Lyon County, Iowa Genealogical Records Information

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Lyon County History and Information

Lyon County Facts

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Lyon was created on January 15, 1851 (Organized in 1872) from Unorganized Territory. The County was named for Nathaniel Lyon, brigadier general in the Mexican and Seminole Wars. Lyon was killed while leading the First Iowa Infantry at the Battle of Wilson's Creek in Missouri. This was the first battle in which Iowa troops took part in the American Civil War. The County Seat is Rock Rapids.

Counties adjacent to Lyon County are Rock County, Minnesota (north), Nobles County, Minnesota (northeast), Osceola County (east), Sioux County (south), Lincoln County, South Dakota (west), Minnehaha County, South Dakota (northwest). Cities and Towns Include Alvord, Beloit, Doon, George, Granite, Klondike, Inwood, Larchwood, Lester, Little Rock, Rock Rapids.

The county was originally called Buncombe County, in honor of Edward Buncombe of North Carolina. On September 11, 1862 it was officially changed to Lyon County. The county originated in 1872.

The first county business was held in the homes of the various county officials, often over 45 miles apart. Some offices were held in the village of Beloit. In 1873 the county offices were all located in the town of Rock Rapids, named for the rapids found in the Rock River.

Bids for the first courthouse were opened on May 5, 1873 but it was not until June 24, 1874 that the cornerstone was laid into place. The $14,000 courthouse was dedicated in 1875.

This building was later moved to the north, where it became the Marietta Hotel. Today the three-story building stands as the Boon-Mar Apartments.

The present Lyon County courthouse was started in 1916 and completed one year later at a cost of $135,053. The three-story structure is constructed of Indiana limestone, and the main entrance is appropriately decorated with a carved stone lion. Many of the original pieces of oak furniture are still used in the building. In the summer of 1991, an inventory was taken of all unused furniture, equipment and miscellaneous items throughout the building. Many of these pieces were donated to the Lyon County Historical Society. A public auction was held to dispose of the rest of the items. See also County History and County Courthouse for more details.

The Lyon County Official Government Website
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Lyon County, Iowa History Books at Amazon.com
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Records at the Lyon 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 Lyon County Courthouse at 206 South Second Street, Rock Rapids 51246; Tel: 712-472-2623. 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. Lyon County was attached to Woodbury County for a breif time. Some early records may be found there.

Lyon County Recorder's Office has Birth Records from 1880, Marriage Records from 1872, Death Records from 1880 and Land Records from 1862.
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.

Lyon County Clerk of Court Office has Probate Records from 1885 and Court Records from 1874.
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 Lyon County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Lyon County Court Records by clicking the link below:

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

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

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

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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

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

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

County History

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

Lyon is the northwest county of the state, the Big Sioux River separating it from Dakota Territory. It is thirty-seven miles long, east and west, by about seventeen north and south, containing an area of about 575 square miles, and has an altitude of nearly 1,400 feet above sea level.

The principal streams are the Big Sioux, which borders it on the west, and the Rock River with their numerous tributaries. The main branch of Rock River flows centrally across the county, receiving near the south line its principal tributary, Little Rock River, which flows through the county from northeast to southwest. A considerable tributary called Mad Creek, also rises in Minnesota and meanders nearly across the county. Among other tributaries of Rock River are Kanaranza, Otter and Tom Creeks. These are all clear and beautiful streams, and completely water all parts of the county. The Big Sioux and Rock Rivers furnish some excellent mill sites. The valley of the Big Sioux is from three to six miles wide, and is exceedingly fertile. Along this stream are some fine groves of native timber, and there are also a few groves on Rock River, though the supply of timber in the county is quite limited. The prairies are rolling, and in fertility are unsurpassed, there being but little or no waste land in the county. The soil is generally a drift deposit, covered with a black sandy loam and vegetable mold. It produces the finest crops of cereals and grasses.

By an act of the General Assembly, approved January 15, 1851, the boundaries of the county were fixed, and the name of Buncombe given to it. By this name it was known on the early maps. By an act, approved January 12, 1853, Buncombe County and several others were attached to Wahkaw (now Woodbury) County for judicial and revenue purposes, and thus remained until its organization January 1, 1872; but by an act, approved September 11, 1862, the name was changed to Lyon, in honor of General Nathaniel Lyon, who fell at the battle of Wilson's Creek. At the time of the creation of Buncombe County the title to the soil still vested in the Sioux Indians, but by a treaty of July 23, 1851, they relinquished the title to the United States, and stipulated to remove at once to their reservation on the Upper Missouri. They did not take their final departure, however, until several years after. The government surveys in the county were not completed until 1857.

