History
There are at least two stories told as to how Louisa (pronounced Loo‑EYE‑za) county received its name. One, that it was named after a county in Virginia; the other, that it was named after the daughter of one of the first settlers. Louisa County has 380 square miles. There are three large rivers flowing through or along it ‑‑ the Cedar, Iowa and Mississippi. Because of the advantage of canoe traffic on the rivers, many Indians lived in the area. The famous Sac and Fox chiefs, Blackhawk Poweshiek, Keokuk and Wapello all lived along the junctions of the rivers.
The pre‑historic Mound Builders were the first to inhabit Louisa County. The village of Toolesboro contains the largest number of remaining mounds. White settlers followed the Woodlawn Indians, coming even before the land had been acquired by means of the Blackhawk Purchase. European settlers came soon; mainly the Welch and Germans, but Swedes, English, Irish and natives from Ohio and Pennsylvania also arrived. First whites came about 1834 and 1835; in 1836 Chief Keokuk and his followers gave peaceable possession, and great droves of settlers came in 1837.
Louisa County is located
in southeastern Iowa along the Mississippi River. It is bounded as follows:
West – Washington Co., NW – Johnson Co., North – Muscatine Co., NE – Rock Co.,
Illinois, East – Mercer Co., Illinois, SE – Henderson Co., Illinois, and South
– Des Moines Co., and SW – Henry Co.
Current towns and communities (Zip codes given for towns having Post Offices)
1890 1990
Columbus City 52737 Columbus City 459 328
Columbus Junction 52738 Columbus City 935 1.616
Cotter 52221 Columbus City 50 53
Fredonia 52738 Concord 250 201
Grandview 52752 Grandview 450 514
Letts 52754 Grandview 325 390
Morning Sun 52640 Morning Sun 881 841
Oakville 52646 Eliot 15 442
Wapello
52653 Wapello
1,009 2,013
Abandoned towns
Town Township Town Township
Alimedia Concord Florence Eliot
Altoona (became Hillsboro) Forest Hill Grand View
Bard Columbus City/Wapello Gladwin Union
Burris City Jefferson Harrison Port Louisa
Cairo Marshall Hillsboro Columbus City
Cannonsburg Elm Grove Hope Farm Marshall
Cateese Iowa Town
Clifton Columbus City Lafayette Columbus City
Cuba City Eliot Marsh Morning Sun
Erick Junction Eliot New Port Wapello
Oakland Oakland Sterling Jefferson
Odessa Port Louisa Tecumseh became Toolesboro
Palo Alto Eliot Toolesboro Jefferson
Pittsburg Virginia Grove became Morning Sun
Port Allen Oakland Yellow Banks Jefferson
Port Louisa Port Louisa Wyman Elm Grove
Port Washington Port Louisa
Spring Run Elm Grove
Section II: Resource
Centers
Courthouse:
· [LCCH] Louisa County Courthouse
117 South Main Street
Wapello, Iowa 52653
Genealogical Society
· [LCGS] Louisa County Genealogical Society
607 Highways 61N
Wapello, Iowa 52653
Historical Society
· [LCHS] Louisa County Historical Society: Heritage Center
601 Highway 61 North
Wapello, Iowa 52653
Libraries with Genealogical or Historical Collections
· [CJPL] Columbus Junction Public Library
122 East Maple Street
Columbus Junction, Iowa 52738
· [LPL] Letts Public Library
Letts, Iowa 52754
· [MML] Mellinger Memorial Library
11 East Division Street
Morning Sun, Iowa 52640
· [KML] Keck Memorial Library
119 North 2nd Street
Wapello, Iowa 52653
· [IGSL] Iowa Genealogical Society Library
628 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
· [ISHL] Iowa State Historical Library
600 East Locust Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
Museums, Historic Sites and Visitor Centers
· [LCHM] Louisa County, Heritage Museum
609 Hwy 61 N
Wapello, Iowa 52653
· [TIM] Toolesboro Indian Mounds
7 miles southeast on hwy 99
Wapello, Iowa
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 [LCGS] , [LCHM] ; 1850: [LCGS] , [MML] ; 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930: [IGSL] , [ISHL] , [KML] ; 1850 transcript: [IGSL] , [ISHL]
· Federal Index: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1920: [IGSL] , [ISHL]
