Johnson County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Johnson County was named for Richard Mentor Johnson and is located in southeastern Iowa.

County Courthouse
Johnson County Courthouse 417 South Clinton Street Iowa City, IA 52240 Phone:  319-356-6060 Johnson 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

 * History of Johnson County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, and its Townships, Cities and Villages from 1836 to 1882, Together with Biographical Sketches. Online at: — images, Internet Archive, HathiTrust.
 * Leading Events in Johnson County, Iowa History. By Clarence Ray Aurner. Cedar Rapids, IA: Western Historical Press, 1912-1913. Online at: Vol. I - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust; Vol. II -  FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust.
 * Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson, Poweshiek and Iowa Counties, Iowa. Chicago, IL: Chapman Bros., 1893. Online at: — images, Internet Archive, HathiTrust.


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

Court Records

 * 1839-1943 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images

Directories

 * 1878-1879 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1900 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * Iowa City, Iowa Semi-Centennial Directory, 1840-90 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1932 Smith's Directory of Iowa City and Johnson County, for 1932 at FamilySearch Digital Library. Also at: Internet Archive.

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

 * The Iowa, Little Histories of North American Indians, No. 2. 1911. William Harvey Miner. Cedar Rapids, IA: The Torch Press. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library

Funeral Homes

 * Brosh Chapel in Solon
 * Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation in Iowa City
 * Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Branch
 * Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service in Coralville and Iowa City
 * Snyder and Hollenburgh Funeral and Cremation Homes in Lone Tree
 * Sorden-Lewis Funeral Home in Lone Tree

Land and Property Records
Online Land and Property Records


 * 1839-1906   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1840-1853   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1840-1859   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1840-1891   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1842-1846   at FamilySearch Catalog -images
 * 1849-1870   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1872-1877   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * Constitution and Records of the Claim Association of Johnson County, Iowa. 1894. Benjamin F. Shambaugh. Iowa City, IA: The State Historical Society. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust.

Local Histories

 * History of Johnson County, Iowa. Online at: — images, Internet Archive, HathiTrust.
 * Johnson County History, Iowa. By Jessie M. Parker. Iowa City, IA: Johnson County Superintendent of Schools, The Work Project Administration, 1941. Online at: Ancestry.com ($).
 * Leading Events in Johnson County, Iowa History. By Clarence Ray Aurner. Cedar Rapids, IA: Western Historical Press, 1912-1913. Online at: Vol. I - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust; Vol. II -  FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust.
 * Sketch of Johnson County, Iowa With a Review of Its Early History and Subsequent Development. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive.


 * Iowa Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1860-1918 U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918, Johnson County at Ancestry ($) - index.
 * 1870-2007 Johnson County 1870-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
 * 1883-1937 Fire Insurance Maps for Johnson County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1883 and 1937.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * IAGenWeb - Johnson County.
 * Iowa Digital Library, Johnson County at Iowa University Libraries.
 * Johnson County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Johnson 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

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

Civil War service men in Johnson 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 F
 * - 1st Regiment, Iowa Infantry (3 months, 1861), Company B
 * - 2nd Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company H
 * - 6th Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company I and M
 * - 6th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company G
 * - 22nd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A, B, F, G, H, I, and K
 * - 24th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D
 * - 28th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company E
 * - 44th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company D
 * - 47th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company G

World War I

 * Johnson County, Iowa, soldiers and sailors in the service of the United States in the Great War 1917-1918[Iowa City, Iowa : [Iowa City Daily Citizen], 1919?]

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1855-1954 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1839-1943 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — 1 index, images
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers

 * 1874-1876 Iowa City Volksfreund. 1874-76. Iowa City, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1891-1906 The Iowa Citizen. 1891-94, 1903, and 1905-06. Iowa City, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1892-1901 The Daily Citizen. 1892-93 and 1901. Iowa City, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1892-1919 The Iowa City Citizen. 1892, 1908-11, and 1916-19 Iowa City, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1894 State Press. 1894. Iowa City, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1894 Daily State Press. 1894. Iowa City, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1899-1971 Daily Iowa State Press. 1899-1902, 1904, and 1971. Iowa City, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1903 Iowa State Press. 1903. Iowa City, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1904-1915 Iowa City Daily Press. 1904-15 Iowa City, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1916 Iowa City Daily Citizen. 1916. Iowa City, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1920-1973 Iowa City Press Citizen. 1920-27, 1938-41, 1946-48, 1950-53, 1955, 1960, and 1968-73. Iowa City, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1926 Lone Tree Reporter. 1926. Johnson, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1939-1955 The Daily Iowan. 1939, 1947, and 1955. Iowa City, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1948-1955 The Iowa Quest. 1948-55. Iowa City, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * Daily Iowan Newspaper Collection -- access to digitized versions of The Daily Iowan and its predecessors: the University Reporter (1868-81), the Vidette (1879-81), the Vidette-Reporter (1881-1901) and the University Mirror (1881). The newspaper editions are full text searchable.

Other Records

 * Reports of Annual Reunion of the Old Settlers' Association yearbooks, 1866-1925, Johnson County, Iowa at FamilySearch Digital Library.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)
 * 1839-1943 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1847-1919 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1851-1914 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1852-1912 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * (*); 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

 * 1851-1914 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1851-1953 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Family History Centers

 * Belle Plaine Iowa Family History Center
 * Iowa City Iowa Family History Center
 * Muscatine Iowa Family History Center
 * Iowa City Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Iowa City Public Library 123 South Linn Street Iowa City, IA 52240 Phone: 319-356-5200 Email: [mailto:https://www.icpl.org/services/ask https://www.icpl.org/services/ask] Website

Museums
Historical Society Museum 200 E. 9th Street Suite 101 Coralville, IA 52241 Phone: 319-569-4502 Website

Societies
Iowa City Genealogical Society (Johnson County) P.O. Box 822 Iowa City, IA 52244-0822 Email: [mailto:cindylee53@aol.comcindylee53@aol.com cindylee53@aol.com] Website

Websites

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