Fremont County, Iowa Genealogical Records Information

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Fremont County History and Information

Fremont County Facts

Click HERE to see full size D.O.T. County Map

Fremont was created on February 24, 1847 (Organized in 1849) from Unorganized Territory. The County was named for John Charles Frémont, the U. S. general, explorer, and presidential candidate. The County Seat is Sidney.

Counties adjacent to Fremont County are Mills County (north), Page County (east), Atchison County, Missouri (south), Otoe County, Nebraska (southwest), Cass County, Nebraska (northwest). Cities and Towns Include Farragut, Hamburg, Imogene, Randolph, Riverton, Shenandoah (part), Sidney, Tabor, Thurman.

Benjamin Rector was elected and sent to the state Legislature to represent Fremont County; however, he was only permitted to express his views -- not to vote. The first seat of government was at Austin, but no courthouse was built there, and court was held at the home and general store owned by A.H. Argyle.

The county seat was first named Dayton in 1851, but changed to Sidney at the next term of court. Sidney was selected to honor the name of the Ohio town of Clerk of District Court Milton Richards once lived in.

Fremont County has had three courthouses. The county outgrew its first courthouse soon, and a new, two-story courthouse was built in 1858. A gunny sack full of dynamite caused thousands of dollars of damage in 1863. There was much speculation concerning who caused the explosion -- some of the possibilities included Confederate guerillas securing money for their cause, "border ruffians" or Kansas "Jayhawkers," or thieves from Missouri or Nebraska. In 1888, vandals struck again. Coal oil was poured throughout the building and set afire. A steel vault saved most of the records. Neither crime was ever solved.

In 1888, the county voted 295 to 219 to build a new courthouse, costs not to exceed $26,000. Things were no different then than they are now; final cost was $27,860. This courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. See also County History and County Courthouse for more details.

The Fremont County Official Government Website
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Fremont County, Iowa History Books at Amazon.com
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Records at the Fremont 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 2nd Courthouse was damaged by a gunny sack full of dynamite in 1863. In 1888, vandals poured Coal oil throughout the building and set a fire (A steel vault saved most of the records).

All Departments below can be contacted by clicking the link below, calling or visiting the Fremont County Courthouse at Square,PO Box 549, Sidney 51652; Tel: 712-374-2232. 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.

Fremont County Recorder's Office has Birth Records from 1880, Marriage Records from 1848, Death Records from 1880 and Land Records from 1849.
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.

Fremont County Clerk of Court Office has Probate Records from 1880 and Court Records from 1850.
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 Fremont County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Fremont County Court Records by clicking the link below:

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

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

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

Fremont County Historical Society, P.O. Box 671, Sidney 51652-0337
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

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

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

County History

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

This county is in the southwest corner of the state, and has an area of 528 square miles, or 337,920 acres.

The first settlements were made in this county as early as 1840. Among the first who came prior to 1842, were James McKissick, Cornelius McKissick, Daniel McKissick, Augustus Borcher, Thomas Farmer, David M. English, Job Matthews, John E. Scott, T. L. Buckham, William Lovelady, Daniel Huntsucker, and Isaac Huntsucker. They all settled in the south part of the county, at McKissick's and Pleasant Groves. The next settlement was made northwest of where the town of Sidney now stands, at what is known as Lacy's Grove. Among those who settled at an early day, though probably not so early as some mentioned above, were John Gordon, James Applegate, Dr. David Lincoln, Stephen T. Cromwell, Milton Richards, George Lacy, J. J. Singleton, Thomas Greenwood, A. M. Hitchcock, and John Leaky.

