Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
- We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
- On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.
By learning about Barrell (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.
As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Barrell. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Barrell is located in Decatur County.
To see how the shape of Iowa's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Decatur County: Clarke, Ringgold, Wayne, Harrison (MO) & Mercer (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Barrell. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Barrell:
- Decatur County (The home county of Barrell)
- The following are listed by their distance from Barrell, with the one closest to Barrell listed first.
- Decatur City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Decatur City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Davis City
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Davis City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
- Leon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lamoni
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Grand River
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Grand River is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
- Pleasanton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasanton is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasanton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Van Wert
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Van Wert is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Wert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Morgan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Woodland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Woodland is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Garden Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Garden Grove is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Le Roy
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Le Roy is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Roy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Barrell, with the one closest to Barrell listed first.
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Weldon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Lacelle
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Lacelle is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
- Hopeville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Hopeville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Osceola
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Murray
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Murray is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
- Woodburn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lucas County
- Derby
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Derby is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Ringgold County
- The following are listed by their distance from Barrell, with the one closest to Barrell listed first.
- Kellerton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Beaconsfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Beaconsfield is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaconsfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
- Ellston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ellston is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 38 people
- Mount Ayr
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Tingley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Delphos
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Delphos is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphos
- Estimated population in 2019: 24 people
- Benton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Benton is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Diagonal
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Knowlton ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Knowlton is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowlton
- Redding
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Redding is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redding
- Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
- Maloy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Maloy is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maloy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 27 people
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Barrell, with the one closest to Barrell listed first.
- Thayer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Thayer is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Arispe
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Arispe is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arispe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
- Shannon City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Shannon City is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Afton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Barrell, with the one closest to Barrell listed first.
- Lineville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Lineville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lineville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
- Clio
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Clio is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
- Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
- Humeston
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hodge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Hodge is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodge
- Allerton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Corydon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Gentry County (MO)
- Siloam Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Siloam Springs is located in Gentry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siloam Springs
- Harrison County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Barrell, with the one closest to Barrell listed first.
- Akron
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Akron is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron
- Blythedale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Blythedale is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blythedale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 183 people
- Eagleville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Cainsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Cainsville is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cainsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Hatfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hatfield is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
- Ridgeway
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Mount Moriah
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Mount Moriah is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Moriah
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
- Gardner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Gardner is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardner
- Martinsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Martinsville is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
- Bethany
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Mercer County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Barrell, with the one closest to Barrell listed first.
- Burrows
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Burrows is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows
- South Lineville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- South Lineville is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lineville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 27 people
- Mercer
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Princeton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ravanna
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ravanna is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravanna
- Modena
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Modena is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modena
- Worth County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Barrell, with the one closest to Barrell listed first.
- Allendale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Irena
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Irena is located in Worth County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Barrell, see our County-by-County Page for Barrell.
Cemeteries Near Barrell ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Barrell.
This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.
Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Barrell - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Barrell covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Barrell, with the one closest to Barrell listed first.
- Miller Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Bucy Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Terre Haute Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Cash Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Trinity Hills Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity Hills Cemetery
- The Trinity Hills Cemetery has also been known as:
- Trinity Hills Lutheran Church Cemetery
- Woodmansee Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Waller Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Decatur City Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lillie Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Creveling Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Davis City Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gore Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (261 more) ...
- Palenstine Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Millsap Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Elk Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<2>
While we didn't find Barrell in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Barrell.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Barrell, with the one closest to Barrell listed first.
- Davis City
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Davis City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
- Lamoni
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blockly
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Blockly is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blockly
- Leon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kingston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Kingston is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Andover
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Andover is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andover
- Grand River
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Grand River is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
- Kellerton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Pleasanton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasanton is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasanton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Akron
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Akron is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron
- Van Wert
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Van Wert is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Wert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Beaconsfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Beaconsfield is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaconsfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Burrows
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Burrows is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows
- Saline
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Saline is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saline
- Morgan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Barrell. See our List of 1890's Communities around Barrell.
Newspapers Published in Barrell ...
An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.
Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 132 newspapers that have been published in the area around Barrell.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Barrell, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Barrell.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Barrell:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Decatur County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clarke County
- Lucas County
- Ringgold County
- Union County
- Wayne County
- Gentry County
- Harrison County
- Mercer County
- Worth County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Iowa
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Barrell, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Barrell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |