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, July 7, 2026
6:00 pm at Winterset Public Library
In this recorded presentation, various online records will be identified for those who served in the Revolutionary War to the Vietnam War, courtesy of the Larimer County (Colorado) Genealogical Society. Even if you don’t use online records, this will provide locations where original records can be accessed.
A handout will be provided or find yours here.
The free program is open to all; membership not required. A business meeting will follow for those who choose to stay.
Click here for the Researching Military Records handout
Winterset Cemetery
East Summit and South 4th Street
Saturday, June 13, 2026
10:00 – 11:00 am in the Winterset Cemetery
The program is free and open to all.
In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, the Madison County Genealogical Society (MCGS) is holding three cemetery walks across the county over the next few months. The first will be held June 13 in the Winterset Cemetery. During the cemetery walks, a short biography of six or seven individuals will be read, which includes a family connection to an American Revolutionary War ancestor.
The idea for the cemetery walks came from the Jean Marie Cardinell chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in Des Moines. Several MCGS members are also members of this chapter and are “Daughters,” which means that each one has at least one documented ancestor who served in the American Revolutionary War. This DAR chapter encouraged members to hold community events to celebrate Amercia250. Our local Daughters had past experiences with cemetery walks across the county, so decided to observe this special year in that same way.
The paths chosen to walk are short, but study walking shoes are suggested. Walking sticks are always helpful. You may want to carry a light chair between readings. The presentation will be no longer than one hour and a sound system will be used. In case of inclement weather, the walk will be rescheduled.
Madison County Historical Society
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
9:00 am in the Museum Lounge
The Madison County Historical Society hosts a free history presentation/discussion each month on the second Tuesday. It is known as Hill O’Beans due to the coffee, beverages, and sweets served. All are welcome and you won’t want to miss this month’s program.
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we invite you to experience those same 250 years through the eyes of Madison County. From the first settlers to today’s residents, our local story reflects the triumphs, challenges, and everyday lives that together make up the larger story of America. You will see how Madison County mirrors our nation’s story, and yet, has its own unique tales to tell.
Madison County Genealogical Society Meeting
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
6:00 pm at Winterset Public Library
“19th Century Quakers (Friends) in Iowa”
Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) started moving into Iowa before its statehood in 1835, establishing 83 meetings for worship before 1900. Today only 44 active meetings remain in the state. Glenn York, MCGS member from Fort Collins, Colorado, will discuss the early Quaker settlements and spread throughout Iowa. Where did these people come from? Why did they come to Iowa? Where did these people go? What impact did these Quaker have in early Iowa history. We’ll explore these questions and more in this presentation.
The free program is open to all; membership not required. A business meeting will follow for those who choose to stay.
Click here for the handout with more information and helpful web links.
If you are a fan of Madison County’s digitized newspapers, hosted by the Winterset Public Library, or if you reach it through its address of www.winterset.advantage-preservation.com or winterset.historyarchives.online/, or… at Madison County’s IAGenWeb homepage under NEWSPAPERS, this message is for you.
The look and feel of the website has been updated to make it more accessible to all users, such as visually impaired, etc. That’s a good thing! Learn about using the updated version here: https://communityhistoryarchives.com/archive-resources/
** UPDATE 6/1/2026 ** After feedback from Madison County (and probably many others) Advantage Archives has already made improvements. You can once again type in the dates you desire and pages you visited are noted with a box around that reference.
One new feature is that once you have looked at a page of newsprint, you can move to the next reference without having to go back to the list of 10 per page. That’s nice!!
Note: earlham.advantage-preservation.com was not affected.
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
Madison County Genealogical Society 