History
Lee County is located in the extreme southeast corner of Iowa. With a total of 522 square miles, it is mostly agricultural with the major acreage in farms. The Des Moines River flows southeasterly along the southern border, the Mississippi river flows south along the eastern border and the Skunk River flows southeasterly along part of the northern border of the county. The land along the rivers is forested and steep.
Lee County was first defined in 1836, with the final boundaries established in 1838. Fort Madison was named as the county seat, but due to much disagreement and numerous votes, a second court jurisdiction was established in Keokuk in 1847, and the county seat was divided with deputies at the offices in Keokuk. All land south of the Half‑Breed line, except the east half of Jefferson Township, is recorded at Keokuk, and the remainder of the county at Fort Madison. (The Half-Breed line, also known as Sullivan’s line, is the easterly extension of the Iowa-Missouri border through Lee County.) In 1834, the barracks were built at Fort Des Moines, which was located at what is now Montrose,
Land was designated in 1824 for the half‑breeds of the Sac and Fox tribes. In 1838, the lands north of the Half‑Breed Tract were sold by auction at Burlington. Population of Lee county was 2,839 in 1838; in 1850 it was 18,912; in 1860 29,232; in 1905, 18,006; in 1950, 43,102 and in 1990 it was 38, 687.
Boundaries
Lee County is in the
southeast corner of Iowa. It is bounded as follows: West: Van Buren Co.;
North: Henry Co.; NE: Des Moines Co. along the Skunk River; East: Henderson
and Hancock Cos. Illinois along the Mississippi River and SW: Clark Co.,
Missouri along the Des Moines River.
Current towns and communities (Zip codes given for towns having Post Offices)
1890 1990
Argyle 52619 Des Moines 75
Charleston Charles 150
Croton Van Buren 96
Denmark 52624 Denmark 300
Donnellson 52625 Franklin/Charleston 200 940
Fort Madison 52627 Fort Madison 7,901 11,618
Franklin Franklin 333 152
Houghton 22631 Cedar/Marion 20 127
Keokuk 52632 Keokuk/Jackson 14,101 12,451
Montrose 52639 Montrose 778 957
Mooar Jackson
Mt. Hamill Cedar 64
New Boston Charles 59
Pilot Grove 52648 Marion 75
Primrose Harrison 200
Saint Paul Marion 90 120
Sandusky Montrose 100
Summittville Montrose 200
Vincennes Des Moines 125
West Point 52656 West Point 498 1,079
Wever
52658 Green
Bay
60
Abandoned towns
Town Township
Town Township
Ambrosia Montrose LaCrew Franklin/Madison
Atlee/Edwards West Point Martensville Madison
Ballinger Montrose Meierotto Marion
Beck unknown Melrose Des Moines
Belfast Van Buren Monterey Montrose
Benbow Washington Messingerville
Big Mound Cedar Mount Clara unknown
Bluff Park Montrose Nashville Montrose
Bricker Overton/Pilot Grove Marion
Buena Vista unknown Pitman
Bullards Station Jefferson Russellville/Doantown Cedar
Camargo Des Moines Saint Paul
Camackville Cedar Sawyer Washington
Clay’s Grove Marion Shopton
Connable Des Moines South Augusta Denmark
Cottonwood Cedar South Franklin Franklin
Courtright/Mount Hamill Cedar String Prairie Des Moines
Doantown Cedar Sugar Creek Montrose
Dover Franklin Tuscarora Franklin
Croton Van Buren Van Buren Van Buren
Franklin (Center) Franklin Viele Jefferson
Galland Montrose Warren Harrison
Green Bay Green Bay Yeargerville Charleston
Hazen Washington Wescott
Hinsdale Des Moines White Lane/Cammackville
Jeffersonville Jefferson Wilcox
Jolleyville
Zarahemla unknown
Section II: Resource Centers
Courthouses:
· [SLCCH] South Lee County Court and County Offices
25 North 7th Street, Keokuk, Iowa
(This courthouse includes records for the following townships: Van Buren, Charleston, and Des Moines, Montrose, Jackson and the west portion of Jefferson.)
