MONTGOMERY COUNTY, IA HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

Biographical History of Montgomery and Adams Counties, Iowa (1892) – 498 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.09.05.2255.AR

A History of the County of Montgomery From the Earliest Days to 1906 by Merritt, WIlliam Walace, 1832- (1906) – 424 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.08.29.2100.CD.AR

Montgomery County, Iowa: A Genealogical Overview

Located in the rolling hills of southwestern Iowa, Montgomery County is a deeply agricultural region characterized by its fertile farmland and close-knit communities. The county is defined by the Nishnabotna River and its tributaries, which have shaped its landscape and history. Its story is a classic Midwestern narrative of Native American displacement, pioneer settlement spurred by the railroad, and a lasting economy built on the cultivation of corn and soybeans.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding Montgomery County’s formation and its straightforward administrative history is key to successfully locating ancestral records.

  • 1851: County Formed: Montgomery County was established on January 15, 1851, by an act of the Iowa General Assembly.
  • Parent County: It was created from unorganized territory that was formerly attached to Pottawattamie County for administrative purposes. Records prior to 1851 for this area are scarce but would be sought within Pottawattamie County records.
  • Subsequent County Formations: The county’s boundaries have remained the same since its creation in 1851. It did not serve as a parent to any other counties.
  • Name Origin: The county is named in honor of General Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War hero who was killed in action during the 1775 Battle of Quebec.
  • County Seat History: The first county seat was Frankfort, established in 1853. After a vote, the county seat was officially moved to the more centrally located and growing railroad town of Red Oak in 1863, where it has remained ever since.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The region was historically the territory of the Ioway (Baxoje) and Potawatomi peoples. Following a series of treaties in the 1830s and 1840s, these tribes were removed from the area, opening it up for American settlement.
  • Pioneer Settlement and Economy: The first significant wave of non-native settlement began in the early 1850s, primarily attracting farmers from Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. The county’s growth exploded with the arrival of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad in 1869, which established Red Oak as a major divisional headquarters. The economy was, and remains, overwhelmingly based on agriculture (corn, soybeans, livestock) and the businesses that support it.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Montgomery County.

  • Courthouse: Montgomery County Courthouse: Located at 105 E Coolbaugh St, Red Oak, IA 51566. This building is the central repository for most county records. The Montgomery County Recorder holds land records (deeds), as well as birth, death, and marriage records. The Clerk of the District Court holds probate, divorce, civil, and criminal court records.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Iowa began on July 1, 1880. Records from 1880 to the present are held by the Montgomery County Recorder. Copies can also be obtained from the Iowa Department of Public Health. For deaths prior to 1880, researchers should consult cemetery records, newspapers, and church records.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records from the county’s organization to the present are held by the Montgomery County Recorder.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Montgomery County Genealogical Society: Located in Red Oak, this is the most crucial resource for local family research, often housing indexes, family histories, and unique local records.
    • Red Oak Public Library: Located at 200 N 2nd St, Red Oak, IA 51566. The library maintains a local history collection with newspapers on microfilm, plat maps, and other historical resources.
    • State Historical Society of Iowa: (Located in Des Moines) This is the main repository for statewide genealogical research, holding vast collections of newspapers, state census records, and military records.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Cass County, IA
    • Adams County, IA
    • Page County, IA
    • Mills County, IA

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks