Iowa County History and Genealogy Books Online
These are free books online where you can research your Iowa ancestry. This list contains county and local history, genealogical and biographical books, as well as atlases and farm plats.
Jefferson County IA
Iowa Atlases, Farm Directories, and Plat Books
This collection contains digital atlases, farm directories, and plat books for all 99 Iowa counties. We have collated these from a variety of online sources, and provide them here as a single source for all online Iowa County Atlases, Farm Directories, and Plat Books.
Biography of E. J. Rhodes
E. J. Rhodes, born March 17, 1845, in Jefferson County, Iowa, is a notable figure in Harrison, Arkansas, recognized for his business acumen and community involvement. After graduating from Iowa State University in 1869, he held various positions, including register of the United States Land Office. Rhodes is a successful farmer, stockraiser, and mining operator, owning significant land and businesses, including the Arkansas Zinc and Lead Company. He is an active Republican and community leader, with a family committed to educational advancement.
Biography of Anna Mallows, Anna
Miss Anna Mallows, a notable figure from White Cloud, Kansas, exemplifies women’s contributions to various professional fields. Born into a pioneering family, she transitioned from a successful teaching career to become the proprietor and publisher of the White Cloud Globe in 1910, the city’s only newspaper. Under her leadership, the Globe thrived, extending its reach nationally and internationally. A highly educated woman, Mallows actively participated in educational and professional associations while also serving her community through church-related initiatives and political engagement.
Biography of Clement Smith, Dr.
Dr. Clement Smith, born January 19, 1866, in Batavia, Iowa, emerged as a pivotal figure in the treatment of hernia. After studying at Kansas Medical College and working in his father’s business, he co-invented Kansas’s first automobile in 1890. Following this venture, he focused on enhancing truss manufacturing and mechanical treatment for hernia, contributing significantly to related literature. A well-respected figure, he was deeply involved in charitable efforts, and was a prominent member of Masonic circles, attaining the thirty-third degree.
Biography of Amelia Couch
Amelia Couch, born on November 25, 1838, in Tennessee, overcame life’s hardships with grace and wisdom. After her family moved to Missouri, she completed her education in Iowa. Married to R.T. Couch, they established their home in Union County, where she managed their eighty-acre farm following her husband’s death in 1888. Renowned for her strength in raising a large family, Amelia was an active member of the Baptist church and is respected for her contributions to her community and faith.
Biography of John W. Murphy
John W. Murphy, born December 9, 1831, in Franklin, Ohio, is recognized as a significant pioneer and contributor to the development of Union County. He engaged in various trades, including as a millwright and miner, and later became a successful orchardist, cultivating cherries and apples on his farm. Married in 1867, he had two children and gained respect for his integrity and commitment to education, serving as a school director. Additionally, Murphy faced numerous conflicts with Native Americans, proving his resilience and earning their respect.
Biography of John J. Peebler
John J. Peebler, born in Iowa in 1836, was an early settler in the Grande Ronde Valley and a significant figure in Union County’s development. Orphaned at six, he crossed the plains to Oregon at seventeen, engaging in farming and later participating in the Rogue River War. In 1862, with his family, he established a homestead in the valley, contributing to its settlement through diligent agriculture and stock-raising. Peebler became a respected leader in the community, known for his integrity and commitment to progress.
Biographical Sketch of G. H. Case
G. H. Case, originally from Ohio, pursued a legal career and served in the Union army during the Civil War with the Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He held several public offices, including Recorder of Deeds and Clerk of the District Court in Jefferson County, Iowa, before being elected to the Kansas State Senate in 1880. Additionally, he co-founded the banking firm Case, Bishop & Co. in 1877, contributing to his community’s financial landscape.
Biographical Sketch of Louis P. Vance
Louis P. Vance was born on December 9, 1837, in Indiana and moved to Iowa as a child. He worked as a farmer before mining in Colorado. In March 1862, he enlisted in the Thirty-fifth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, rising to the rank of Captain by 1865. Vance later served as Treasurer of Jefferson County, Iowa, and entered banking in Mankato, Kansas. He married Lizzie P. Heron in 1868 and they had six children, though four predeceased him, leaving one surviving daughter.
Biographical Sketch of Manoah Stone
Manoah Stone was born on May 11, 1843, in what is now Jefferson County, Iowa. After moving to Marion County in 1853, he ventured westward during the gold rush, spending years in mining camps. Returning in 1865, he married Mary P. McLean and later settled in Richardson County, Nebraska. Stone transitioned to teaching before moving to Jewell County, Kansas, where he served as Trustee and was elected Register of Deeds multiple times. He also cultivated a 240-acre farm and was active in the local I.O.O.F. lodge.
Biographical Sketch of Leroy Hulse
Leroy Hulse, born in Ohio on January 10, 1848, moved through several states before settling in Jewell County, Kansas, in 1876. He worked for Chapman & Co. before establishing his own general merchandise business in September 1882. Hulse married Lizzie Howe in Mankato on June 20, 1880, and the couple has one daughter, Maud.
Biographical Sketch of D. Heron
D. Heron, born in Scotland in 1842, immigrated to America as a child. He served in the Civil War with the Fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry before returning to Iowa to study law, eventually being admitted to practice. Heron held the position of superintendent in Jefferson County, Iowa, and later moved to Jewell County, Kansas, where he was elected to the State Legislature. He is recognized as the third member of the firm Case, Bishop and Heron.
Biographical Sketch of W. S. Chapman
W. S. Chapman, born on October 17, 1847, in Jefferson County, Iowa, served in the Sixteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. In 1872, he settled in Belleville, Kansas, where he began his merchandising career. By 1874, he expanded to Mankato, Jewell County, building a substantial business. His firm, W. S. Chapman & Co., maintains a stock valued between $10,000 and $12,000 and owns significant land and property in the area. He is married and has two children, Walter and Clarence.
Biographical Sketch of G. H. Case
G. H. Case, originally from Ohio and a trained lawyer, enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War, serving in Company E of the Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He later held several public offices, including Recorder of Deeds and Clerk of the District Court in Jefferson County, Iowa. In 1880, Case was elected to the Kansas State Senate. Additionally, he co-founded the banking firm Case, Bishop & Co. in 1877.
Biographical Sketch of Franklyn Evans McClure
Franklyn Evans McClure, born on November 27, 1877, in Mediapolis, Iowa, was the son of Isaac Newton and Susan Elizabeth Parrett McClure. He graduated from Parsons College in 1899 and Rush Medical College in 1903. McClure married Marjorie Balkley in 1905 and had one daughter. He served as an assistant surgeon in the Wisconsin National Guard and practiced medicine in various locations, including Cherokee, Iowa, and Detroit, Michigan. In 1910, he became the manager of the U.S. Motor Co. in Cleveland and was a member of the Chamber of Commerce.
Biography of J. Edward Cook
J. Edward Cook, born on November 13, 1864, in Iowa, developed the King Ni-Ko system for curing tobacco addiction, emphasizing individualized treatment over a one-size-fits-all approach. After a diverse career as a clergyman and healing institute superintendent, he established his business in Wichita in 1901, successfully treating tens of thousands with a 100% cure rate when the system was properly followed. Married in 1913 to Lillian Lane, Cook’s family legacy includes his esteemed parents, both of whom served in ministry.