Linn County, Iowa Genealogical Records Information

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Linn County History and Information

Linn County Facts

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Linn was created on Decemeber 21, 1837 (Organized in 1839) from Dubuque County. The County was named for Lewis Fields Linn, an U.S. senator from Missouri. The County Seat is Cedar Rapids.

Counties adjacent to Linn County are Benton County (west), Buchanan County (northwest), Cedar County (southeast), Delaware County (northeast), Iowa County (southwest), Johnson County (south), Jones County (east). Cities and Towns Include Alburnett, Bertram, Cedar Rapids, Center Point, Central City, Coggon, Ely, Fairfax, Hiawatha, Lisbon, Marion, Mount Vernon, Palo, Prairieburg, Robins, Springville, Walker.

Three men were selected to locate the county seat. They selected a site in 1839 and quite some time later named it Marion, after General Francis Marion, who was famous in the Revolutionary War. Settlers of the county cut logs and hauled them to Marion. There they constructed a log cabin courthouse, free of charge.

In the spring of 1846 a frame building was constructed to replace the log cabin courthouse of 1840. It was soon replaced by a two-story brick and stone structure.

Marion received continued agitation from Cedar Rapids (originally called Rapids City), over the county seat. But it was not until a November 4, 1919 election Cedar Rapids was declared the new county seat. This election was called a victory for the lawyers at the time; about 90 percent of Linn County’s lawyers lived in Cedar Rapids.

The construction of a courthouse in Cedar Rapids was slow going. Many legal questions had to be answered before a bond issue was finally approved in 1923. The cornerstone of the new courthouse was laid on November 12, 1923. The steel frame building sits on concrete piles and the exterior is faced with Bedford limestone. It was built on Municipal (or May’s) Island, located midstream in the Cedar River, opposite the downtown business district. The island, about four blocks long and one block wide, was acquired from the city by Linn County for $7.50. Total cost of the building, including jail, was $550,639. The building was dedicated on July 6, 1925 and re-dedicated in July 1975 for its 50th anniversary.

The city of Marion gained fame before the turn of the century as the home of the Cherry Sisters, well-known vaudeville performers.

By 1980, Linn County government had outgrown its courthouse, and a bond issue was approved by the voters to purchase the Penick and Ford office building, at 930 1st St. SW, across from the huge corn processing plant of the same name.

The offices of the Board of Supervisors, Auditor, Treasurer, Recorder, County Assessor, Building and Zoning and data processing services were moved to the remodeled Penick and Ford office building in late 1980 and early 1981. The building was named the Linn County Administrative Office Building. The original courthouse housed only the courts, the county attorney and the sheriff’s department. See also County History and County Courthouse for more details.

The Linn County Official Government Website
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Linn County, Iowa History Books at Amazon.com
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Records at the Linn 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 Linn County Courthouse at Third Ave Bridge, PO Box 1468, Cedar Rapids 52406; Tel: 319-398-3411. 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. Linn County was attached to Jackson County for a breif time. Some early records may be found there.

Linn County Recorder's Office has Birth Records from 1880, Marriage Records from 1840, Death Records from 1880 and Land Records from 1841.
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.

Linn County Clerk of Court Office has Probate Records from 1840 and Court Records from 1840.
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 Linn County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Linn County Court Records by clicking the link below:

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

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

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

Linn County Heritage Society, P.O. Box 175, Cedar Rapids 52406-0175
Linn County, Genealogical Society Of, P.O. Box 175, Cedar Rapids 52406-0175
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

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

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

County History

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

The surface of the country in Linn County is undulating, and, like Jones County, is broken into low, conical hills, with intersecting valleys running in every direction, while the general inclination is to the southeast and south, the water-shed being near the south bank of the Wapisinicon River, and extending nearly parallel with it. The soil is good, the whole county well watered, and the climate conducive to health. Well water is peculiarly pure and sparkling. The people are cheerful, busy and properous. [sic] All professions are well sustained, and industry is well rewarded.

The first cabin within the limits of Linn County was built by John Mann, in Linn Grove, on what is known as Upper Big Creek, in February, 1838. It is said (though disputed by some) that he was the first white settler. He built a small flouring mill, which was carried off by a flood in the Spring of 1851, and he perished with his mill. The creek rose to the height of twenty feet in less than half an hour, and he was unable to make his escape. His body was found several days afterwards, and was interred near by. He was from Pennsylvania.

The next settler, John Crow, was from North Carolina. He made claim to a tract of land on the Wapisipinicon in April, 1838. He was a gentleman of wealth and culture, and died a few years after his settlement here, leaving a family, some of whom still live in this and Jones County.