About ten miles of the southern portion of the county was once under the jurisdiction of Holt County, Missouri, until the boundary question was settled between the two States. That part of old Holt County south of the state line, adjoining Fremont, is now known as Atchison County, Missouri. The north boundary of what was known as the "Platte Purchase," and which gave to the State of Missouri some four or five of her finest northwest counties, extended about ten miles into the territory afterwards conceded to Iowa. The jurisdiction of Holt County was extended to this boundary line, and thus, at that time, included the strip of territory in question. The purchase was made of the Pottawattamie Indians, who were removed to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, as is described in the history of that county, some time before any settlements were made by white men within the limits of Fremont County. This reservation, at that time, extended southward to the north line of the purchase, but soon after the settlement of the county began they relinquished all their lands in Iowa and repaired to Kansas. Major Stephen Cooper, who lived near the present Town of Bartlett, once represented Holt County in the Missouri Legislature. Mr. Hitchcock, above mentioned, kept a hotel about a mile and a half southeast of the place where Sidney was afterwards located. His building stood on the line, partly in what was then claimed as Missouri territory and partly on lands then belonging to the Pottawattamie Indians. Some men in the south part of Fremont County lived in two states and three counties without changing their residences, the States of Missouri and Iowa, and the counties of Holt, Atchison and Fremont.

Fremont County was organized in 1850-51. Thomas Greenwood was the first County Judge, A. H. Argyle, first Treasurer and Recorder, and J. S. Jones, Prosecuting Attorney. W. L. Burge acted as Prosecuting Attorney, by appointment, before Mr. Jones.

The first district court was held in 1850 by Judge M. McKay at the house of A. H. Argyle, near McKissick's Grove, where there was once a village called Austin. Milton Richards was the first Clerk of the District Court. The following persons composed the Grand Jury; C. C. Fugate, D. McKissick, Jno.Cooper, Robert Watkins, Eli Slusher, Abel Roberts, David Markwood, Beverly Blair, Jerebe Stone, Jonathan Bridges, Anthony Burns, G. A. W. Beleher, David Jones, Sr., John Leeka, Henry Holloway, John Lambert, John Beeler, and Elias Findley. The last named served as foreman. Several of the above still remain citizens of the county.

James P. Burns appears upon the records of this court as the first applicant for divorce.

The best building in Sidney is the court house, which was completed in 1860, at a cost of about $40,000. To Col. E. S. Hedges, at that time county judge, belongs the honor of providing for Fremont County this noble public edifice. The style of architecture is of the Elizabethan order. The structure is two stories in height, and of commodious proportions. It is surmounted by a heavy brick tower, and roofed with tin. The court room in the second story is handsomely finished, and all the offices and apartments are tastefully painted and frescoed. There are three large and substantially built vaults, entirely fire and burglar proof. Altogether, the building is one of the finest in Western Iowa, and is an ornament to the town, as well as a credit to the county. It was mainly erected with the proceeds of the sales of swamp lands.

In November, 1863, this building met with a most unfortunate disaster. About 9 o'clock in the evening, when all seemed to be quiet, the citizens of Sidney were startled by a deep, heavy sound. On looking in the direction of the court house, they beheld volumes of flame and smoke issuing from the windows. It was soon ascertained that a heavy charge of powder had been ignited within the building. All the windows and doors were blown out, and the entire upper floor and roof lifted up, and thrown out of place. The walls were shattered in several places, and it is feared the building has sustained permanent injury, as some of the fissures seem to be increasing in size. The county has incurred heavy expense in repair of damages. A short time prior to this occurrence one of the merchants of the place had stolen from his store two and a half kegs of powder, which, it is supposed, was used for the above purpose. Who committed the deed, or the motive prompting it, have never yet been brought to light.

SIDNEY - This is the county seat, and is located near the center of the county. The land was entered by Judge Greenwood, who caused the same to be surveyed off into town lots. It is about three miles west of the Nishnabotany River, on a high, well drained prairie, commanding a delightful view of the valley and adjacent country for many miles.

William Dewey was employed to survey the town, in 1851, and J. J. Singleton was appointed agent to sell the lots. He also sold the first goods in Sidney, in 1851. Stephen T. Cromwell bought the first lot and built the first hotel. The building stands on the west side of the public square. The first dwelling house was erected by J. H. Cowles, in August, 1852. He, together with Augustus Borcher, A. L. Holden, A. A. Bradford, L. Lingenfelter and J. C. Campbell, were among the first settlers of the place. The first child born in the town was a daughter of J. H. Cowles, and in honor of the town, was christened Sidney. The first death which occurred was that of a young man named Lockwood, who died of consumption in 1854.

