About

The Webster County Genealogical Society

This is the official website of the Webster County (Iowa) Genealogical Society. The society’s library is located in Room 134 inside the Fort Dodge Public Library, 424 Central Avenue, Fort Dodge, IA 50501. We are open by request only.  We can open by appointment during hours the Fort Dodge Public Library is open. Our phone number is 515-570-7840

Officers for 2021-2022

  • President: Susan M. Olson
  • Secretary: Carol Foltz
  • Treasurer: Janet Meyne

Research information

Obituary only requests are $5. For all other requests the fee is $15 per hour, plus copying costs. All research is done by volunteers. We will do research on items within our library, the Fort Dodge Public Library, Webster County Courthouse and other local and county resources. Our email address is webcoiagenies@gmail.com. Our phone number is 515-570-7840.

Checks should be made payable to the Webster County Genealogical Society and sent to:

Webster County Genealogical Society
424 Central Ave.
Room 134
Fort Dodge, IA 50501

Our email address is webcoiagenies@gmail.com

Meetings

The monthly business meetings have just begun again. More info will added soon.

About the society

The goals of our society are to promote an interest in genealogy, to preserve Webster County records of cemeteries, churches, schools, courthouse documents, maps, family histories, and to maintain a genealogical library.

What is in our library?

Visitors to our library will find a large collection of Webster County books, including histories, city directories, atlases, school, church, funeral home, cemetery records, obits which are indexed, newspaper indexes, family genealogies and more.

We have a collection of Iowa records as well as books and periodicals from other states, DAR and SAR books, and may reference and “how to” books.

Copies of all our publications through the Iowa Genealogical Society are on the library shelves.

We have a copy machine, microfilm reader/printer, microfiche reader and computer and printer scanners, as well as many CD-ROMs of genealogical information.

We have indexed most of Webster County federal and state census records.

Microfilm records for Webster County

Dayton Review, Gowrie, Lehigh and Fort Dodge newspapers (some are also available at www.fortdodge.advantage-preservation.com)

1870 federal census
1880 federal census
1925 state census
Dayton Swedish church
World War I draft registrations
Iowa births 1880 to 1936
Iowa death records 1914 to 1924
Old Age Assistance
Marriage records

Microfiche records

Iowa delayed birth records 1852 to 1916 index
Iowa death index 1904 to 1916
Native Americans IGI
Canada IGI
Ireland IGI
Wales IGI
Family registry from Salt Lake City
Sanborn fire maps for Dayton, Gowrie, Lehigh, Fort Dodge, from 1885 to 1907

Social Media

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*The graphic used in the header was designed by Saxon Holt of A Saxon Creation. It is part of the My Heritage Kit at MyMemories.com.

7 thoughts on “About

  1. I have a collection of photos from the estate of Frank “Dale” Fessler b. 1899,
    son of Otto G. and Ethel Andres Fessler. The Fessler’s were residents of Fort Dodge. Otto was the son of David and Elise Kolb Fessler. David was one of the founders of Fort Dodge. Dale and his brothers, Harold and Donald, were raised in FD, and the pics are of Dale’s early years up until age 20. The photos are of his friends including Adrianne Wolcott and others. Would you be interested in having them? I would be happy to donate them. Eleanor Sullivan,1504 Woodridge Drive, Salisbury, Maryland 21804

    • We would be happy to accept them. Please send to:
      Webster County Genealogical Society
      424 Central Ave.
      Room 134
      Fort Dodge, IA 50501

  2. OBITUARY REQUESTED FOR DR. X HOOVER, ORTHODONTIST, ABOUT 1948-1960? CONTACT ME FOR INFORMATION, I WAS A PATIENT C. 1952-1956. I DON’T KNOW HIS FIRST NAME OR HOW TO GET IT. THANKS. I WILL PAY. CHARLES HELSELL, CEDAR RAPIDS IA.

  3. I have a 1931, 32, & 33 The Dodger High School year books. Would you’ve interested in them.

    Marcia Chauvin
    Clearlake California

  4. We have a couple travel writers coming to Fort Dodge to learn about a great-grandfather who is buried in Otho. Would someone have time to see if they can find information on him. Also would the come to your office and speak to you on Tuesday afternoon. Here is the information they sent me. Jim’s great-great-grandfather, Walter C. Goodrich, is buried in Otho. According to the attached obituary, he was “one of the earliest and most widely known settlers of Webster County.”

    We would love to learn more about Webster County during the time Jim’s grandfather and grandmother were there. I’m picturing a fun article on The Local Tourist, and it will be part of a series of pieces I’m doing on travel to find your personal past. After a recent visit to The Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana, I’m digging into my ancestry as well. On the way to Denver, we’ll be visiting the town where my great-great-great-great-grandfather built the first house!
    I’ve attached Walter’s obituary, and here’s a link to story I found. Apparently, feather beds saved his great-grandfather and grandmother! https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99533561/feathers-saved-walter-goodrich/

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