After the above mentioned, several families came in 1838, among whom were John J. Gibson, Robert Dean, John McAfferty, Peter McRoberts, William Abbe, in Franklin Township; Judge Mitchell, Jacob Leabo, Mr. Henry, in Westport, Bertram Township; Samuel C. Stewart, James and John Scott, Robert Osborn, Hiram Thomas and Isabell Safely (who died in 2875, aged 103), in Linn Township. John Stewart, Joseph Morford, J. Burge, and D. S. Hahn, and others were here early.

Claims were also made in Marion Township as early as 1838, and in 1839, John C. Berry, H. W. Gray, Rufus Lucore, James, Willis, Luman M. Strong, Esquire Bassett and others erected their cabins within its limits. We transfer the following items taken from an article recently published, as the risk of repetition.During the Summer of 1838 the settlements gradually extended in the east part of the county. The only persons now recollected of that early period as remaining, are John Gibson, of Mt. Vernon, and Andrew J. McKean, and Hosea W. Gray, of Marion. The first family west of Big Creek was that of Jacob Leabo from Kentucky. The first west of Indian Creek was that of James W. Bassett, from Vermont. The first justice of the peace was John McAfferty, commissioned in 1838. The first judge of probate was Israel Mitchell, a Tennessean, now residing in Oregon. The first sheriff was Hosea W. Gray. The first clerk of the district court was Socrates H. Tryon; he was also the first practicing physician. The first judge of the district court was Joseph Williams, a Pennsylvanian. The first officiating minister was the Reverend Christian Troup, A German Lutheran, who preached regularly in his own cabin near the mouth of Spring Creek, every Sunday during the latter part of the Summer of 1838. The first marriage was that of Richard Osborn and Sarah Haines, in the Spring of 1839. The first birth was that of a daughter of Mrs. Samuel McCartney, in July 1838. The first death was that of Mrs. Haines, an invalid elderly lady, who died from the effect of an accidental fall in July, 1838. The second was that of James Logan, an Irishman, who was killed by the caving in of a well which he was excavating in Marion, July, 1840.

To the founder of a city, and to reap the emoluments thereof, early engaged the attention of the pioneers. Israel Mitchell laid out the first town July, 1838, which was named Westport, and in September following, William Stone staked off a town on Cedar River, which he named Columbus, but soon abandoned it. His site was a good one, and is now occupied by the City of Cedar Rapids. In October of the same year, Auson Cowles laid out a town and codgeted his brain a long time for a name, and was finally relieved by Sir Walter Scott, and called his town Ivanhoe, but it has since been vacated.

The first store opened in the County was at Westport by Albert Henry, in the Fall of 1838. The second at Ivanhoe, in the Spring of 1839, by Colonel Wm. H. Merritt.

In 1839, the first 4th of July celebration took place at Westport, and Judge Mitchell was the orator of the day. The usual dinner, toasts and ball followed, and William H. Smith, Andrew J. McKean, and H. W. Gray were the ball managers.

In 1840, the census of the county was taken by H. W. Gray, Deputy Marshal; the population amounted to 1,342, so rapid had been the immigration in little over two years. Three years afterwards it was more than doubled again. This fine farming country could not long lie idle, when every home letter was full of its praise. Sssome of the early settlers were from the Souothern States, but Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, and other states had their representatives. Almost every settler finding himself in a land free from the trammels of political organization, immediately became a statesman, and advocated strongly whatever he could remember of the civil polity and police regulations of his own state. There was consequently no lack of variety of opinions, but some difficulty in harmonizing them. As they could not agree in adopting the code of any particular states, they came to the sage conclusion that they knew their own wants and could provide for them, and if transgressions found that justice was meted out in a more summary manner than was incident to the "law's delay," it was no more than they deserved. They at least learned that those hardy pioneers were not to be trifled with.

"In common with all frontier settlements," says Edmunds, "the first settlers here were poor; they were obliged to transport their produce in wagons mostly, to the Mississippi River, at points, sixty or seventy miles distant. When reached, at such disadvantage, the markets were very low, consequently the accretions of wealth were slow, and were mainly invested in the homestead of the farmer. The discovery of gold in California, with the resulting emigration and the building of railroads, connecting the people with Eastern markets, greatly accelerated the prosperity of this country, as well as all other parts of the West. The financial crisis of 1857 interposed a check to this upward career of prosperity. It was but temporary, however. The people had fully regained their former standing when the Rebellion commenced."Elam Hollar settled on Prairie Creek, in College Township, about 1840 or before.

Abner, Isaac and Joseph Cox, and John and Isham Hollar settled in Hoosier Grove about the same time.Colonel Henderson was one of the early settlers near Western. He had seven sons, all prominent men.

