Louisa County, Iowa Genealogical Records Information

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Louisa County History and Information

Louisa County Facts

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Louisa was created on 1836 from Des Moines County. The County was named for either Louisa Massey of Dubuque, Iowa, who, according to legend, killed the murderer of her brother; or Louisa County, Virginia. The County Seat is Wapello.

Counties adjacent to Louisa County are Johnson County (northwest), Muscatine County (north), Rock Island County, Illinois (northeast), Mercer County, Illinois (east), Des Moines County (south), Henry County (southwest), Washington County (west). Cities and Towns Include Columbus City, Columbus Junction, Cotter, Fredonia, Grandview, Letts, Morning Sun, Oakville, Wapello.

Louisa County has a lot of history. Once the site of a glacier, Louisa County contains more than one-fourth of all archeological sites on the Great River Road in Iowa. Artifacts from early hunters and farmers are found at those sites.

Louisa County was created out of a strip of land that was known as the Black Hawk Purchase. The earliest settlers arrived in present day Louisa County in 1835, when it was still part of Demoine County. Louisa County itself was established in 1836 and originated in 1837.

The first county seat was Lower Wapello, declared by the Wisconsin Legislature in 1838. But, in January 1839 the Territorial Legislature of Iowa proposed that an election be held to name a county seat. Wapello was declared the county seat on March 4, 1839. One year later a one-story brick structure was constructed at a cost of $1,300.

In 1854 the brick courthouse was replaced and then used as a school. The third courthouse was constructed of stone that was quarried from the bluffs southwest of Wapello. It cost $9,577 to complete.

There have been many battles between Wapello and Columbus Junction over the county seat. Columbus Junction went as far as to construct a new courthouse; it was later used as a high school. In all of these battles Columbus Junction lost. As a consolation prize, Columbus Junction received the annual Louisa County Fair

The present courthouse is located on the site of the previous courthouse. The two-story brick and stone building was completed in 1928 at a cost of $100,000. On the courthouse grounds is a 20-pound Civil War cannon made by G.E. Parret of Notre Dame, Indiana in 1861. See also County History and County Courthouse for more details.

The Louisa County Official Government Website
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Louisa County, Iowa History Books at Amazon.com
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Records at the Louisa 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 Louisa County Courthouse at P.O. Box 268, Wapello 52653; Tel: 641-523-4541. 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.

Louisa County Recorder's Office has Birth Records from 1880, Marriage Records from 1842, Death Records from 1880 and Land Records from 1839.
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.

Louisa County Clerk of Court Office has Probate Records from 1838 and Court Records from 1839.
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 Louisa County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Louisa County Court Records by clicking the link below:

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

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

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

Louisa County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 261, Wapello 52653-0261
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

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

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Sites on USGenweb: [ Louisa County ] [ Iowa ] [ Main Page ]
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Louisa County USGenweb Archives
Louisa County, Iowa Family Books at Amazon.com

County History

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

The celebrated aboriginal chiefs Black Hawk, Wapello, Keokuk, and Poweshiek lived in this county, which was considered by them as among their best hunting grounds. As to when and by whom the first white settlement was made there seems to be some disagreement, although it is generally conceded that Christopher Shuck, who located near Toolsborough, was the first permanent settler, although the following persons all located here as early as 1835; Wm. L. Toole, P. Harrison, W. Crayton, S. Smith and L. Thornton, near the mouth of the Iowa; John Ronald, at Port Louisa; William Kennedy at Harrison, where he built the first mill. The following season they were followed by Benson, Hooker, McCleary, Childers, Storms, and Robert Williams—who was the first to build a cabin in the Indian reserve west of Wapello-Irwin, Marshall, Parsons, Diehl, Hook, Hale, Guest, Crow, Isett, and others.

In common with the other early settled counties of the state, and up to the time of the first sale of land by the United States, the people had their frequent claim difficulties, some of them serious and others quite amusing. Organizations were formed for mutual protection up to the time of the first public land sales, when the settlers secured their claims and held them undisturbed. Soon after that event the pioneers and old settlers of the county met and organized an Old Settlers' Association. At the first meeting Jacob Minton was made the President, and William L. Toole, Secretary; the following persons, with their families, located in different parts of the county early in its history-most of them prior to 1840; Francis Springer, Colonel Garner, A. Gamble, N. M. Letts, Henry Rockafellow, Judge Coe, John Drake, Jacob Minton, M. Jamison, David Hurley, William Brown, Reverend Josiah Vertrees, Joseph Marshall, John Marshall, James Gamble, Abraham Hill, and the Jarvises.