HAMBURG - This thriving and prosperous town is situated on the west side of the Nishnabotany River, about three miles above its confluence with the Missouri, and ten miles from Sidney. It is near the southwest corner of Fremont County, where the Nishnabotany with its beautiful valley, breaks through the long line of bluffs that extend irregularly above and below. Nature has lavished upon this locality many of her grandest and most beautiful touches. Immediately west of the town, rises a bluff, or ridge, from the summit of which one may look over many miles of the surrounding country. It towers up nearly 300 feet above the plateau upon which the town is built, and from the top, breaks off so abruptly on either side, as to almost make one dizzy to look below either way. Up a narrow pathway, where only a footman can climb, one may ascend to a point commanding a view of portions of the States of Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas. From this elevation, looking to the east and south, we behold the broad Missouri with its island groves, its border forests of cottonwood, with the intervening miles of alluvial bottom prairie; and beyond all, the swelling slopes and fields of Nebraska. Down through the maize fields and the native meadows, like a silver thread, winds a brook known as Willow Creek, the waters of which flow from springs reaching up along the base of the bluffs some ten miles. Appearing as a mere pathway in the grass, and stretching its long line up parallel with the river, we may faintly see what that moving train in the distance proves to be the track of the Council Bluffs & St. Joseph Railroad. But the majestic steamer still carries a portion of the trade of the upper country, for occasionally may be seen some proud craft in the distance, slowing plowing its pathway through the waters. As it moves upward on its course, we may catch glimpses of it through the cottonwood groves, and watch its curling wreaths of smoke as it "rounds to" to drop a portion of its burden at Sidney landing and Nebraska City.

But we must look in another direction. Down from the northwest, meandering through a valley as fertile as any on the globe, comes the Nishnabotany river to empty its tribute, three miles below, into the more turbid waters which have traveled on their journey more than a thousand miles from the northwest. How many hundred years ago this beautiful little river began to cut its way through these bluffs can not now be told, nor why it was. Perhaps it was, that a city in the after ages might rise here. Beyond this valley, with its green lining of trees, and looking over the bustling little city of Hamburg, to the east and north, we behold fine cultivated farms.

Twenty-eight years ago, a young German named Augustus Borcher, wandering from his native Fatherland, cast his lot here, in what was then an uncultivated wilderness, to trade with the Indians the remnant of a small stock of goods. In 1857 he conceived and consummated the project of locating a town at this spot, and not forgetting the fame of his native Hamburg on the Elbe, he gave that name to his newly founded city on the Missouri. Hamburg has now a population of 2,053.

Jacob McKissick was the first merchant in Hamburg, and built the first business house in 1858.

E. W. Allen, in 1868, erected at this place one of the finest flouring mills in the West. The building is 48 by 52 feet, and four stories high. The foundation is built of brick, and the balance frame. It has a 48 horse engine, with three sets of burrs—all the machinery being new and of the latest and best patterns. It stands at the southwest part of the town on the site of a mill burned for Mr. Allen a year or two before. He is deserving of credit for his enterprise.

The first large brick business block was erected by M. Hellman & Co., and C. S. Rider & Co., in 1868. The fine building of Sippie & Co., containing the Masonic Hall, was erected shortly after.

Fremont County Courthouse

Fremont County was organized in 1850 and Austin was its first county seat. Court was held in a storeroom. In 1851, the county seat moved to Sidney where, in 1860, a $40,000 courthouse was constructed. This was a two-story building with a heavy brick tower and a tin roof. In the winter of 1863, the windows and doors of the entire structure were blown out by someone using two kegs of stolen gunpowder. The county spent a lot of money on repairs, but the upper floor and roof were too badly damaged to be repaired.

The present courthouse, a brick building, was built in 1889. It is fairly simple, but the classic early American architectural style provides it with plenty of character. Between short granite columns at the front of the building are cement steps that have become concave with wear from thousands of footsteps over the years.

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