Adair County, Iowa Genealogical Records Information

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Adair County History and Information

Adair County Facts

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Adair was created on January 15, 1851 (Organized in 1854) from Pottawattamie County and Unorganized Land. The County was named for John Adair, a general in the War of 1812 and eighth governor of Kentucky. The County Seat is Greenfield.

Counties adjacent to Adair County are Guthrie County (north), Madison County (east), Union County (southeast), Adams County (southwest), Cass County (west). Cities and Towns Include Adair, Bridgewater, Casey, Fontanelle, Greenfield, Orient, Stuart.

In 1851, The General Assembly appointed three commissioners to locate a county seat. They selected Summerset (now Fontanelle) in 1855. The first courthouse was built a year later. Native lumber and hardware were hauled by wagon from Keokuk for the building. This building burned in 1910.

The town of Greenfield, located near the center of the county, was laid out in 1856. From this time on, people of Greenfield fought to have the county seat moved to Greenfield. A petition was signed by 91 voters in 1858 to have it moved, but at the same time, another petition containing 137 signatures was presented to keep the seat in Summerset.

During the Civil War, the people were content with the idea of Fontanelle as the county seat, but at the end of the war it was brought to a vote. Changing the seat was defeated by seven votes. Again in 1869 the change was defeated. Finally, in 1874, voters approved the move to Greenfield. The decision was challenged and taken to the Supreme Court. Even though the decision wasn’t final, the people of Greenfield removed the county records to their town. More than 200 men and 75 wagons made the trip to Fontanelle and, against the orders of the sheriff, loaded the records and furniture into their wagons and returned to Greenfield. It so surprised Fontanelle’s townspeople, they didn’t resist.

Judge Mitchell ordered the sheriff to direct the people of Greenfield to return the county records, but when the sheriff presented the order to the Board of Supervisors, a person snatched the order and tore it up. The next morning the sheriff came again to Greenfield and presented a warrant, but was resisted by an angry mob, so did nothing. The following day General N.B. Baker arrived from Des Moines and persuaded the people to return the records to Summerset. About one month later, the “county seat war” came to an end when the court’s final decision moved the county seat to Greenfield.

In preparation for this move, the Greenfield Building Association had erected a two-story frame building on the East side of the square, which was used by county officials until it burned in 1883. Following the fire, court was held in the Opera House, and a temporary office building was built over the vaults of the burned building. Eight years later, on July 4, 1891, the cornerstone of the present courthouse was laid. Some items placed in the cornerstone were: histories and lists of members of local organizations, a Bible, an 1891 nickel, several copies of various newspapers of the day, and one bottle each of corn, oil, and wine.

The building was completed in March 1892. It was originally adorned with a large square tower rising 100 feet in the air which was removed in 1935 when it became unsafe. The total cost of construction, including the furniture, was $26,768. In comparison, it cost $40,448 to install the elevator in 1988. See also County History and County Courthouse for more details.

The Adair County Official Government Website
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Adair County, Iowa History Books at Amazon.com
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Records at the Adair 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. Courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1889. Most Court Records were destroyed.

All Departments below can be contacted by clicking the link below, calling or visiting the Adair County Courthouse at 400 Public Square, PO Box L, Greenfield 50849; Tel: 641-743-2445. 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. Adair County was attached to Cass County for a breif time. Some early records may be found there.

   Adair County Recorder's Office has Birth Records from 1880, Marriage Records from 1854, Death Records from 1880 and Land Records from 1854.
   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.

