Chickasaw County, Iowa Genealogical Records Information

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Chickasaw County History and Information

Chickasaw County Facts

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Chickasaw was created on January 15, 1851 (Organized in 1853) from Unorganized Territory. The County was named for the Chickasaw Native American tribe. The County Seat is New Hampton.

Counties adjacent to Chickasaw County are Howard County (north), Winneshiek County (northeast), Fayette County (southeast), Bremer County (south), Floyd County (west), Butler County (southwest), Mitchell County (northwest). Cities and Towns Include Alta Vista, Bassett, Fredericksburg, Ionia, Lawler, Nashua, New Hampton, North Washington and Protivin.

The county seat in the early stages of the county was located at Bradford, named after the chief of the Chickasaw Indian tribe. A plain log cabin, erected at a cost of $1,840, was used as the first courthouse. In the spring of 1857 the county seat was moved to New Hampton, a town more centrally located in the county. Following this there were several attempts to remove the county seat from New Hampton. Some county seat bidders were Fredericksburg, Bradford, and Forest City. All were unsuccessful in gaining the county seat.

In 1865 the first courthouse in New Hampton was completed. In 1876 an addition was completed on this building. The entire building was totally destroyed in a fire on March 26, 1880. Many irreplaceable documents were lost, but many more were saved with the help of the "Hook & Ladder Co.," and concerned citizens. With the help of a falling mist and buckets of water, the fire was finally extinguished, with total losses estimated at $2,000.

Due to towns fighting over the location of the county seat, it was not until 1881 that the central portion of a new courthouse was completed at New Hampton. The third courthouse cost $10,500 to complete; New Hampton paid $5,000 of the cost. The building was made of brick and stone. The inside was trimmed with black walnut and ash. In 1905 a wing was added on at a cost of $4,219, and one year later a second wing was completed with a cost of $200.

The current courthouse was completed in 1929 at a cost of $134,000. Architects for the courthouse were Ralston and Ralston of Waterloo, and it was constructed by Tarazar Construction Co. of Albert Lea, Minnesota. See also County History and County Courthouse for more details.

The Chickasaw County Official Government Website
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Chickasaw County, Iowa History Books at Amazon.com
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Records at the Chickasaw 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.

All Departments below can be contacted by clicking the link below, calling or visiting the Chickasaw County Courthouse at 8 East Prospect, P.O. Box 467, New Hampton 50659; Tel: 641-394-2106. 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. Chickasaw County was attached to Fayette County for a breif time. Some early records may be found there.

Chickasaw County Recorder's Office has Birth Records from 1880, Marriage Records from 1853, Death Records from 1880 and Land Records from 1851.
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.

Chickasaw County Clerk of Court Office has Probate Records from 1854 and Court Records from 1853.
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 Chickasaw County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Chickasaw County Court Records by clicking the link below:

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

Chickasaw 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.
Chickasaw County, Iowa Tax Books at Amazon.com

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

Chickasaw County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 434, New Hampton 50659-0434
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

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

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Genealogical Document Search and Retrieval Service
Chickasaw County USGenweb Archives
Chickasaw County, Iowa Family Books at Amazon.com

County History

From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875

Chickasaw is the third county west of the Mississippi River in the second tier from the north line of the state. It contains an area of 504 square miles, or 322,560 acres.

The early settlement of Chickasaw County was commenced in 1852, at or neat the point where Bradford was subsequently platted, on the east side of Little Cedar River, just above its junction with Cedar River, by J. A. J. and John Bird, and the few immigrants who arrived during that and the following year, seem to have located in that vicinity altogether. In 1854, the nuclei of several settlements were formed by pioneers, who located in different parts of the county almost simultaneously. James Jared settled where the city of New Hampton stands. Almon Harries, John Spur, Myrie Spur and Edwin Hale located in Deerfield, May 5th of the same year. Among the first settlers in Obispo, now Utica Township, were William Everingham and J. J. Rutherford. Among the first at a place called Yourvee, were O. H. P. Searles and William Linderman. James Millican settled in Dayton Township, on Section 23, in September, 1854.

The first sermon preached in the county, was by a traveling Methodist minister, at the house of John Bird, the second by Rev. Mr. Coleman, a Congregational minister, at the same place, a few weeks later.