· State: 1836, 1838:[LCHM] ; 1847: [LCGS] , [LCHM] ; 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915: [IGSL] , [ISHL] , [MML] , [KML] ; 1925: [KML] , [IGSL] , [ISHL]
· 1846, 1856 transcription: [IGSL] , [ISHL] , [MML] , [KML]
· State Territorial index: [LCGS]
· Hayes: Index to Louisa Co. 1925 State Census [IGSL] , [ISHL]
Vital Records
· Births: (from 1880) originals: [LCCH] , (1880 - 1935) microfilm: [IGSL] , [ISHL]
· Marriages: (from 1840) originals: [LCCH] ; microfilm: MML] , LCHM]; (1837-1899): [LCGS] , [KML] ; (1842 – 1940) microfilm: [IGSL] , [ISHL] ;
· Early marriages 1837 – 1900 transcript: [IGSL]
· Deaths: (from 1880) originals: [LCCH] ; (1880 – 1930) microfilm: [IGSL] , [ISHL]
Probate and related records
· Probate records: (from 1836) originals: [LCCH] ; (1839-1905) microfilm: [ISHL]
Land and related records
· Land records: (from 1839) originals: [LCCH] ; microfilm: [LCHM] ; (1839-1892) microfilm: [ISHL]
· Louisa Co. Land Records (1839-39) transcript: [IGSL]
· Selected land transfer books: [LCGS]
· Louisa Co. Gen Soc: Louisa Co. tax lists 1847-59 [IGSL] , [ISHL]
Maps, atlases and gazetteers
· Miscellaneous atlases: [CJPL] , [LPL] , [LCHM] , [LCCH] , [LCGS] , [KML] , [MML]
· 1874 Historical Atlas: [LCGS] , [LPL] , [MML] , [KML]
· 1800-1900 atlas: [LCGS] , [LPL] , [KML]
· 1917 atlas:, [LPL] , [KML] , [MML]
· 1940 atlas: [LCGS] , [LPL] , [KML]
· 1983 atlas: [LCGS] , [LPL] , [KML]
· Farm plat books, 1946, 1948-9, 1950-2, 1974-5: [KML]
· Unspecified farm plat books: [LCGS]
· Andreas, A.T.: Illustrated Historical Atlas of Louisa Co., Iowa (1874) [ISHL]
Court records
· Court records (from 1839) originals: [LCCH]
· Naturalization records (1864-1904) microfilm: [ISHL]
Cemetery
· Miscellaneous cemetery listings: [LCGS] , [LPL] , [KML] , [LCHM] , [MML] , [LCCH]
· WPA Cemetery listings (1932): [KML] , [IGSL] , [ISHL]
· Elmwood cemetery listing: [MML]
· Marshall & Buffington Cemeteries [IGSL]
· Spring Run (Pitchin) Cemetery [IGSL]
· Covenantor Cemetery [IGSL]
· Edwards Cemetery [IGSL] , [ISHL]
· Cemeteries: Wapello, Bethel and Fairview townships [IGSL] , [ISHL]
· Cemeteries: Jefferson, Parson and Mallory [IGSL] , [ISHL]
· Iowa Gen Soc: Louisa County cemeteries (1986): [ISHL]
· Bennett: Cemeteries of Louisa Co. (1990): [ISHL]
Funeral homes (current funeral homes for towns listed)
· Columbus Junction
- Stacy –Lewis Funeral Home
603 2nd Street, Columbus Junction, Iowa 52738
· Morning Sun
- Hagele & Honts Funeral Home
13 North Kearney Street, Morning Sun, Iowa 52640
· Wapello
- Dudgeon –McCulley Funeral Home
207 Franklin Street, Wapello, Iowa 52653
Obituaries
· Louisa Co. Gen Soc: Obituaries from Wapello Tribune (1992): [KML] , [IGSL] , [ISHL]
· Miscellaneous obituaries (with index): [LCGS] , [KML]
· Louisa Co. Gen Soc: Louisa Co. Obituaries 1878-1898: [IGSL]
· Belzer: Louisa Co., Iowa Obituaries (1991): [ISHL]
Church, Bible
· Miscellaneous records: [LPL] , [KML] , [LCHM] , [LCGS] , [MML] , [CJPL]
· Church histories: [LCGS]
· The Mennonites in Iowa: [KML]
· Beck, et al: Churches of Louisa County (1993): [ISHL]
· United Presbyterian Church, Columbus Junction (1974): [ISHL]
· Centennial Committee: Columbus City Methodist Church 1866-1966: [ISHL]
Military
· Roster of Iowa soldiers (1861-66): [MML]
· Roster of Iowa soldiers for Civil War (1908): [LCGS] , [MML] , [KML]
· Service men list (undated): [MML]
· WWI & WWII Service records, Columbus Junction & community: [MML]
· Women’s Relief Corps March 1926-33 ledger, some member names: [MML]
· Miscellaneous military records: [LCGS] , [KML] , [LCHM] , [MML] , [LCCH] , [CJPL]
Newspapers: (on microfilm unless noted)
· Columbus Junction
- Columbus Gazette [CJPL] , [LCGS]
- Columbus Safeguard (1883-1889): [ISHL]
- Louisa Co Times (1884-5): [ISHL]
- Columbus Gazette (and Safeguard) (1923-1996): [ISHL]
· Morning Sun
- Morning Sun News Herald (1886-1994) microfilm: [MML] ; bound and unbound: [MML]
· Oakville
- Oakville Sentinel (1902-1940): [ISHL]
· Wapello