   Adair County Clerk of Court Office has Probate Records from 1857 and Court Records from 1887.
   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 Adair County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Adair County Court Records by clicking the link below:

All Iowa Counties Clerks of Court Contact Information

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

Adair County, Iowa Court Books at Amazon.com

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Adair 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 Adair County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Adair County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

Adair County Tax Assesors Office, ?
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.
Adair County, Iowa Tax Books at Amazon.com

Adair 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 Adair County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Adair County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

Adair County Anquestors Genealogy Society, c/o Greenfield Public Library, P. O. Box 328, Greenfield, IA 50849-0328
Adair County Historical Society Museum, P. O. Box 214, Greenfield, Iowa 50849
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

Adair 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 Adair County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Adair 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 Adair County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Adair 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.
Adair County, Iowa Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
Adair 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 Adair County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Adair County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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Adair County USGenweb Archives
Adair County, Iowa Family Books at Amazon.com

County History

Adair County was created by act of Legislature of 1851 from territory embraced in the original county of Des Moines. It lies in the third tier north of Missouri and in the third tier east of the Missouri River. The county is twenty-four miles square and embraces an area of five hundred seventy-six square miles. The north tier of townships was from December 31st, 1827, to July 30, 1840, embraced in the old county of Keokuk as first established. The county was named for General John Adair a distinguished officer of the War of 1812 and afterwards the sixth Governor of Kentucky.

Thomas N. Johnson is the first white man known to have made a home within the limits of the county. He made a claim and built a log cabin in 1849 on section four in Washington township where, in 1850, he built a mill on a stream running through his farm. In 1850 William Alcorn made a claim on Middle River at a point known as "the upper crossing." During the same year a Mr. Lyon took claim and built a cabin near a large spring in a grove in what became Jefferson township. In 1851 J.J. Vawter purchased the claim and the grove took his name. Among the early settlers were William McDonald, who settled at the lower crossing of Middle River, Alfred Jones in Jackson township, Robert Wilson in Grand River, George M. Holiday in Jefferson, Joshua Chapman in Richland and Jacob Bruce in Grove.

In April, 1854, the first election was held in Alfred Jones' cabin at which George M. Holiday was chosen county judge and John Gibson, clerk. The first court was held in the cabin of the judge on the 6th of May following. On the 24th of April, 1855, the county-seat was located at Summerset, a town laid out by G. M. Holiday, D.M. Valentine* and Abram Ruth, and six miles south of the center of the county. In 1856 by act of the Legislature the name was changed to Fontanelle.

The first house in Summerset was a double log cabin built in June, 1855, by James C. Gibbs for a tavern and post-office. Mr. Gibbs was the first postmaster in the town and county. A store was opened in 1856 by Calvin Ballard.

At the time the county was organized the population was about one hundred fifty. The town of Greenfield, laid out in September, 1856, by Milton C. Munger is about six miles northeast of Fontanelle and in 1875 became the county-seat. Matthew Clark built the first house the same year which was used as a store by A.D. Littleton as well as station of the Western Stage Company. The first school in the county was taught by Miss Huldah Lee in 1857 in the court-house at Fontanelle. The Congregationalists organized the first church in 1856 at the same place.

The Chicago and Rock Island Railroad was built through the extreme northern limits of the county in 1868 upon which the towns of Adair and Casey were laid out. The first newspaper was established by James C. Gibbs in 1863 and named the Adair County Register. After a long and bitter contest extending from 1865 to 1875 the county-seat was removed from Fontanelle to Greenfield.

* D.M. Valentine moved to Kansas in 1859 where he has been a member of both branches of the Legislature, District Judge and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

Early History.

There seems to be some conflict of opinion as to who was the first white settler in Adair County. It was probably Thomas N. Johnson, who came as early as 1849. The next was William Alcorn, who settled at the upper crossing of Middle River in 1850. This was in what is now Jefferson Township, in the north part of the county. Perhaps about the same time a man named Lyon erected a cabin near the large spring at Vawter's Grove, in Jackson Township, in 1851. Lyon sold his claim to one Taylor, who was on his way to California with a drove of some four or five hundred head of cattle. Taylor, after wintering his cattle, sold out to J. G. Vawter. Lyon and Taylor were but temporary residents, and left as soon as permanent settlers began to come in. Among the first permanent settlers were William McDonald, who located at the lower crossing of Middle River; Alfred Jones, in Jackson Township; Robert Wilson, in Grand River Township; George M. Holaday, in Jefferson Township; Joshua Chapman, in Richland Township; and Jacob Bruce, in Grove Township, near the head of Grand River. John A. Gilman, John Ireland, James Campbell and John Gilson were also among the early settlers. Walnut Township, in the northwest part of the county, was settled in the Spring and Fall of 1855 by several families from South Carolina. Those who came in the Spring were James Thompson and Isaac S. Arledge; and in the Fall, Charles Smith and Lewis Underwood. Jeremiah Rinard and Stover Rinard settled in Jefferson Township, adjoining Walnut on the east, in the Summer of 1855. Most of the early settlers in this part of the county were from South Carolina and Indiana. Settlements were made this year in various parts of the county. The first white child, Margaret Johnson, was born in 1850. The first death was that of a child of John Gilson in the same year. The first marriage was that of William Stinson and Elizabeth Crow, the license being issued May 6, 1854, and the marriage solemnized the next day by George M. Holaday, County Judge.

