Adams County, Iowa Genealogical Records Information

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Adams County History and Information

Adams County Facts

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Adams was created on January 15, 1851 (Organized in 1853) from Pottawattamie County and Unorganized Land. The County was named for either John Adams, the second president of the United States, or his son, John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States. The County Seat is Corning.

Counties adjacent to Adams County are Cass County (northwest), Adair County (northeast), Union County (east), Taylor County (south), Montgomery County (west). Adams County Cities and Towns Include Carbon, Corning, Lenox, Nodaway, Prescott.

At the time, Montgomery County Sheriff Amos Lowe issued the election certificates to the first county officials of Adams County. One half the town of Quincy was given to the county to sell and use the revenue for building the first courthouse. Two courthouses were built in Quincy, a noted station on the Underground Railroad. The first courthouse sometimes was used to hide fugitive slaves.

In 1857, the Quincy Guards were organized, the first volunteer military company in western Iowa. In the Civil War that followed, these men became famous for their bravery, and nearly all 40 young men composing the company became officers before the war ended.

The first book of minutes of the Board of Supervisors begins in May 1857. The Board met usually the first day of the month and continued for as many days as it took to complete all business. In 1862, for four and one-half days work and 14 miles travel, supervisors received $10.68.

Queen City and Corning requested public votes for relocation of the county seat in 1859 and 1869, respectively. Neither got enough votes. However, Corning incorporated in 1871, requested the vote again in 1872, and was successful. The citizens of Corning built a new courthouse at their own expense.

This courthouse burned down in 1888 (all county records and documents were saved), and another one was built for $28,183 and dedicated June 20, 1890. The present courthouse was dedicated Oct. 7, 1955 and cost $218,635. It was built right in front of the old courthouse, which was eventually razed.

Other historical facts include Adams County was home to former Iowa Governor Dan Turner and the birthplace of Johnny Carson. The Icarian Society came to Adams County in 1852 and established a settlement east of Corning. The Icarian Foundation is undertaking the huge task to preserve history through restoration of the colony. See also County History and County Courthouse for more details.

The Adams County Official Government Website
Search the Iowa USGenWeb Archives
Adams County, Iowa History Books at Amazon.com
Family History Library - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.

There are free downloadable and printable forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms, U.K. Census Extraction Forms, Research Calendar, Ancestral Chart, Research Extract, Correspondence Record , Family Group Sheet , Source Summary Form.

Records at the Adams County Courthouse

PLEASE READ FIRST!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information. The Courthouse was destroyed by fire on February 1, 1888. Some early records were destroyed.

All Departments below can be contacted by clicking the link below, calling or visiting the Adams County Courthouse, 500 9th St., Corning 50841; Tel: 641-322-4711. See Also Courthouse Street Addresses for current courthouse addresses for all Iowa Counties. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.

Adams County Recorder's Office has Birth Records from 1880, Marriage Records from 1855, Death Records from 1880 and Land Records from 1853.
The Recorder's Office was created in 1839 by the First Legislative Assembly. The Recorder continues to maintain official records of documents affecting title to real estate. Every real estate transaction that takes place begins in the Recorder's Office. One of the major duties of the office is the management of public records. As a result, accuracy and preservation of records are a must in the Recorder's Office. Instruments that are recorded are not only important for today, but serve as a historical library for all of the tomorrows.

In addition to real estate transactions, the Recorder's Office issues titles and liens; records veterans discharge papers; processes passport applications; accepts marriage applications and issues the subsequent license; issues certified copies of birth, death and marriage records as well as other numerous duties.

Adams County Clerk of Court Office has Probate Records from 1868 and Court Records from 1857.
In each of Iowa's 99 counties, a clerk of district court office manages and maintains all trial court records, including pleadings, evidence and orders. The clerks of court have hundreds of administrative duties. They accept and process fines, fees and court costs owed to the state, child support checks, and civil judgments owed to litigants. They maintain a record of liens on all real estate in the county. Clerks help with involuntary hospitalization cases. They have the authority to dispose of scheduled violations which are not contested and do not require a court hearing. Clerks are also responsible for informing state and local government agencies of court orders.

The Iowa district court has general jurisdiction of all civil, criminal and juvenile cases and probate matters in the state. The district court, which is also known as the trial court, is the point of entry in the court system for most cases. The Iowa district court is composed of different kinds of judicial officers with varying amounts of jurisdiction-judicial magistrates, associate juvenile judges, associate probate judges, district associate judges, and district court judges.

Click Here to Search Iowa Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records! - Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

Below is a list of online resources for Adams County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Adams County Court Records by clicking the link below:

Adams County Vital Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

The tax rolls for personal property and real estate were kept by the auditor or the treasurer of each county. A few of these records have been microfilmed and are available at the State Historical Society of Iowa. Original county tax rolls are usually not transferred.