Long before there were any permanent settlers in the county this was the resort of many adventurous hunters and trappers. One of the most noted was Daniel McLaren, who built his cabin on the Big Sioux at the mouth of the little creek which now bears his name. After the county began to settle he took a homestead, but finally went further west. "Old Tom" had his cabin at the mouth of Tom Creek, near the present town of Rock Rapids, and was killed by the Indians. The names of three other daring adventurers were Roy McGregor, George Clark and Thomas Lockhart, young men from Massachusetts, who were here in the Summer of 1862. McGregor was killed by the Indians; Clark was drowned in March, 1863; and Lockhart, after many narrow escapes, returned to civilization. Lewis P. Hyde, from Minnesota, made the first permanent settlement July 23, 1866, taking a homestead on the Big Sioux River, about two miles below the present Town of Beloit. He, with his sons, built the first settler's cabin. In the Fall they returned to Minnesota and spent the Winter, coming back in Spring with their families. Sioux City, seventy miles distant, was the nearest market, and during the Summer of 1867 the Sioux Indians were their only neighbors. In the Fall of 1867 Halvor Nelson, and his brother Ole Nelson, of Clayton County, visited the county seeking a location for a mill. Early in the Spring of 1868, with a colony, they returned to the county, and Halvor Nelson immediately set to work to build a saw mill. Part of this colony settled west of the Big Sioux River in Dakota. In May, 1868, H. D. Rice went from Clay County and settled on Rock River, locating at the place known as Doon. Mrs. Rice came in September, and was the first white woman to settle on Rock River.

In August of this year Emerick Irwin and H. W. Reves built cabins and settled near, and J. B. Hartron in December following. These persons, and the little colony at Beloit, comprised the population during the Winter of 1868-'9. In the following May, Charles H. Johnson of Wisconsin, settled on Little Rock River at the mouth of Otter Creek, and soon after T. W. Johnson, A. A. Johnson, Emerick Irwin, and the Messrs. McGuire, located in the same vicinity. In June of the same year D. C. Whitehead, of Webster County, went up Rock River to look for a location. On his way he was joined by Matthias Sweesy and Delos Tousley. On the 22d of June they reached the point to which Mr. Whitehead gave the name of Rock Rapids, where they selected homesteads, and thus made the beginning of another thriving settlement. The following also settled in different parts of the county prior to 1870; George W. McQueen, John A. Wagner, S. G. Martin, Justice Martin, Amos Severson, Thorseten Korsted, Ole Sorenson, Hans J. Oleson, Simon Toblason, John Albertson, E. W. Lewis and others, the colony at Beloit also receiving considerable additions. At the close of the year 1869 the population of the count had reached about one hundred, although the first settlement was made three years before. Since this time the population has rapidly increased.

On the 28th of May, 1871, the first white child was born in the county-Odena Lee, daughter of A. K. Lee. The first sermon was preached by Reverend Ellef Oleson, at the residence of Mr. Nelson, at Beloit, September 6, 1870; and at the same time and place was solemnized the first marriage—that of Ole Torberson and Petrina Peterson. The first death was that of Lyman A. Wagner, son of John A. Wagner, December 26, 1870, aged four years and twenty days. The first school was taught in the Winter of 1870-1 by Mrs. D. C. Whitehead, at Rock Rapids. On the 25th of July, 1871, was commenced, by C. E. Bristol, at Rock Rapids, the publication of the first newspaper—the Rock Rapids Journal. At first this paper was printed out of the county. The first paper printed in the county was the Lyon County Press, the first number of which was issued at Doon, September 20, 1872, by L. B. Raymond & Co.

On January 1, 1871, Lyon County severed its connection with Woodbury, and was organized as an independent county. At this time the county was divided into two civil townships—Lyon and Rock. The first election was held October 10, 1871, at which ninety-seven votes were polled. The following county officers were elected; Charles E. Goetz, Auditor; James H. Wagner, Treasurer; D. C. Whitehead, Clerk; T. W. Johnson, Sheriff; Thomas Thorson, Recorder; L. A. Ball, Superintendent of Schools; Ethan Allen, Surveyor; and J. S. Howell, Charles H. Johnson and H. T. Helgerson, County Supervisors.

ROCK RAPIDS — This is the county seat, and is situated on a beautiful prairie tableland at the junction of Rock River and Kanaranzi Creek. Adjoining the town there is a very pretty grove of native timber, and the river here furnishes several excellent mill sites. There is an abundance of rock suitable for use in the construction of dams.

BELOIT — This place is situated on Big Sioux River, at the extreme southwest corner of the county. There is fine water power here, and also some beautiful groves of maple, elm and other kinds of timber.

DOON — This town is situated on a smooth plateau on the east bank of Rock River, at the confluence of Mad Creek, Rock and Little Rock Rivers. It commands a fine view of the valleys of these streams. Two fine water powers are furnished at this point.

LARCHWOOD —This is the central point of a large colony from Illinois, and is surrounded by excellent farming lands. It is in the northwestern part of the county.

Lyon County Courthouse

Rock Rapids, located in the geographical center of Lyon County, was chosen as the first county seat. A successful vote at a general election led to the approval of a $15,000 contract for a courthouse in April, 1874. A two-story frame building was finished in 1875.

The second courthouse was built in 1916 and remains in nearly its original condition. The outer walls are made of cut Bedford stone lined with brick. The building measures approximately 110 feet by 71 feet and is 52 feet high. A full-size cast stone lion guards the main entryway and Italian marble lines the corridors leading to a rotunda. The building cost $109,695.13.

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