ORGANIZATION, ELECTIONS AND COURTS.

By an act of the General Assembly, approved January 12, 1853, Adair was attached to Cass County for revenue, election and judicial purposes, and constituted a civil township. It was ordered that the first election be held at the house of Alfred Jones in Adair Township. Of this election there is no record, either in Adair or Cass County. In April, 1854, the election was held for the first county officers, and for the organization of the county. At this election George M. Holaday was elected County Judge, and John Gilson, Clerk. The first record made by Judge Holaday is dated May 1, 1854, and was an order that the County Court be held at the house of George M. Holaday. On the 3d of July of the same year, the county was divided into two election precincts by a line running north and south, dividing it equally. The east half was called Harrison, and the west half Washington Township. By an act approved January 15, 1855, the General Assembly authorized the location of the county seat, and appointed as commissioners for that purpose George B. Hitchcock, of Cass County; Elias Stratford, of Madison County; and John Buckingham, of Page County. On the 27th of April of that year, the first named two commissioners reported to the county judge that they had, on the 24th of the same month, met at "Adair Post Office" and located the seat of justice on the southwest quarter of section seventeen, township seventy-five, range 32, and that they had given to the place the name of Summerset. The land was soon entered by Judge Holaday for the county, the money being furnished for that purpose by Enos Lowe. On the 30th of August of the same year, an order was made that the County Court be held at the house of J. J. Leeper until the necessary offices were built at Summerset. The first proceedings of the District Court appearing of record, took place at Fontanelle in March, 1857, but the first court really convened was in March, 1855. The only mention of this court in any of the records of the county, is in connection with compensation allowed the sheriff and jurors for services. The first grand jury were as follows: William Thomas, James Roberts, William Stinson, J. T. Weing, John Ammon, Manning Drake, Charles Friend, Titus Sullivan, John Ireland, James Ray, Abram Rutt, Alfred Jones and Thomas Hodson. Judge E. H. Sears presided at this term. Very little business was transacted. The next term was held at Fontanelle, commencing March 30, 1857, Judge E. H. Sears presiding. Theodore Smith being Clerk and Abner Root, Sheriff. But little business was done at this term. Another term was held, commencing October, 1857, Judge Sears presiding, Colonel Ballard acting as Clerk, and L. C. Elliott as Sheriff. John H. Cooper, an attorney from Kentucky, was admitted to practice law. The first case was a suit for divorce, and the prayer of the petitioner was granted.

Adair County Courthouse

From 1856 to 1874 the original courthouse of Adair County was located in Fontanelle. This small, two-story building was made of locally harvested woods. After the county seat moved to the village of Greenfield in 1874, the first courthouse was used as a school, church, meeting hall, and town hall until it burned down in 1910.

In the meantime, a second two-story courthouse was built in the town square of Greenfield for $8,000. This building suffered the same fate as the first courthouse when it was destroyed by fire in 1889. An opera house served as the courthouse until the third courthouse could be completed in 1892.

The cornerstone of the present courthouse was laid on July 4, 1891. Some of the historical items placed inside the cornerstone include a bible, bottles of wine, corn, and oil, as well as the history of Greenfield and a letter to be opened by the oldest man present when removed. This building serves as the courthouse today. It is constructed of brick and cost $26,768, including furniture.

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