I mainly research in the area that covers Des Moines, Iowa, and includes Polk County, Warren County, Madison County, Dallas County, Boone County, Story County, Marshall County, Jasper County, and Marion County.
I can look up anything in any of the 99 counties of Iowa as far as what material is available at the Historical Building, Genealogy Library, Des Moines Library, Courthouse, or on the web, but the counties above are those that I would be most familiar with, and could travel to easily. Mostly, I can look for documents and provide newspaper articles and pictures, if you can't find it on the web.
DIRECTORIES
Des Moines Business Directory 1867-Present
Des Moines Metropolitan Telephone Book (scattered editions prior to 1956)
North Polk County Business Directory 1959-Present
West Des Moines,Clive,Windsor Heights,Urbandale,Ankeney and Altoona were listed in
the Des Moines City Directories starting in 1965.
Valley Junction was renamed West Des Moines in 1937, and prior to this was in the
rear of all Des Moines Directories.
Iowa Business Gazetteers - Various editions from the late 1800's,through the 1900's.
CENSUS
Federal: 1840 State: 1830's(scattered territorial)
1850 1840's(scattered)
1860 1885
1870 1895
1880(with index) 1905
1900(with index) 1915
1910(with index) 1925(very informative,partially indexed)
1920(with index)
CEMETERY RECORDS
W.P.A. bound & alphabetized walking records
Official records of Jordan,Resthaven,Glendale,Woodland,Masonic,Odd Fellows,
Highland Memorial,Merle Hay Memorial,Pine Hill,McDivitt,Oak Grove,St. Ambrose, Tifereth Israel
Children Of Israel, Emmanuel, Oakwood(Youngstown),Sims(Agency),Sunset Memorial,& Laurel Hill.
Walking records by individuals, and township trustee records of various minor
cemeteries in and around Polk county.
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
I have access to card files, computers, and newsclipping collections at the main
Des Moines Public Library, Iowa Genealogical Society Library, and Iowa State
Historical Building. The Des Moines Register also has an in-house library, but they
charge a more expensive fee to look for news articles or pictures.
PHOTOGRAPHY
I will photograph any building, house, or gravesite that can be found without an
extreme amount of difficulty, for which research is extra. I can photograph what is
now at a certain location's site at present time, and a living person depending on
their willingness to have me do so. Video taping , and gravestone rubbings
can also be done.
OTHER RESOURCES
* Chronological Pictoral Index of Des Moines, Iowa newspapers 1889-1959 -
This index covers houses, buildings, and advertisements, along with other sites in and
around Polk County. I created this index, and along with other picture collections that I can
access, I can probably locate an ancestor's place of employment, and maybe even a picture
of their homestead. It contains thousands of notations to various views of places in Polk
county, and sometimes can be a marker for an news article or event.
* Portrait Collections
* Iowa, Polk County, and Des Moines historical photo collctions
* Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints (Mormon) Family History Center
For those who are interested, I would be willing to search for anything I can find here in Iowa, to trade for certain
personal genealogical records, with persons living in the following areas:
OHIO: Guernsey, Monroe, Belmont, Jefferson and Columbiana counties.
WEST VIRGINIA: Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, and Marshall counties.
PENNSYLVANIA: Greene, Washington, Fayette and Westmoreland counties.
WALES: Glamorgan and Brecon counties
HUNGARY: Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen county
This site is owned and edited by Nick Hornyak, who is responsible for it's content.
