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From: "suec2000" <>
Subject: Re: [IOWA] 1925 Iowa State Census
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2001 22:10:08 -0600
References: <018801c17c47$bc02b1e0$0200000a@z.com>


All Iowa state census are available through the FHC. If you are looking at
the library catalog, do a place search on 'Iowa'. The individual census
years will be listed under the topics. 1856 was the first everyname state
census. The earlier territorial and state census were head of household
with numbers of males and females. Not every county that existed was done
in each of the early census. The other census years are 1885, 1895, 1905,
1915 and 1925. There is no statewide index to any of the state census.
Some county genealogical societies have indexed some of the state census.
For the 1925 census the 12 largest cities were indexed: Boone, Cedar Falls,
Centerville, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Council Bluffs, Dubuque, Ottumwa, Sioux
City, Waterloo, Davenport and Des Moines. Assuming the census taker did his
job properly the 1925 is the best census ever. Aside from the usual
questions, you get whether the home is owned or rented, if owned value and
amount of homeowner's insurance carried, number of years in Iowa, number of
years in the US, years of school, father and mother's name, their age at
next birthday(if still alive) and where the parents were married. Usually
it is just the state but I have seen examples of city and state as well as
blank. The 1856 gives you the number of years in Iowa as well as a married
or widowed indicator. 1885 gives section range township information if the
household was in the country. For both 1885 and 1895 if a person was born
in Iowa, the county is given. However, in the case of 1895 especially it is
very tightly bound and the name of the county can be difficult to read. The
1905 census is the worst of the bunch. Each person is on a separate card
which filmed reverse negative and is difficult to read. However, when they
were filmed I swear the filmers for each county made a big pile of the A's,
the B's, etc. and filmed without any further sorting. The 1915 census is
also separate cards for each person however, this time they sorted by last
name then by first name under each county.
If a county genealogical society indexed a census, the printed index can
be found at the IGS library in Des Moines as well as the two branches of the
state historical library in Des Moines and Iowa City. All the film for the
various census can be found at those libraries as well.
Another place to check is USgenweb. I personally am transcribing the
1856 Appanoose census and have all but Washington and Wells townships
finished. If you look in the Iowa archives in the census section, you can
check if your county is there.
I live in Des Moines and do look ups for people when I can. IGS will be
closed the last two weeks of the year and the state library will not be open
as often because of the holidays. Keep in mind when requesting a lookup to
be as specific as possible on the county and if the county has been indexed
I would want a township before doing a search. Also on the subject of
lookups, Iowa vital records are organized at the county level as well.
There is a statewide index of marriages before 1900 available at IGS and
ancestry.com but otherwise you need to know the county.
I hope this helps someone,
Sue Claman
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mom (Holly) Sullivan" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2001 4:13 PM
Subject: [IOWA] 1925 Iowa State Census


> I just found out about the 1925 State Census. It sounds like it could
answer a lot of questions for me! Unfortunately, the book that mentioned it
made it sound like the only copies of it were in Des Moines, and it was not
available through the FHC. Is there any way someone out of state could find
someone on it? (I am in Oregon -- and I have to say I am a little embarrased
to admit it right now...)
> Thanks for any advice!
> Holly In Oregon
>
>


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