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 Blockly (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 Blockly. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Blockly 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 Blockly. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Blockly:
- Decatur County (The home county of Blockly)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blockly, with the one closest to Blockly listed first.
- Davis City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Davis City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
- Leon
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Pleasanton
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Pleasanton is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasanton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Decatur City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Decatur City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Morgan
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Woodland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Woodland is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Lamoni
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Garden Grove
(13 miles [20.9 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
- Van Wert
(14 miles [22.5 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
- Grand River
(15 miles [24.1 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
- Le Roy
(17 miles [27.4 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 Blockly, with the one closest to Blockly listed first.
- Weldon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Lacelle
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Lacelle is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
- Hopeville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Hopeville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Osceola
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Woodburn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Murray
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Murray is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
- Lucas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blockly, with the one closest to Blockly listed first.
- Derby
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Derby is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Lucas
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lucas is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Ringgold County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blockly, with the one closest to Blockly listed first.
- Kellerton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Beaconsfield
(18 miles [29 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
(22 miles [35.4 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
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Tingley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Delphos
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Delphos is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphos
- Estimated population in 2019: 24 people
- Union County
- Thayer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Thayer is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blockly, with the one closest to Blockly listed first.
- Lineville
(13 miles [20.9 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
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Clio is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
- Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
- Hodge
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Hodge is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodge
- Humeston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Allerton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Corydon
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Millerton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Millerton is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Grundy County (MO)
- Spickard
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Harrison County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blockly, with the one closest to Blockly listed first.
- Akron
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Akron is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron
- Cainsville
(15 miles [24.1 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
- Blythedale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- 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 southwest)
- Ridgeway
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Moriah
(22 miles [35.4 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
- Hatfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hatfield is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
- Gardner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gardner is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardner
- Bethany
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Martinsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Martinsville is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
- Mercer County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blockly, with the one closest to Blockly listed first.
- Burrows
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Burrows is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows
- South Lineville
(13 miles [20.9 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
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Princeton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ravanna
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ravanna is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravanna
- Modena
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Modena is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modena
- Putnam County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blockly, with the one closest to Blockly listed first.
- Powersville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Powersville is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Lucerne
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lucerne is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucerne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
- Sullivan County (MO)
- Newtown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Worth County (MO)
- Allendale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Blockly, see our County-by-County Page for Blockly.
Cemeteries Near Blockly ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blockly.
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 Blockly - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Blockly covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Blockly, with the one closest to Blockly listed first.
- Bethel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Chase Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hatfield Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Campbell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Gore Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Davis City Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- New Salem Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- County Home Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Manchester Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Campbell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Hamilton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Hamilton Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Pleasanton.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #94982 <3>
- Cowles Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (261 more) ...
- Dale Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Chastain Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Meek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Blockly had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Blockly, with the one closest to Blockly listed first.
- Davis City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Davis City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
- Pleasanton
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Pleasanton is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasanton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Leon
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Morgan
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Woodland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Woodland is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Lamoni
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Andover
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Andover is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andover
- Burrows
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Burrows is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows
- Saline
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Saline is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saline
- Adel
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Adel is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adel
- Wataga
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wataga is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wataga
- Akron
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Akron is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- High Point
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- High Point is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Point
- Kingston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Kingston is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Big Spring ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Big Spring is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Spring
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Blockly. See our List of 1890's Communities around Blockly.
Newspapers Published in Blockly ...
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 125 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blockly.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Blockly, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Blockly.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Blockly:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Decatur County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clarke County
- Lucas County
- Ringgold County
- Union County
- Wayne County
- Grundy County
- Harrison County
- Mercer County
- Putnam County
- Sullivan 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> | 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- Blockly) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com. |
| <4> | 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 Blockly, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |