotland County, Missouri

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

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Ward(s) and Branch(s) Records


 * Keosauqua
 * Van Buren

Lutheran

 * Records of the Zion Lutheran Church, Douds, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Local Histories

 * Portrait and biographical album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa : containing full page portraits and biographical ske at Ancestry.com ($)


 * Van Buren county By American Legion. Van Buren County Post (Iowa). Farmington, Ia. : T. L. Keith, 1940. Online at:.


 * Van Buren County inventory of historical places. By Van Buren County Bicentennial Committee. [Keosauqua, Iowa?] : Van Buren County Bicentennial Committee, 1977. Online at:.


 * Welcome---to the "Land of the Horseshoe Bend" of the Des Moines River at Keosauqua and Van Buren County, Iowa. By Keosauqua Commerical Club. [Keosauqua, Iowa] : Keosauqua Commercial Club, [195-?]. Online at: ;.

Maps

 * Old Antique Atlases &amp; Maps of Iowa

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

 * - 2nd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company F
 * - 3rd Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company B
 * - 3rd Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company D
 * - 3rd Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company G
 * - 3rd Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company H
 * - 5th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company H
 * - 14th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D
 * - 15th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company K
 * - 17th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D
 * - 19th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company H
 * - 19th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company I
 * - 30th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D

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

Marriages

 * 1518-1996 - Iowa, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1838-1934 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Death

 * 1850-1990 - at FamilySearch
 * 1880-1992 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1904-1951 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Societies and Libraries
Van Buren County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 160 Keosauqua, IA 52565 Website

Van Buren County Historical Society PO Box 236 Keosauqua, IA 52565 Telephone:319-293-9150 Website

Websites

 * Van Buren County, IA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Iowa Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Iowa Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Van Buren County, Iowa Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Van Buren County IAGenWeb Project
 * Van Buren County IA Gravestone Photo Project
 * WPA Graves Registration Survey for Van Buren County Iowa
 * Tips for Genealogy Research Visits to Van Buren County Iowa
 * Tips for Genealogy Research Visits to Van Buren County Iowa