An attempt was made to organize the county as early as the Spring of 1853. An election was held at which J. K. Rowley was elected County Judge.
Such steps as had been taken were however held to be informal, and by an order of the County Judge of Fayette County, to which Chickasaw was attached prior to its organization, under date of June 30, 1853, John Bird was directed to organize the county, and on the 15th day of August, 1853, the organization was duly completed by the election of the following county officers; James Lyon, County Judge; S. C. Gooddard, Clerk, N. D. Babcock, Prosecuting Attorney; E. A. Haskell, Treasurer, and Andy Sample, Sheriff.

The seat of justice for the new County of Chickasaw, was located at Bradford, on the 14th day of August, 1854, by William McClintock and John B. Onstine, two of the commissioners appointed for that purpose.

In April, 1856, a vote of the people was taken between Bradford and New Hampton, at which New Hampton received a majority of the votes. The canvassers, however, threw out the vote of Washington Township in counting the returns, which left the majority in favor of retaining the County Seat at Bradford. This action aroused considerable indignation among the friends of New Hampton.

In the Spring of 1857, a second commission appointed by the Legislature, located the seat of justice at New Hampton.

On the 5th day of April, 1858, another vote was taken, this time between New Hampton and Forest City. The result was in favor of New Hampton, but the canvassers again threw out the vote of Washington Township for informality, and changed that of Deerfield from 53 to 43, which gave Forest City a majority. The citizens and friends of Forest City had teams in waiting, and as soon as this result was announced, the books, papers and furniture were hastily loaded upon wagons, and conveyed to Forest City. New Hampton contested the matter in court, and at the end of a long litigation, New Hampton was decided to be legally the county seat, and the records were ordered returned, since which time there has been no further county seat contests.

The present court house is a building erected at New Hampton in 1865, at a moderate expense, the authorities of the county wisely deciding not to burden the people with the expense of costly buildings, until such time as the increase of population and wealth will enable them to erect a suitable edifice which will be an honor to the county, without incurring heavy indebtedness.

The first term of district court in the county, was held at Bradford, in June, 1854, by Judge Thomas S. Wilson; the second term was held by Judge Samuel Murdock, in October, 1855.

The first newspaper in the county was established at Jacksonville, in 1857, by Isaac Watson, and lived about three years. About the same time, A. J. Felt commenced at Bradford the publication of a paper entitled the Cedar Valley News. In 1867, A. J. Felt commenced at Nashua, the publication of the Post, of which he continued editor and proprietor until February, 1864, when it was purchased by Graves Bros. The present owner and editor is Joseph F. Graves. It is a large, wide awake, lively paper of eight pages, six columns to the page, ably edited, Republican in politics, and published weekly, by G. M. Reynolds, by whom it has been owned and edited for many years. It is an able exponent of Republican principles and a good newspaper, size, four pages of eight columns to the page.

In 1872, a paper called the Times was started at Lawler, but lived less than a year. The Chickasaw County Times was started at the same place, in 1865, by Mr. Hazlett, and is now published there.