· [NLCCH] North Lee County Court House
701 Ave F, Fort Madison, Iowa
(This courthouse and the North Lee County Offices include records for the following townships: Cedar, Marion, Pleasant Ridge, Denmark, Harrison, Franklin, West Point, Washington, Green Bay and the east portion of Jefferson.)
· [NLCO] North Lee County Offices
10th St and Ave H, Fort Madison, Iowa
Genealogical Societies
· [LCGS] Lee County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 303, Keokuk, Iowa 52632-0303
· [OFGS] Old Fort Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 1, Fort Madison, Iowa 52627
Historical Societies
· [LCHS] Lee County Historical Society
P.O. Box 125, Keokuk, Iowa 52632
· [NLCHS] North Lee County Historical Society
814 10th Street, Fort Madison, Iowa 52627
· [MHS] Montrose Historical Society
Montrose Public Library, Montrose, Iowa
· [WPHS] West Point Historical Society
West Point Public Library, West Point, Iowa
Libraries with Genealogical or Historical Collections
· [KPL] Keokuk Public Library
210 N 5th Street, Keokuk, Iowa 52632
· [FMPL] Fort Madison Public Library
3421 Ave L, Fort Madison, Iowa 52627
· [DPL] Donnellson Public Library
500 Park Street, Donnellson, Iowa 52625
· [MPL] Montrose Public Library
200 Main Street, Montrose, Iowa 52639
· [WPPL] West Point Public Library
311 Ave D, West Point, Iowa 52656
· [IGSL] Iowa Genealogical Society Library
628 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50309
· [ISHL] Iowa State Historical Library
600 East Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Section III: Records – records may be found at the record sites abbreviated after each entry. See Section II for complete record site information.
Census
· Federal: 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910: [KPL] , [FMPL] , [DPL] , [WPPL] , [IGSL] , [ISHL] ; 1920: [KPL] , [IGSL] , [ISHL] ; 1930: [IGSL]
· Federal Indices: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1920: [IGSL] , [ISHL] ; 1850, 1860, 1870: [KPL] ; 1850: [DPL]
· Iowa Genealogical Society: 1850 census index for Lee County, (1988): [IGSL] , [ISHL]
· State: 1856, 1885, 1895, 1915, 1925: [KPL] , [FMPL] , [DPL] , [IGSL] , [ISHL]
· Mortality Schedules: 1850: [KPL] , [FMPL] ; 1860, 1870, 1880: [KPL] , [FMPL]
· Keokuk: 1882: [KPL] , [FMPL]
· Hayes: 1925 Lee County Census (2000), transcript: [IGSL]
· Beals: 1856 State Census of Lee County, (1987), transcript: [IGSL] , [ISHL] , [KPL] , [DPL]
· Iowa Territorial Census Index for 1836: [KPL]
· Iowa Census Records, 1841-1849: [KPL]
Vital Records
Births
· Birth records, (from 1880): [SLCCH] , [NLCO]
· Birth Registers, (1880-1940), microfilm: [ISHL] ; (1880-1921), microfilm: [IGSL]
· Index to births: [SLCCH] , [NLCO] , [KPL] , [FMPL] , [DPL]
· Births: Alphabetical Index, 1880-1889, Lee Co., Iowa: [KPL]
· Lee County Genealogical Society: Births, Lee County, (1987): [IGSL] , [ISHL] , [KPL] , [DPL]
Marriages
· Marriage records: (from 1837) originals: [SLCCH] , [NLCO] ; (1880-1940) microfilm: [IGSL] ; (1837-1940) microfilm: [ISHL] , [KPL]
· Index to marriages: [SLCCH] , [NLCO] , [KPL] , [FMPL] , [DPL] , [WPPL]
· South Lee County Marriage Records, 1848+, transcript: [IGSL]
· Lee County Genealogical Society: Early Marriages, Lee County, (1968): [ISHL]
