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.
Jones 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 Garrison G. Gray
Garrison G. Gray, a prominent figure in Malheur County, was born in Ohio in 1830. His lineage includes a Revolutionary War soldier, and Gray himself faced numerous challenges as a pioneer. He ventured across the plains in 1851, eventually settling in Oregon, where he built a successful life as a carpenter, educator, and farmer. Gray held significant roles, including the first postmaster of Dell. He married twice, fathering nine children, and remained active in community affairs and church, despite hardships faced during settlement.
Biography of Maynard L. Meek
Maynard L. Meek has served as mayor of Ellsworth, Kansas, for four consecutive terms, earning local admiration for his effective administration. Born in Iowa in 1869 to pioneering parents, he established a successful career in grain and later automobile businesses in Ellsworth. Active in local governance, he was first elected mayor in 1911 and has overseen major improvements, such as a public library and drainage sewer system. A Republican, Meek is also a prominent landowner and involved in various fraternal organizations. He married Minnie Miller in 1892, and they have two children.
Biographical Sketch of Frank Wellington Luce, D. D.
Frank Wellington Luce, D.D., was a Methodist Episcopal minister born in Iowa on March 24, 1858. He was educated in public schools and Cornell College, receiving his D.D. from Upper Iowa University. Luce was licensed to preach at 19 and served various churches across Iowa, Missouri, and Ohio, including five years at Cleveland’s First Methodist Church. He was also a lecturer and a member of several associations, including the Northeastern Ohio Conference and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Luce married Mary E. Snyder and had two daughters.
Biographical Sketch of John C. Heald
John C. Heald, born in 1865 in Anamosa, Iowa, was an attorney and public servant. Heald educated at Silver Ridge College and married Amanda E. Kick in 1902, with whom he had one daughter. He served as prosecuting attorney for Wheeler County and as a police judge in Greeley Center, Nebraska. Heald was a Republican candidate for Congress in 1912 and was involved in several law firms. His ancestry traces back to signer Robert Morris of the Declaration of Independence. He enjoyed motoring in his leisure time.
Iowa Cemetery Records Jones to Lyon Counties
Iowa Cemetery Records Jones to Lyon Counties
Biography of William McConochie
William McConochie, born in Scotland in 1847, emigrated to America with his family, settling in Joliet, Illinois. He joined the Union Army as a drummer boy during the Civil War and later became a skilled stonecutter. Settling in Rock Island, he married Isabel Kitson and had six children. McConochie served multiple terms as mayor, implementing significant municipal improvements like paving, a fire department, and a park system. A respected Republican and community leader, he was also active in the Methodist Church and Masonic organizations, earning admiration for his integrity and dedication.
Biography of Henry H. Northup
Henry H. Northup was born in Berkshire, Massachusetts, on February 27, 1839. After his father’s death, he helped support his family while pursuing education. He taught school before studying law and serving in the First Iowa Infantry during the Civil War. Northup graduated from Columbia College Law School in 1868 and relocated to Portland, Oregon, where he practiced law, gaining recognition in corporate law. He briefly entered politics, successfully influencing legislation, while maintaining a reputation for integrity and dedication to his profession and community.
Biographical Sketch of Thomas Crane
Thomas Crane, born on March 25, 1844, in the Isle of Man, immigrated to America at age eleven after his father’s death. He settled in Iowa in 1877, bringing minimal possessions but establishing a successful farm in Maple Township. Crane became a prominent veterinary surgeon, dehorning the first 6,000 cattle in the area. He married Elizabeth Jones in 1864 and they had eight children. Crane actively participated in his community as a School Board member and Township Trustee.
Biographical Sketch of William Crane
William Crane, born on May 16, 1841, on the Isle of Man, was the son of a British soldier who died young from cholera. He married Margaret Bolt and moved to Ida County, Iowa, in 1884 after living in Jones County for 30 years. Crane purchased a 160-acre farm in Corwin Township and fathered ten children. He was also involved in local education as a member of the School Board, reflecting his commitment to community and family.
Biographical Sketch of Enoch Jones
Enoch Jones, born on March 6, 1825, in Bourbon County, Kentucky, moved to Iowa in 1852. He settled in Scott’s Grove, Jones County, where he farmed and operated a thresher. In 1874, he purchased land in Ida County and later moved to Battle Creek in 1883 to manage his real estate. Jones was also engaged in general merchandise in Monticello from 1863 to 1873 and later specialized in buying and selling horses, acquiring notable breeds like Union Jack and Randolph.