Old age pension tax is a resource genealogists should consider in Iowa. A 1934 directive to collect an old age assistance tax was based on a list of all persons over twenty-one years of age. Although the tax was discontinued in 1936, the information included could be important: name, address, sex, date of birth, place of birth, and names of both parents. Many counties have had these lists microfilmed and they are available through the FHL.

Below is a list of online resources for Adams County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Adams County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

Adams County Tax Assesors Office, Phone: 641-322-4312
The Treasurer is responsible for collection of property taxes and other fees for state, county, city, school districts, community colleges, and other taxing entities such as townships, fire districts, and drainage districts.
Adams County, Iowa Tax Books at Amazon.com

Adams County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Iowa Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Adams County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Adams County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

Adams County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 117, Prescott, IA 50859-0117
Local Iowa Researchers, Find a local researcher or become a local researcher.
State Historical Society of Iowa, Capitol Complex, Des Moines, IA 50319
Iowa Genealogical Society, 6000 Douglas, P.O. Box 7735, Des Moines, IA 50322
State Historical Society of Iowa Research Library, 402 Iowa Avenue, Iowa City, IA 52240
State Historical Society of Iowa Library, Capitol Complex, Des Moines, IA 50319
National Archives; Central Plains Region, Kansas City, 2312 East Bannister Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64131-3011; Email: kansascity.archives@nara.gov; Phone: 816-268-8000
Iowa Newspapers & Periodicals Records - Newspapers and periodicals are the diaries of local communities. They are excellent sources of family history details - often recorded nowhere else. Look for obituaries, marriages, legal notices, and more found in our Historical Newspaper Archives.
Iowa Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com

Adams County Church & Cemeteries

Click Here to Search Iowa Obituary Records! - This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Adams County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Adams County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Predominant church groups in Iowa include Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, and Baptist. Less in size, but equally important in religious history in the state are the Quakers, Mormons, Mennonites, and Congregationalists. The first church building in Iowa, a Methodist church built of logs, was constructed in Dubuque in 1834. A year later the Catholics erected a parish building in the same city. In 1843 the “Iowa Band” of Congregational and Presbyterian clergy began ministering to the settlers in Iowa. In 1854 a small group of the Community of True Inspiration arrived from Germany, settling along the Iowa River in the mid-section of the state. A year later additional members of their group joined them, establishing the unique Amana colonies of present-day Iowa.

Many of the local chapters of the Iowa Genealogical Society have publications of cemetery records in their respective counties which can be ordered through the chapter. A state-wide publication listing is available through the state society. A large number of cemetery transcription collections as well as records of funeral homes, casket lists, and obituary indexes are held by the FHL

Below is a list of online resources for Adams County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Adams County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

IOWA WPA GRAVES REGISTRATION SURVEY - These records contain burials throughout much of Iowa that were compiled by WPA workers in the 1930 s, including grave markers which no longer exist today. Records may be searched within a county or state-wide.
Iowa Cemetery Records: These cemetery records represent seventy-six counties and Graceland Cemetery of Sioux City, Iowa, in the united States, that were transcribed by the Works Project Administration. Records in this database generally include the page number where the record can be found in the WPA index, the name of the deceased, birth date, death date, age, cemetery name, town name, and additional comments if any.
Iowa Civil War Soldier Burial Records: Listing of 30,000 Civil War veterans who served or lived in Iowa following the war.
Adams County, Iowa Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
Adams County, Iowa Church Books at Amazon.com

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

Click Here to Search Iowa Family Tree Records! - The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Adams County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Adams County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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Sites on USGenweb: [ Adams County ] [ Iowa ] [ Main Page ]
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Genealogical Document Search and Retrieval Service
Adams County USGenweb Archives
Adams County, Iowa Family Books at Amazon.com

County History

Adams County is the third east of the Missouri River in the second tier north of the Missouri State line. It contains twelve Congressional townships, embracing within its limits four hundred thirty-two square miles. The county was created in 1851 from territory formerly within Des Moines County and was named for John Adams, second President of the United States.

The county-seat was located by commissioners a little north of the center of the county and named Quincy, for John Quincy Adams, the sixth President. The land upon which the county-seat was located belonged to Jacob M. B. Miller who laid out the town and deeded to the county all even numbered lots and a public square. J. R. Holbrook built the first house in August, 1853, in which he opened a store. The first white man known to have settled in the county was Elijah Walters who, in 1849, took a claim two miles south of Quincy. Samuel Baker, Morgan Warren and Samuel Hardesty made claims and built cabins soon after.