· Kester: Marriage Records, Lee County, Iowa, (1987): [ISHL]
· Burkett: Collection of Anniversary Celebrations in Daily Gate City Newspaper: 1992,(1992): [KPL]
· Watson: Collection of Anniversary notices in the Daily Gate City Newspaper: 1985-91, (1992): [KPL]
· Burkett: Engagements and Marriages; 1992, n.d.: [KPL]
Deaths
· Death records: (from 1867) originals: [SLCCH] , [NLCO]
· Index to deaths: [SLCCH] , [NLCO] , [KPL] , [DPL]
· Keokuk Index to deaths (1867-1941), microfilm: [ISHL] , [IGSL]
· Death register, (1880-1919): microfilm: [ISHL] , [KPL] , [IGSL]
· Deaths at Fort Madison, 1929-1958, microfilm: [IGSL]
· Lee County Genealogical Society: Death Book, Lee County, Iowa, (1987): [ISHL]
· Old Fort Genealogical Society: Lee County Mortality Schedules for 1860, 1870, 1880, (1997): [ISHL]
· Kay: Keokuk, Iowa Death Records, (1972): [ISHL] , [KPL]
· Satterly: Index to Death Certificates, Keokuk, Iowa, n.d.: [KPL]
Probate and related records
· Probate records: (from 1841) originals: [SLCCH] , [NLCO]
· Index to probate: [SLCCH] , [NLCO] , [KPL] , [DPL]
· Probate docket (1837-1851) microfilm: [IGSL] ; (1841-1925) microfilm: [ISHL]
· Wills, (1858-1903), microfilm: [ISHL]
· Lee County Genealogical Society: Abstracts of Wills, South Lee County (1992): [IGSL] , [ISHL]
· Williams/West: South Lee County Probate files, (1991), transcript: [IGSL] , [KPL] , [ISHL]
· Burkett: Abstract of Wills of South Lee County (1992): [IGSL] , [ISHL]
· Lee County Genealogical Society: Index to Will Books, Keokuk, South Lee County, 1873-1912+, (1983): [ISHL] , [KPL] , [DPL]
· Lee County Genealogical Society: Index to Will Books, Fort Madison, North Lee County, 1886-1934, (1984): [ISHL] , [KPL] , [DPL]
Land and related records
· Land records: (from 1830) originals: [SLCCH] , [NLCO] , copies of selected records: , [KPL]
· North Lee Deeds (1830-1907), microfilm: [ISHL] , [KPL]
· South Lee Deeds, (1837-1907), microfilm: [ISHL] , [KPL]
· Lee County Land Records, township 68, (1839-1849, transcript: [IGSL]
· Homestead records, (1857-1880), microfilm: [ISHL]
· Tax, poll tax records: [SLCCH] , [NLCO]
Maps, atlases and gazetteers
· Andreas: Illustrated Historical Atlas of Lee County, Iowa, (1874): [KPL] , [FMPL] , [DPL] , [ISHL]
· Lakeside Press: Atlas of Lee County, (1875): [KPL] , [MPL], [WPPL]
· Northwest Pub. Co.: Plat Book of Lee County, (1897): [KPL] , [DPL]
· Ogle Pub. Co.: Standard Atlas Of Lee County, Iowa, (1916): [KPL] , [DPL] , [MPL]
· Fitzpatrick: Place Names of Lee County (1929): [IGSL] , [ISHL] , [KPL] , [DPL]
· Lee County Atlases, 1956, 1960, 1965, 1972, 1974: [KPL]
· Lee County Directory and Rural Resident Locater, 1971, 1972, 1974: [KPL]
· Crail: 1916 Standard Atlas of Lee County, (reprint 1993): [KPL] , [DPL] , [MPL], [WPPL] , [IGSL]
· Lee County Directory, (1868): [DPL] ; rural directories, 1988, 1989: [WPPL]
· Keokuk City Directories, (1856-1983): [KPL]
· Keokuk City Directories, (1856-1897), microfilm: [ISHL] , [KPL]
· R.L. Polk Co.: Fort Madison City and Rural Directory, (1985), microfilm: [ISHL]
· Selected City Directories: [KPL] , [FMPL]
· Lee County Atlas and Farm Plat Books, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1972, 1979: [WPPL]