Linn County received its name from the Hon. Lucius F. Linn, United States Senator from Missouri, who being a favorite with some of the early settlers, was honored by having his name attached to one of the finest sections of Iowa.

The limits of the county were defined by act of the Territorial Legislature, in 1837, while Iowa was a part of Wisconsin Territory, and consisted of twenty congressional townships – being an equivalent of 460,800 acres, or 2,880 farms of 160 acres each.In October, 1838, the first election was held as Westport, being the only poll opened for the county. There were thirty-two votes cast for members of the assembly, and the first member to the General Assembly from Linn County was the Hon. George Greene, member of the Legislative Council in 1840.

September 9, 1839, the county commissions, consisting of Samuel C. Stewart, Peter McRoberts and Luman M. Strong, met at the house of James W. Willis, about half a mile north of the present site of Marion, and organized the county in due form of law.Hosea W. Gray was appointed sheriff, and John C. Berry, clerk.

The site which had been suggested was approved and named Marion by said board. They divided the county into road and election districts, and appointed for constables, William H. Smith and Andrew J. McKean.

CEDAR RAPIDS - Is situated on the northeast side of Cedar River, embracing sections 21, 22, 27, 28 etc., in Rapids Township. The location is one of the most delightful in the state, occupying a plain rising above the river bed and extending back nearly half a mile, with a slightly rolling surface, affording fine building sites, with but little trouble in grading, and with peculiar grace in appearance. Ten years ago this level plat was surrounded by an abrupt elevation twenty-five to fifty feet in height, covered by a luxuriant growth of native oak.On these elevations today are elegant, residences, overlooking the valley for miles in either direction. On the south side of the river is Valley City, but so closely connected as to form but a single town as you gaze upon it from some elevation in the neighborhood. There is no rival city within twenty-five miles, and the richness of the surrounding country gives assurance of rapid growth. It is 220 miles due west from Chicago, and 75 miles southwest from Dubuque, and is well supplied with railroads leading to all parts of the country, east and west, north and south.

The rapids in the Cedar River are the first as you ascent from its mouth at the Mississippi, and the water-power is one of the finest in the country. A dam and race have been constructed at a cost of about $30,000, and the water-power is being utilized by energetic capitalists. The timber in the vicinity is sufficient for ages to come.

Among the first settlers at Cedar Rapids were D. W. King and T. Gaines, who came in 1839 and effected a permanent settlement on the west side of the river. There was a man, however, by the name of Shepard, a noted horse-thief and counterfeiter, who erected a cabin near what is now Commercial Street, near the old mills, in 1828. His house was the rendezvous of a lawless band engaged in horse-stealing and plundering the early settlers, and their booty was secreted on the islands of the river. This gang of desperadoes and freebooters was not driven out of the country till about 1851.

Mr. William Stone, in 1838, staked off a town where Valley City is now located, which he called Columbus; but it was never surveyed, and was finally abandoned.

MARION - Marion, the county seat of Linn County, was laid out by the commissioners in 1839. It is beautifully located in the midst of an exceedingly fertile country, with limber in quantity and quality sufficient for all purposes for ages to come. Early in 1840 quite a large number of settlers came into the prospective town, and opened different kinds of business. Woodbridge A. Thompson opened the first store, in 1839. Addison Daniels, in 1840, erected a cabin and commenced selling dry goods and groceries, and has kept at it ever since. Lumon M. Strong kept a hotel in 1839, and a Mr. Hall opened another in 1840. Thomas Hare put up a blacksmith shop, and H. Woodbridge a shoe shop. A mill was erected by Hiram Bates and Richard Thomas. The American House was one of the first frame buildings, and a court was built, all in 1839 and 1840.

Linn County Courthouse

The first courthouse Linn County was completed in 1842 at a cost of $40,000. The building, constructed in Marion, was two stories high and made of brick. Although a battle began between Cedar Rapids and Marion for the county seat, the second courthouse was built in Marion in 1855.

In April of 1919, Cedar Rapids deeded a plot of land to the county for the purpose of relocating the county government there. Voters were asked to approve a $1,300,000 bond issue for the construction of a new courthouse and plans were drawn up by an engineer. Although the issue failed, the board went ahead and spent money for a new building. Luckily, the voters did approve a smaller bond in 1922 so that the construction could be paid for.

A Bedford limestone courthouse in Roman and Greek architecture was constructed in Cedar Rapids on an island in the Cedar River. The ten columns that adorn the front enhance the building's powerful image. Inside, the posts and walls are made of travertine and the floors are made of marble. The building was re-dedicated in 1975 and still serves Linn County today.

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