At the election held in April of that year, Samuel Baker was chosen county judge and John H. Calvin recorder. In 1853 a French colony composed of socialists purchased about 3,000 acres of Government land near the East Nodaway River. The people were followers of Etienne Cabet, a French philosopher. The community located here to make the experiment of owning property in common and governing themselves in accordance with the socialistic theories of their leader. They organized a local government consisting of a general assembly composed of the male members of the community over twenty-one years of age. All property was owned in common and controlled by a board of directors consisting of a president, secretary, treasurer and a director of agriculture, industry and clothing. New members were admitted upon consent of three-quarters of the male members twenty-one years of age. All were required to surrender their property to the community, give their services in consideration of living, sharing equally the benefits. No money compensation was given for any kind of service. There was no religious creed and no form of worship but the members of the colony professed the religion of primitive Christians. Sunday was a day of recreation and amusement and in all respects held to be no more sacred than any other day. The membership after an existence of nearly half a century numbers about fifty.

In 1855 a town was laid out by D. N. Smith about five miles south of Quincy which was named Corning, in honor of a New York politician and capitalist, Erastus Corning. It is on the main line of the Burlington Railroad and has become the county-seat. The first church in the county was organized at Quincy in 1856 by the Methodists. In 1859 they organized a seminary at Brookville and in the same year the first newspaper was established at Corning by D. N. Smith, with L. Raguet as editor, and named the Corning Sentinel.

Adams County has an undulated surface and is well watered by the East and West Nodaway rivers and their branches. One-tenth of the county was originally covered with forests. Coal, limestone and good building stone abound in portions of the county and it lies in the famous blue grass region.

Courthouse

The first Adams County seat was established by act of the Iowa Legislature on January 12, 1853, at Quincy (now nonexistant) Iowa. The courthouse was a frame building but official court records were kept in private dwellings. Quincy would remain the county seat for the next eighteen years. The building was later used as a schoolhouse and in 1932 it was torn down. In November, 1872, the people voted to remove the courthouse from Quincy and locate the county seat in Corning.

The first courthouse in Corning was built in 1872 at the present site of the Adams County courthouse. It was also a wood frame structure. The county jail was built in 1877 and used until 1955. This courthouse was destroyed by fire on February 1, 1888. Business buildings in Corning then served as temporary quarters for the county offices.

On November 5, 1889, Adams County voters approved a bond issue not to exceed $30,000 for construction of a new courthouse. Money was to be raised by taxation of not to exceed 2 mills on the dollar each year. The new courthouse was dedicated on June 20, 1890. Barely 40 years later, this building, called one of the most modern in the country with its Queen Anne style of architecture, began to deteriorate and was razed in 1955.

After three previous attempts, a bond issue finally carried in 1954 and a three-story building costing $225,000 was constructed at the current site. In October, 1955, the new offices of the Adams County Courthouse opened -- they were painted in contemporary color schemes evoking "the feeling of the good taste of the Museum of Modern Art of New York." The fourth Adams County Courthouse was billed by the Des Moines Register's Picture Magazine in 1955 as the most exciting thing to happen in public building in Iowa in about 40 years. Chuck Offenburger, the Iowa Boy, of the Des Moines Register would later give this coral and turquoise courthouse building the distinction of being "the ugliest courthouse in the State of Iowa."

The flat roof design of this new modern courthouse would prove to cause considerable problems and it was replaced with a slant roof design in the 1980's. In 1985, Federal Revenue Sharing funds made it possible to add a handicap accessible entry and install an elevator.

In August, 1998, a courthouse renovation project was started taking one year to complete. Improvements totaling $850,000 included: new energy-efficient windows and doors, a new exterior finish, insulation, and new sign and entrance canopy. The remodeled jail and jail addition (all now handicapped accessible) accommodates 4, 6, and 8 beds in a dormitory-type setting plus a 2-bed holding cell. The interior of the courthouse was all repainted. Ceiling fans, new lighting, heating/cooling units, radiator valves, and actuators were installed in most of the offices.

Adams County Courthouse

A simple two-story frame building was constructed in the 1850s in the first county seat, Quincy, Iowa. It was torn down in 1932. There is evidence from a later courthouse speech that a second courthouse was built in Quincy, but no records have been found to confirm this.

The county seat was moved to Corning in 1872 partly because the citizens of Corning offered to build a new courthouse. A spacious two-story building was constructed, but on February 1, 1888 a fire destroyed it in just two hours. For $28,183 another courthouse was built that was similar to the courthouses in Adair and Monona. This courthouse was used until 1955 when during repairs, the roof fell in.

The present courthouse was built at a cost of $218,635. Its unique appearance can be attributed to the light green concrete walls separated by pink panels between the windows.

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