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 Bonaparte (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 Bonaparte. 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 and doctors 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.
Bonaparte is located in Van Buren 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 Van Buren County: Davis, Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Clark (MO) & Scotland (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Bonaparte. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bonaparte:
- Van Buren County (The home county of Bonaparte)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bonaparte, with the one closest to Bonaparte listed first.
- Farmington
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Sterling
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Keosauqua
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Mount Zion
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Zion is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Stockport
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Kilbourn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kilbourn is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilbourn
- Winchester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Winchester is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
- Birmingham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Birmingham is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 423 people
- Cantril
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Douds
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Douds is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douds
- Leando
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Leando is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leando
- Milton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Davis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bonaparte, with the one closest to Bonaparte listed first.
- Chequest
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Chequest is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chequest
- Pulaski
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Pulaski is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pulaski
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Stiles
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Stiles is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiles
- Floris
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Floris is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floris
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Steuben
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Steuben is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steuben
- Des Moines County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bonaparte, with the one closest to Bonaparte listed first.
- Danville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Danville is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
- Middletown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Middletown is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bonaparte, with the one closest to Bonaparte listed first.
- Hillsboro
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hillsboro is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
- Salem
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland Mills
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland Mills is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Mills
- Rome
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Rome is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
- Westwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Westwood is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Lowell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lowell is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
- Mount Pleasant
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- New London
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Swedesburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Swedesburg is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swedesburg
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bonaparte, with the one closest to Bonaparte listed first.
- Glasgow
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Glasgow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
- Lockridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Fairfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Libertyville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Libertyville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Libertyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- Perlee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Perlee is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perlee
- Maharishi Vedic City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Maharishi Vedic City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maharishi Vedic City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,288 people
- Batavia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Plain
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Plain is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Plain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bonaparte, with the one closest to Bonaparte listed first.
- Big Mound
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Big Mound is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Mound
- Primrose
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Primrose is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primrose
- Russellville ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Russellville is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Russellville has also been known as:
- Doantown
- Croton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Croton is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
- Mount Hamill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Mount Hamill is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hamill
- Former names for Mount Hamill:
- Courtwright
- Hamill
- White Lane ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- White Lane is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Lane
- Houghton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Houghton is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houghton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Donnellson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Pilot Grove
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Pilot Grove is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Grove
- Franklin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Franklin is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
- Saint Paul
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Saint Paul is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
- Population from the 2020 Census: 123 people
- Argyle
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wapello County
- Eldon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hancock County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bonaparte, with the one closest to Bonaparte listed first.
- Nauvoo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Niota
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Powellton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Powellton is located in Hancock County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Clark County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bonaparte, with the one closest to Bonaparte listed first.
- Acasto
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Acasto is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acasto
- Anson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Anson is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anson
- Athens
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Athens is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
- Chambersburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Chambersburg is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambersburg
- Peaksville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Peaksville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaksville
- Dumas
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dumas is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumas
- Revere
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Luray
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Luray is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 94 people
- Medill
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Medill is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medill
- Kahoka
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Clark City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Clark City is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark City
- Saint Francisville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Francisville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Francisville
- Knox County (MO)
- Rutledge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Scotland County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bonaparte, with the one closest to Bonaparte listed first.
- Granger
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Granger is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
- Arbela
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Memphis
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gorin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gorin is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gorin
- South Gorin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- South Gorin is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gorin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Kilwinning
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kilwinning is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilwinning
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bonaparte, see our County-by-County Page for Bonaparte.
Cemeteries Near Bonaparte ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bonaparte.
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 Bonaparte - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bonaparte covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bonaparte, with the one closest to Bonaparte listed first.
- New Lexington Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Bonaparte Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Chapman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Neumann Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Cave Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Reed's Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Snyder Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- White Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bradford Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Thomson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Preen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Helwig Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (483 more) ...
- Steinmeyer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Rhodes Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Holsworth Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
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 Bonaparte had a population of 762 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Bonaparte had a population of 405 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bonaparte, with the one closest to Bonaparte listed first.
- Bentonsport
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Vernon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Vernon is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Farmington
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Pierceville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Pierceville is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierceville
- Big Mound
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Big Mound is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Mound
- Acasto
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Acasto is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acasto
- Mount Sterling
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Utica
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Utica is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utica
- Anson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Anson is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anson
- Primrose
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Primrose is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primrose
- Keosauqua
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Athens
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Athens is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Croton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Croton is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
- Mount Zion
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Zion is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Mount Hamill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Mount Hamill is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hamill
- Former names for Mount Hamill:
- Courtwright
- Hamill
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bonaparte. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bonaparte.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Bonaparte ...
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 70 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bonaparte.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Bonaparte. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Bonaparte and those printed in the larger area surrounding Bonaparte.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Bonaparte.
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 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 Bonaparte:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Van Buren County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Davis County
- Des Moines County
- Henry County
- Jefferson County
- Lee County
- Wapello County
- Hancock County
- Clark County
- Knox County
- Scotland 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 Bonaparte, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bonaparte) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |