Genealogists often are interested in the location of the land owned by their ancestors.  That could vary from a lot or two in town where a family home was located or an entire farm, that may have passed down through the generations.  Here are links to land resources that will help you determine just where your family lived in Madison County.

The authority to dispose of public land was done through acts of Congress for property sales, homesteads, military warrants/patents for military service, timber culture, mining, etc. One of the primary purposes of these public land laws was to encourage people from the East to move West.

Land transfers are listed by both the grantor (seller) or grantee (buyer).  Types of transactions listed are warranty deeds (ownership transfer), mortgages (financing the sale), quit claim deeds (declaring no ownership), etc.  

Married males could purchase land under their name, but the wife's name was required to sell it.

Iowa Land Records was created to allow land transfers from across the state to be electronically archived and searched.  Some documents are linked.   Instructions can be found here.

The site is managed by the Iowa County Recorders Association. Each Iowa county recorder's office is encouraged to scan and submit records so that Association's staff can post them as time allows. 

The Iowa Secretary of Agriculture has an application process that provides farms (minimum 40 acres) that are held within a single family for 100 years may be designated as a Century Farm.  Farms held in a single family for 150 years may be designated as a Heritage Farm. Search by name, county and more here.