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 Bedford (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 Bedford. 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 southeast 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 south.
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 south 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.
Bedford is located in Taylor County and is the County Seat.
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 Taylor County: Adams, Page, Ringgold, Nodaway (MO) & Worth (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Bedford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bedford:
- Taylor County (The home county of Bedford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Gravity
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Gravity is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravity
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Ladoga
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ladoga is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladoga
- Conway
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Conway is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Siam
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Siam is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siam
- Sharpsburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sharpsburg is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
- New Market
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- New Market is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Market
- Population from the 2020 Census: 397 people
- Athelstan
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Athelstan is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athelstan
- Blockton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Blockton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
- Guss
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Guss is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guss
- Clearfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lenox
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Iveyville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Iveyville is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iveyville
- Mercer
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Mercer is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercer
- Brooks
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Brooks is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooks
- Nodaway
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Nodaway is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nodaway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
- Corning
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Stringtown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Stringtown is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
- Queen City ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Queen City is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen City
- Prescott
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Quincy
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Quincy is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
- Carbon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Carbon is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 31 people
- Strand
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Strand is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strand
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Villisca
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Clarinda Junction ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Clarinda Junction is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarinda Junction
- Tenville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tenville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenville
- Sciola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Sciola is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sciola
- Stanton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Page County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Hawleyville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hawleyville is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawleyville
- Shambaugh
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Shambaugh is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shambaugh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Braddyville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Clarinda
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Hepburn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hepburn is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hepburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 17 people
- College Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- College Springs is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
- Yorktown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Yorktown is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 83 people
- Tarkio City ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Tarkio City is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarkio City
- Blanchard
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Blanchard is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36 people
- Coin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Coin is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
- Nyman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Nyman is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nyman
- Northboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Northboro is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
- Ringgold County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Maloy
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Maloy is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maloy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 27 people
- Redding
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Redding is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redding
- Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
- Benton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Benton is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Delphos
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Delphos is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphos
- Estimated population in 2019: 24 people
- Diagonal
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Knowlton ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Knowlton is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowlton
- Mount Ayr
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Tingley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Kent
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Kent is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Cromwell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cromwell is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Shannon City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Shannon City is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Gentry County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Alanthus Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Alanthus Grove is located in Gentry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alanthus Grove
- Gentry
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Gentry is located in Gentry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentry
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Nodaway County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Hopkins
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Gaynor
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Gaynor is located in Nodaway County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaynor
- Orrsburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Orrsburg is located in Nodaway County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrsburg
- Parnell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Pickering
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Pickering is located in Nodaway County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pickering
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Clearmont
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ravenwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Ravenwood is located in Nodaway County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravenwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
- Maryville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Burlington Junction
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Elmo
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Elmo is located in Nodaway County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Conception Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Conception Junction is located in Nodaway County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conception Junction
- Population from the 2020 Census: 180 people
- Quitman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Quitman is located in Nodaway County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quitman
- Estimated population in 2017: 42 people
- Worth County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Sheridan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Irena
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Irena is located in Worth County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16 people
- Oxford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Oxford is located in Worth County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
- Grant City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Prohibition City
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Prohibition City is located in Worth County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prohibition City
- Worth
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Worth is located in Worth County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Allendale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Denver
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Denver is located in Worth County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denver
- Population from the 2020 Census: 35 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bedford, see our County-by-County Page for Bedford.
Cemeteries Near Bedford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bedford.
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 Bedford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bedford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Bedford Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Fairview Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Mohler Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Graceland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Ferrell - Ross Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Ross Twp. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Ross Twp. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Helm Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Forest Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lexington Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Kemery Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Bower Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (221 more) ...
- Taylor County Farm Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Washington Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Willard Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bedford had a population of 1,643 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Bedford had a population of 1,380 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Ladoga
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ladoga is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladoga
- Gravity
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Gravity is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravity
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Conway
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Conway is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Siam
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Siam is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siam
- Hopkins
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Allison
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Allison is located in Nodaway County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allison
- Platteville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Platteville is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Platteville
- Sharpsburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sharpsburg is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
- New Market
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- New Market is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Market
- Population from the 2020 Census: 397 people
- Gaynor
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Gaynor is located in Nodaway County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaynor
- Sheridan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Blockton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Blockton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Guss
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Guss is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guss
- Hawleyville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hawleyville is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawleyville
- Isadora
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Isadora is located in Worth County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isadora
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bedford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bedford.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Bedford ...
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 81 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bedford.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Bedford. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Bedford and those printed in the larger area surrounding Bedford.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Bedford.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Bedford:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Taylor County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Montgomery County
- Page County
- Ringgold County
- Union County
- Gentry County
- Nodaway 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 Bedford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Bedford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |