Searching through the archives for your family records can be a very exciting experience. If your research takes you into the state of Iowa you can find a wealth of information about pioneers who settled there or simply passed through on their way further west. Some of the general store records have been salvaged and kept in private collections for many years. The local historians can be a great resource for tracking down leads in Iowa Genealogy. The settlements of the early days were scattered. Even if your family did not reside in Iowa, it is likely they stopped in order to make a purchase for supplies. The general store records should be looked at as a source or lead for further research.
If you find your ancestors name on the stores register, there is a possibility it could be your ancestor, or it could be another pioneer with the same name. To verify, look at the other town records during the same time period and compare that to what you already know about your ancestor. There may be marriage records on file for the same time. These Iowa genealogy records can be a source of valuable and interesting information about your ancestor. For example, some early marriage license would have the couple indicate their birth dates, fathers name and height. The fathers' names can help significantly with tracing your research further back. The height is just a tidbit of personal information that you will not find anywhere else.
Another way to place your ancestor in Iowa at a particular time is to look through the census records. Some census years contain more information that other years. The census records of the middle 1800's contained little information. However, by the 1870 census the birth state of the individual, and each parent was recorded on the record. The names of the children and their relationship to the head of the house was also listed. Sometimes we find missing children by looking on the neighbors' house census. This happens when the oldest child has been rented out to help on another farm. Their board is part of the contract, so they reside in the home of their employer. Wealthier families also took in a maid. This maid was often a teenage daughter. If you have missing children, don't assume marriage or death simply look in the neighbor's homes.
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Other ways to use the Iowa genealogy census is to look for older people in the home. For example, if the head of the house is listed as a 48 year old male, and another man in the house is listed as a 79 year old. The assumption can be made that the elder male is the father of the head of household or his spouse. If the elders last name is not listed he is likely the father of the head since the surnames would have been the same. If it is listed, this is your break needed to search for your female lineage.
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