Welcome to Butler County

My name is Karen De Groote and I'm the County Coordinator for the Butler County project. Feel free to contact me with questions you might have concerning the website.

If you have access to genealogical data or historical information of genealogical interest about the county, towns, churches, schools or other data you would like to contribute to the database please send an email to

Karen De Groote

Butler County was formed on January 15, 1851 from open land. It was named after Kentucky native William Orlando Butler, a general and hero of the Mexican-American War, who ran as Vice President of the United States in 1848. Until 1854, the county was governed by other counties. Only at this time did it have enough inhabitants to establish its own local government. The first court proceedings were conducted in a small log cabin of a settler. In 1858, the first courthouse was completed in Clarksville. After it was sold shortly thereafter to the local school district, it was used as a schoolhouse from 1863 until 1903.

Clarksville was the first county seat, from 1854 to 1860, after which Butler Center became the seat. Because locals became disenchanted with Butler Center (partially because of its inaccessibility during the winter), Allison was made the county seat on January 10, 1881.

When the tracks of the Dubuque and Dakota Railroad were laid through Allison, the seat was moved there on January 10, 1881. Allison was named after the Dubuque native Republican politician, lawyer and senator William B. Allison.  (Wikipedia)

Search the site

index sitemap advanced
site search by freefind

Please use the search engines on the boards below as this search no
longer includes the Boards  KDMar2021
 

IAGenWeb Message Boards for Butler Co.

Here are the places to find and post questions and information about specific ancestors.

While you are out and about this summer, consider visiting some Butler County cemeteries and snapping photos of headstones.  Our Gravestone Photo Project needs submissions from you!

Butler's Neighbors

Page Last Updated:  20 Oct 2024

Blackhawk County
Bremer County
Cerro Gordo County
Floyd County
Franklin County
Grundy County
Hardin
County