NEW HAMPTON - New Hampton was incorporated in the Spring of 1873. Jas F. Babcok was the first Mayor. He was succeeded by Captain G. Gardner, and he by the present Mayor, Dr. H. M. Mixie. The present council consists of Dr. H. M. Mixie, Mayor; James Young, Recorder; L. M. Smith, F. Morsch, J. J. Arbuckle, Jno. McLaren and G. M. Reynolds, Trustees. The town is in the exact geographical center of the county. It contains about 1,000 inhabitants, and is well situated with regard to health and beauty, the ground sloping to the east and south sufficiently to afford good drainage. It has a well built, commodious school house, with graded school of four departments. There are seven church organizations here. Three of which have large churches, to wit; the Methodist, Congregational, and Catholic societies. Three of the societies have parsonages.
The city has one bank, which is now erecting a $7,000 building. Two good hotels, two full drug stores, eight general retail store, two of them carrying from $15,000 to $20,000 stock, several groceries, restaurants, etc., one large hardware store, one jeweler, dressmaker, milliner, etc, one tailor, three agricultural implement depots, from one of which has been sold the present season (1875) $30,000 worth of machinery, while the others have enjoyed a good trade. No line of business is overdone, the contributing territory always keeping in advance of the town. There are several resident physicians, and then lawyers.
This is the home of the first lady notary public commissioned in the state. The Iowa Div. of the C. M. & St. P. Ry, was completed to this town in September, 1869. Two other railways have been surveyed through the town, the C. F. & W., and the D. N. H. & M. and the demands of the country will warrant the completion of the latter at some date in the near future.
The fair grounds of the Chickasaw County Agricultural Society are located a short distance east of the town on a beautiful tract of land, and include a good trotting course.
NASHUA - This is a prosperous and important town near the southwest corner of the county. It is situated in a bend of Cedar River, directly opposite the confluence of the Little Cedar, and at the foot or south end of the heaviest body of timber in Chickasaw County. The town plat lies in the river valley on dry ground sufficiently high to be above the reach of floods with a gentle inclination eastward. It is a beautiful location, which is thoroughly protected from high winds in every direction by high ground covered with timber. The Cedar River affords very valuable and excellent water power on the north side, just above the railroad bridge, which is occupied by one of the largest and best flouring mills in northern Iowa.
The Cedar Falls and Minnesota Division of the Illinois Central Railroad passes along the east side of the town, and then crosses the river northward. It has here a commodious depot building, and there are several good elevators and warehouses adjacent.
The principal business street runs parallel with the railroad track, from which it is distant only the width of one tier of blocks. This street is broad and well graded, and is lined with substantial business houses, many of which are handsome edifices of brick or stone. Westward of the business street are many handsome residences, not a few of which are beautifully embowered in natural groves of thrifty native forest trees. The prevalence of trees throughout this portion of the town gives its streets the appearance of pleasant rural avenues. A large section of surrounding country in Chickasaw, Floyd and
Bremer Counties contributes to the commercial importance of the place. This portion of the Cedar Valley is justly celebrated for its productiveness and the advanced state of improvement which it displays. Here in the midst of such a country with no important town nearer than Waverly in one direction and Charles City in the other, Nashua is most advantageously situated to draw the mercantile trade and the grain of the country to its market for shipment or manufacture from a wide distance.
The business of the town is extensive and continually increasing. It embraces a large number of good mercantile houses in all branches, shops of nearly all descriptions, good hotels, foundry, bank, printing office, dealers in grain, farming implements, lumber, etc., etc. It is represented by a liberal array of talent in the legal and medical professions. A live agricultural society is maintained with headquarters here, and also a trotting park association. They jointly hold fair grounds and a good trotting course a short distance above the town plat near the railroad track.
The town has several church organizations, and good houses of worship. Its public schools are well maintained and graded upon a most efficient system, employing a principal and three or more assistants as instructors. They are provided with a commodious and well furnished public school building which affords ample facilities for the purpose.
Excellent building stone is found in quarries convenient to the town, and an abundance of good brick manufactured near by. Nashua incorporated as a city of the second class under the Iowa law, its corporate powers being administered by a council consisting of a mayor, recorder and five trustees elected by the town at large.
LAWLER. – This is a new town in the east part of the county, on the
line of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. Being in a rich agricultural portion of
the county, it is becoming a trading and produce shipping point of considerable
importance, and is enjoying a prosperous growth.
CHICKASAW. – This is a station on the same railroad west of New
Hampton. The old village and post office of Chickasaw is situated two miles
west off the railroad, and consequently the post office at the station was named
Ionia, although the town usually goes by the name of Chickasaw. It is
handsomely located, and has become a village and trading point of considerable
importance.
BASSETT - is a station on the same railroad near the west line of the county.
FREDERICKSBURG - is a village in the southeast part of the county, situated near the East Wapsipinicon River. It is surrounded by a fertile and well improved farming country.
BRADFORD - is situated about one mile northeast of Nashua, and from its natural advantages was formerly considered the most promising point in the county. The railroad lines avoided it, however, and most of its business was transferred to Nashua.
JACKSONVILLE - is a village near Crane Creek in the northwest portion of the county. Deerefield, North Washington, Stapleton and Williamstown are post offices.

Chickasaw County Courthouse

In 1854, the county commissioners established the City of Bradford as the seat of the county government. A log courthouse was constructed to hold the county records. The county seat soon moved closer to the geographic center of the county, to the town of New Hampton.

The first courthouse in the new county seat was built in 1865. The small frame building was destroyed by fire in 1880. The citizens of New Hampton contributed $5,000 toward a another courthouse and in 1881, a brick and stone building was erected for $10,500. Later, two wings were added onto the building.

The present courthouse was constructed of Bedford stone during 1929 and 1930 for a cost of approximately $134,000.

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