Here you will find updat
ed information about our meetings and projects, as well as how we can assist you with your own family research. You will find a vast amount of Madison County, Iowa genealogical information available online at iagenweb.org/madison/
Madison County Genealogical Society Meeting
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
6:00 pm at Winterset Public Library
The Madison County Poor Farm
Built in 1876, a bit north of Winterset, the buildings and farm were to provide refuge for the poor. Madison County operated the farm until 1956 when it became an adult nursing home, and later a residential facility for the impaired. In 2002, the farm was sold then burned, with much community discussion about preserving its history. Linda Griffith Smith, MCGS member, will tell its story after researching 125 years of newspaper articles.
The program is open to all; membership not required. A business meeting will follow for those who choose to stay.
Madison County Genealogical Society Meeting
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
6:00 pm at Winterset Public Library
CENSUS RECORDS – Digging Deeper
Donna Crow, MCGS member, will help us look for census information clues other than just names, birth dates and birth places. Clues about marriage(s), deceased children, naturalization, home ownership, and military service are abundant in census records. Helpful handouts included.
The program is open to all; membership not required. A business meeting will follow for those who choose to stay.
The final issue of the MCGS newsletter was sent to members on December 31, 2025 via email or US mail. The last 42 newsletters can be viewed by clicking the Newsletter Archive link to the right. You will find project information, photos of members, and genealogy tips for Madison County and beyond.
MCGS will continue to highlight their activities through this webpage and on Facebook at: Madison County IA Family History
In November The Winterset Madisonian newspaper asked MCGS to provide an article on their work with veteran gravestones to in Madison County’s 53 counties. Read the submitted article here. Please note that caption for the photo of the Marquardt’s should read, “Ryan Marquardt and son Zane place a gravestone for Archibald Parker, War of 1812 veteran, in Viney Cemetery,” Pictured below is MCGS member Donna Wenzl, with her daughter Abbey, after placing a marker at the gravesite of Donna’s maternal great-grandfather, Solomon DeLong, a veteran of the War of 1812.
Madison County Genealogical Society Meeting
Tuesday, October 7 in Winterset Library meeting room
NEW EARLIER TIME at 6:00 pm
Our program, starting at 6:00 pm, will look at two online databases to discover what land your ancestors owned in Madison County. Often, in a search for family history, exactly where your ancestors lived, whether on a farm or in town, adds much to their story. Linda Smith will show how to navigate initial land patents from the government, as well as, subsequent local land sales. The program will be recorded to be posted soon after and include a handout.
The program is open to all; membership not required. A business meeting will follow for those who choose to stay.
Madison County Genealogical Society Meeting
Tuesday, September 2 in Winterset Library meeting room
NEW EARLIER TIME at 6:00 pm
Our program, starting at 6:00 pm, is a look into the history of Barney from one who knows, MCGS member Sandi (Davis) Harper. She will share her research and photos of the Barney community, both when it was thriving and when it was not. The description above is from the 1915 History of Madison County and Its People book, Volume 1.
The program is open to all; membership not required. A business meeting will follow for those who choose to stay.
At the July Madison County Genealogical Society Meeting, Linda Griffith Smith gave a PowerPoint presentation on portions of the IAGenWeb Madison County website that are extremely useful, but may be overlooked – Composite Census, the yellow search box, and more.
Many thanks to the Madison County Historical Society for allowing us to store this and future videos at their YouTube channel. Here is the link to view this video, plus others created by the Historical Society. Enjoy them all! https://www.youtube.com/@MadisonCountyHistoricalSociety
Madison County Genealogical Society Meeting
Tuesday, August 5 in Winterset Library meeting room
NEW EARLIER TIME at 6:00 pm
Our program, starting at 6:00 pm, is a look into the Armstrong and Morgan families that settled in St. Charles. Their story starts with their ancestors fighting together in the Revolutionary War, then fighting on opposite sides in the Civil War, but ends with living together as friends in Madison County. Colleen Peterson has researched this connection for several years and will provide an overview of the turmoil and triumphs of this relationship.
The program is open to all; membership not required. A business meeting will follow for those who choose to stay.
Madison County Genealogical Society 