- Louisa Co. Record (1883-1894): [ISHL]
- Wapello Times (1884-1884): [ISHL]
- Wapello Republican (1888-1997): [ISHL]
- Wapello Tribune (1898-1930): [ISHL]
- Louisa Co Democrat (1895-1900): [ISHL]
· Miscellaneous county newspapers: [LCGS]
· All county newspapers from1882, microfilm: [KML]
Lineage and Service Organizations:
· American Legion Posts: Columbus Junction, Oakville, Morning Sun
· Veterans of Foreign War Posts: Columbus Junction, Wapello
Educational, business and other:
· High school yearbooks, alumni lists: [CJPL] , [LPL] , [MML] , [LCHM] , [LCGS]
· Wapello yearbooks (1947-1995): [LCGS] , [KML]
· High school year books (1892-1959): [LPL]
· Old school scrapbooks: [CJPL]
· L-M High School yearbooks (1983-1995): [LPL]
· Morning Sun High School yearbooks (1913, 1947-8, 1979-83): [MML]
· Morning Sun High School Alumni list (1876-1983): [MML]
· Rural schools: [LCGS] , [LPL] , [KML]
· Scrapbooks on local history: [KML] , [LCGS]
· Old photographs: [LCGS]
· Photo & news article display for towns: [LCGS]
· Kerr: Rural Schools of Louisa County (1988): [IGSL]
County & Local Histories:
· Portrait & Biographical Album of Louisa County (1889): [LCGS] , [KML] , [LCHM] , [IGSL] , [ISHL] , [LPL]
· Surname Index to 1889 History: [IGSL]
· Springer: A History of Louisa County from the Earliest Settlement …(1912): [KML] , [ISHL] , [LCGS] , [CJPL] , [LPL] , [MML]
· Louisa Co. Gen Soc.: Index to 1912 Louisa Co. History [IGSL] , [ISHL]
· Johnson: The Newspaper Accounts of B.F. Wright … and of Others of Louisa County (1967)
· Miscellaneous county histories: [LCGS] , [CJPL] , [LPL] , [MML] , [KML]
· Miscellaneous city histories: [LCGS] , [CJPL] , [LPL] , [MML] , [KML]
· Miscellaneous state histories: [CJPL] , [LPL] , [MML] , [KML]
· Iowa Emigrant, names & history of southeast Iowa: [MML]
· Historical Society Tour pamphlet of Virginia Grove area, Marshall Homestead, Rice Cemetery, Honey Creek area & school, Billy Lee Spring (1971): [MML]
· The Palimpsest (1950-89): [LCGS] , [KML]
· Winfield Beacon, the First Hundred Years: [CJPL]
· History of Columbus Chautauqua & some old programs: [CJPL]
· Historical picture slides (700+): [CJPL]
· Encyclopedia of Century Farms: [LPL]
· Hail to the Chief, true tales of old Wapello: [LPL]
· 1827- 1927 Grandmother Brown’s Hundred Years, early days in southeast Iowa: [LPL]
· Quakers of Iowa (contains listing of names): [LPL]
· Various family histories: [LCGS] , [CJPL] , [LPL] , [KML]
· Iowa Genealogical Society Surname Index: [LCGS]
· Brown: History of Oakland – Orono townships (1978): [IGSL]
· Iowa Welsh Society: History of Long Creek Welsh Community (1995): [IGSL] , [ISHL]
· Zielinski: Columbus Junction, the first hundred years 1874-1974 (1974): [ISHL]
· Cocklin: A brief history of Grandview, Iowa 1850-1950: [ISHL]
Publications
· Iowa Genealogical Society: Hawkeye Heritage articles through 1993,[LCGS] [IGSL] (Entries indicate year, issue no. and page no.)
- Buffington Cemetery, Elm Grove township (1973) 4:182
- Iowa Territorial Census for 1846 (1974) 3:109
- Marshall Cemetery, Marshall township (1971) 4:195
· The following Louisa County Publications are for sale through the Iowa Genealogical Society. Consult the Iowa Genealogical Website for detailed listings and availability.
- Cemetery records for East Elliot, Elm Grove, Jefferson and Wapello townships
- Census: 1850 and 1856
- Death records: 1878 – 1898 Louisa Co. Newspapers; 1989-1913 Obituaries from The Wapello Tribune
- Indices to the 1889 and 1913 Louisa Co. Histories
- Marriage records: 1837-1899
- Tax lists: 1847-1859
Section IV: Credits
We wish to acknowledge the contributions made by members of the Louisa County Genealogical Society, Louisa County Historical Society, the Louisa County Courthouse, the Iowa State Historical Society and volunteers at the Iowa Genealogical Society in providing data contained in this research guide. Their efforts have been of immeasurable help in gathering this information.