Louisa County was named, at the instance of the representative of this district in the Legislature, after Louisa Massey, who had about that time made herself notoriously popular by shooting a villian to save the life of her brother.* It was organized in 1837, and the first District Court held the same year, Judge David Irving presiding, with W. W. Chapman as United States District Attorney, and Zadoc C. Ingham, Clerk. David Irwin was the first judge who held courts within the jurisdiction of Iowa. He was a native of Albemarle County, Virginia, and commenced his legal career in that state at Harrisonburg. In 1834 he was appointed by President Jackson judge of that portion of what was then Michigan Territory lying west of the lakes. His district embraced all the country from the lakes west to the Missouri and White Earth Rivers, and north to the British possessions. When the Territory of Wisconsin was organized in 1836, Irwin became one of the three judges, and was assigned to the district west of the Mississippi River, and until the Territory of Iowa was organized, made his home in Burlington. He then returned to Wisconsin, and retained position as judge until 1848. When Wisconsin became a state, and his term of office expired, he removed to Texas, where his death occurred at Victoria, in the Spring of 1872. At the time of his death he was seventy-four years of age.

The room in which Judge Irwin held his first court in Louisa County was a log cabin, while the shade of an adjacent grove furnished a retreat for the jury. There was but little business for the first term.

The following were the first county officers; William L. Toole, L. Thornton and Robert Williams, Commissioners; Z. C. Ingham, Clerk of the District Court; C. McDaniel, Sheriff; John Gilliland, Treasurer and Recorder, and also Surveyor.

The county was represented in the first Territorial Legislature, which convened at Burlington on the twelfth day of November, 1838, by Levi Thornton and William L. Toole, in the House, and J. M. Clark in the Council. The first Legislature divided the territory into three judicial districts, Louisa County being in the second district, with Hon. Joseph Williams as Judge.

The first newspaper published in the county was The Wapello Intelligencer, commenced at Wapello, in 1841, by Clark & Noffinger. The first regular minister of the gospel who officiated was Rev. C. R. Fiske, and the first school was taught by John Ferguson. The first marriage was that of H. Long and Nancy Lacey; the first birth that of John McCleary, and the first death that of E. Shuck.

WAPELLO - This was the first town laid out in the county, and was surveyed and platted by John Gilliland in 1838 by order of the County Commissioners, Toole, Thornton and Williams. Among the earliest settlers of the place were John Drake, Jacob Minton, John Gilliand, E. Isett, C. McDaniel, S. Townsend and William Thomas. Among the first attorneys were James Clark, E. Thomas and Francis Springer. By an act of the Territorial Legislature, approved January 12, 1839, the people of the county were authorized to make permanent location of the county seat, by a vote to be taken on the first Monday of March of that year. The election resulted in favor of Wapello.

It is situated on the west bank of the Iowa River, some eighteen miles from its site of an Indian village of the Musguakas, where their Chief, Wapello, resided for some time and for whom the town was named. It was incorporated under a special act of the legislature, passed in 1855, is on the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Minnesota Railroad, has a good water power, which by improving might be made one of the best in the state, and is a good business town.

COLUMBUS JUNCTION - This is a thriving shipping and business point at the junction of the Chicago & Southwestern and the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Minnesota Railroads.

The other villages and post offices are CAIRO, CLIFTON, COLUMBUS CITY, FREDONIA, GRAND VIEW, LETTS, MID PRAIRIE, MORNING SUN, PORT ALLEN, PORT LOUISA, TOOLSBOROUGH and TWIN OAK.

Louisa County Courthouse

Middle Wapello was originally chosen to be the county seat and the first courthouse was built of cottonwood logs. This building was privately owned. A county-built courthouse was constructed from brick and completed in 1840.

By 1846, many citizens felt that a better courthouse was needed and a new facility was completed in 1854. The final cost of the courthouse was $9,577.69.

The citizens of Columbus Junction were eager to attain the honor of county seat for their town in 1872. They raised $25,000 and erected a two-story brick building to be used as a courthouse, but Columbus Junction lost the battle for the county seat and the building was used as a schoolhouse.

The present Louisa County courthouse was built in Wapello, in 1928 on the same site as the 1854 courthouse, which was torn down. The two-story building is made of tan colored bricks and trimmed with stone. The cost of the present structure was about $100,000.

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