Dubuque County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Dubuque County was named for Julien Dubuque and is located in northeastern Iowa.

County Courthouse
Dubuque County Courthouse 720 Central Avenue Dubuque, IA 52001 Phone: 319-589-4418 Dubuque 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

 * Oldt, Franklin T. & Quigley, P.J. The History of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of the northwest, history of Iowa, map of Dubuque County, constitution of the United States, miscellaneous matters, &c. Goodspeed Historical Association, Chicago, IL., 1837. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 1, FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 2.
 * Goodspeed, Weston Arthur & Goodspeed, Kenneth Cornell. History of Dubuque County, Iowa; being a general survey of Dubuque County history, including a history of the city of Dubuque and special account of districts throughout the county, from the earliest settlement to the present time. Goodspeed Historical Association, Chicago, IL, 1889. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Portrait and biographical record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties, Iowa containing biographical sketches of prominent and Representative citizens of the counties.... Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, IL., 1894. Online at:  FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry.com ($)
 * Dubuque County, Iowa Biographies Project at RootsWeb — links to biographies and local histories

Census Records
State Census
 * 1836 The first census of the original counties of Dubuque and Demoine (Iowa) taken in July, 1836 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)
 * 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

Lutheran
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)

Court Records

 * 1836-1851 (*); County Commissioner at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1837-1838 (*); County Judge at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1837-1847 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1869-1895 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1905-1949 (*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1907-1940 (*); County Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Directories

 * 1909 Seventh edition of the Dubuque and Dubuque County directory, 1909 - containing an alphabetically arranged list of business firms. Online at Ancestry ($)

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records


 * 1819-1903   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1834-1857   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1840-1858   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1849-1949   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1852-1981   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1864-1875   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1899-1900   at FamilySearch Catalog - images

Local Histories

 * Dubuque County Early Settlers' Association. Brief early history of Iowa and Dubuque County. Dubuque, Iowa Times-Journal, 1910. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Dubuque County Early Settlers' Association. [Dubuque County Early Settlers' Association]. Dubuque, Iowa Iowa Farmer, 1906. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet archive.
 * The History of Dubuque County, Iowa containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, biographical sketches of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of the northwest, history of Iowa, map of Dubuque County, constitution of the United States, miscellaneous matters,. Western Historical, Chicago, IL., 1880. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Oldt, Franklin T. & Quigley, P.J. The History of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of the northwest, history of Iowa, map of Dubuque County, constitution of the United States, miscellaneous matters, &c.. Goodspeed Historical Association, Chicago, IL., 1837. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 1, FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 2, Internet archive.
 *  Portrait and biographical record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties, Iowa containing biographical sketches of prominent and Representative citizens of the counties.... Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, IL., 1894. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry.com ($)
 * Goodspeed, Weston Arthur & Goodspeed, Kenneth Cornell. History of Dubuque County, Iowa; being a general survey of Dubuque County history, including a history of the city of Dubuque and special account of districts throughout the county, from the earliest settlement to the present time. Goodspeed Historical Association, Chicago, IL, 1889. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Iowa Writters Program of the Work Project Administration in the State of Iowa. Dubuque Dounty History, Iowa. 1942. Online at: Ancestry.com ($).
 * Perkins, William Rufus. History of the Trappist abbey of New Melleray in Dubuque County, Iowa. State University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 1892. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry.com ($)
 * Hoffmann, M. M. Antique Dubuque, 1673-1833.  Telegraph-Herald Press, Dubuque, IA., 1930. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * David Rumsey Map Collection is a large online collection of rare, old, antique historical atlases, globes, maps, charts plus other cartographic treasures.
 * 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

Civil War service men in Dubuque 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 G
 * - 1st Regiment, Iowa Infantry (3 months, 1861), Companies H and I
 * - 3rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A
 * - 4th Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company B
 * - 6th Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Companies B and M
 * - 9th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company C
 * - 16th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Companies G and H
 * - 20th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Companies C, E, F and I
 * - 44th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company A
 * - 46th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company A
 * - Engineer Regiment of the West, Missouri Volunteers (Union), Company F

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1836-1933  at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1840-1947  at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers

 * 1859-1868 Weekly Times. 1859-1862, 1868. Dubuque, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1853, 1859 Dyersville Commerrial. 1853, 1859 Dyersville, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1836, 1837 Du Buque Visitor. 1836, 1837. Du Buque, WI, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)
 * 1835-1938   at FamilySearch Catalog - index and images
 * 1852-1880   at FamilySearch Catalog - index and images
 * 1871-1881   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1881-1897   at FamilySearch Catalog - index and 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 ($)

Divorce

 * 1905-1939 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Family History Centers

 * Dubuque Iowa Family History Center

Libraries
Carnegie-Stout Public Library 360 W 11th Street Dubuque, IA 52001 563-589-4225 E-mail: [mailto:cspl@dubuque.lib.ia.us cspl@dubuque.lib.ia.us] Website Dubuque County Library District Branches 5290 Grand Meadow Drive Asbury, IA 52002 563-582-0008 E-mail: [mailto:library@dubcolib.org library@dubcolib.org] Website

Museums
 National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium 350 East 3rd Street Port of Dubuque, IA 52001 563-557-9545 Email: [mailto:info@rivermuseum.com info@rivermuseum.com] Website The Mathias Ham Historic Site 2241 Lincoln Avenue Dubuque, IA 52001 563-557-9545 Website

Societies
Dubuque County Historical Society 350 East 3rd Street Port of Dubuque, IA 52001 563-557-9545 Email: [mailto:info@rivermuseum.com info@rivermuseum.com] Website

Websites

 * Dubuque County at IAGenWeb Project
 * DubuqueCounty 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
 * Dubuque County at Cyndi's List.
 * Dubuque 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.