Court records
· Circuit Court Records: [SLCCH] , [NLCO] ; (1849-1886) microfilm: [ISHL]
· District Court Records: [SLCCH] , [NLCO] ; (1850-1888) microfilm: [ISHL]
· Civil and Criminal Court Index: [SLCCH] , [NLCO] , [KPL] , [DPL]
· Lee County Genealogical Society: Criminal Docket and Fee Book, (1991): [IGSL] , [KPL]
· Naturalizations, (1856-1906): [SLCCH] , [NLCO] ; microfilm: [ISHL] , [KPL]
· Adoption records: [SLCCH] , [NLCO] , [KPL]
· Divorce Records: [SLCCH] , [NLCO] , [KPL]
· Applications for Citizenship (1855-1862), microfilm: [ISHL]
Cemetery
· Indexes to Cemeteries: [SLCCH] , [NLCO] , [KPL] , [FMPL] , [DPL] , [MPL], [WPPL]
· Lee County Burial Permits, 1909-1919, microfilm: [IGSL]
· Lee County Cemeteries, listed by townships: [IGSL] , [KPL]
· Area cemeteries, listed by township, microfilm: [ISHL]
· Works Progress Administration: Graves Registration Project, (1938): [ISHL] , [KPL] , [DPL]
· Johnston: Record of Burials in National Cemetery, Keokuk, Iowa, (1976): [KPL]
· Bickel: Oakland Cemetery, Keokuk, Iowa, (1958): [KPL] , [DPL]
· Iowa State Penitentiary Inmate Burials: [KPL]
· Evangelical Cemetery Records, Donnellson: [DPL]
· Franklin Evangelical Cemetery Records: [DPL]
· Scandinavian Cemetery Records: [DPL]
· Sharon Cemetery Records: [DPL]
· Montrose Cemetery Records: [MPL]
· Clements Chapel Funeral Home Index, microfilm: [IGSL]
· Lee County Funerals 1969-1971: [IGSL]
Current funeral homes
· Keokuk
- Delong’s Funeral Home
917 Blondeau Street, Keokuk, Iowa 52632
- Vigen Memorial Home
1328 Concert Street, Keokuk, Iowa 52632
- Greaves Mortuary
1212 Concert Street, Keokuk, Iowa 52632
· Donnellson
- Hofbauer Funeral Home
521 Madison Avenue, Donnellson, Iowa 52625
· Fort Madison
- King-Lynk Funeral Home
3507 Avenue L, Fort Madison, Iowa 52627
- Barr Memorial Chapel
20th & Ave F, Fort Madison, Iowa 52627
· West Point
- Link Funeral Home
502 Avenues E, West Point, Iowa 52656
· Keokuk Obituaries, (1872-1946), microfilm: [ISHL]
· Donnellson Obituaries, (1916-1970), microfilm: [ISHL]
· Montrose Obituaries, (1916-1929), microfilm: [ISHL]
· West Point Obituaries, (1916-1939), microfilm: [ISHL]
· Burkett: Collection of Obituaries … in Daily Gate City Newspaper, 1992: [KPL] , [DPL]
· Carter/Satterly: When Did They Die, (1979): [KPL]
· West Point Bee and Montrose Journal Obituaries, 1916-1921: [KPL]
· Garrison: Daily Gate City Men’s Obituaries, 2 vol, n.d.: [KPL]
· Garrison: Women’s Obituaries from local newspapers, 2, vol, n.d.: [KPL]
· Index of Obituaries taken from The Donnellson Review: [DPL] , [KPL]
· St. Lukes Episcopal Church, Fort Madison, directory: [IGSL]
· Ratliff: St. Joseph Church Records, Ft. Madison 1856-1879: [IGSL]
· Area Church records, microfilm: [ISHL] , [KPL]
· Montrose Historical Society: The Bell Without a Church, (1985): [KPL] , [MPL]
· History of the Rural (Methodist) Churches of Southeast Lee County, Iowa, n.d.: [KPL]
· Miller: Merging Years: A History of St. Peter Parish, Keokuk Iowa, 1832-1982, (1982): [KPL]
· St. John’s Church in Keokuk: A History 1850-1975, (1975): [KPL] , [WPPL]
· St. John’s Episcopal Church Register, n.d.: [KPL]
· St. John’s Catholic Church, Baptisms, 1849-1860, n,d,: [KPL]
·