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 Bowsher (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 Bowsher. 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 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.
Bowsher is located in Polk 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 Polk County: Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Story & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Bowsher. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bowsher:
- Polk County (The home county of Bowsher)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowsher, with the one closest to Bowsher listed first.
- Berwick
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Berwick is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
- Country Estate Village
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Altoona
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Marquisville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Marquisville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marquisville
- Pleasant Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Carney
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Carney is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carney
- Rising Sun
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rising Sun is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
- Des Moines
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bondurant
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Saylorville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Saylorville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saylorville
- Levey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Levey is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
- Ankeny
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Adelphi
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Adelphi is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowsher, with the one closest to Bowsher listed first.
- Madrid
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Luther
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Luther is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luther
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Jordan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jordan is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowsher, with the one closest to Bowsher listed first.
- Granger
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Waukee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- High Bridge
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- High Bridge is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Bridge
- Booneville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Dallas Center
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Van Meter
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Xenia
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Xenia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenia
- Woodward
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Adel
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- DeSoto
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Minburn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Minburn is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 357 people
- Bouton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Panther
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Panther is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowsher, with the one closest to Bowsher listed first.
- Valeria
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Valeria is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valeria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Oswalt
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Oswalt is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswalt
- Vandalia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Vandalia is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Colfax
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Mingo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Prairie City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Green Castle
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Green Castle is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
- Goddard
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Goddard is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
- Ira
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ira is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Metz
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Metz is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Clyde
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Clyde is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Baxter
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Lambs Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Lambs Grove is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambs Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowsher, with the one closest to Bowsher listed first.
- Patterson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Patterson is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
- Saint Charles
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowsher, with the one closest to Bowsher listed first.
- Swan
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Swan is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Percy ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Percy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
- Pleasantville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cordova
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cordova is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
- Otley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowsher, with the one closest to Bowsher listed first.
- Rhodes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rhodes is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 298 people
- Melbourne
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Story County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowsher, with the one closest to Bowsher listed first.
- Cambridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Huxley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Slater
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Maxwell
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Midvale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Midvale is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
- Iowa Center
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Iowa Center is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Center
- Collins
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Collins is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Kelley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Shipley
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Shipley is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shipley
- Ames
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Nevada
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Ontario
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Ontario is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ontario
- Colo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowsher, with the one closest to Bowsher listed first.
- Lakewood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lakewood is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Orillia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Orillia is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
- Hartford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Palmyra
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Palmyra is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Cumming
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Spring Hill is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Prole
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Prole is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
- Ackworth
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Ackworth is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Indianola
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Churchville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Churchville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
- Sandyville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sandyville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Martensdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Clarkson ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Clarkson is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bowsher, see our County-by-County Page for Bowsher.
Cemeteries Near Bowsher ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bowsher.
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 Bowsher - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bowsher covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bowsher, with the one closest to Bowsher listed first.
- Sims Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Harvey Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Berwick Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Greenwood Friends Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Rising Sun Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Highland Memory Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pinehill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- New Altoona Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Altoona Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (292 more) ...
- Oralabor Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Enterprise Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Emmanuel 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.<3>
While we didn't find Bowsher in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bowsher.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bowsher, with the one closest to Bowsher listed first.
- Berwick
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Berwick is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
- Altoona
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Saylor
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Saylor is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saylor
- Des Moines
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- East Des Moines
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- East Des Moines is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Des Moines
- Rising Sun
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rising Sun is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
- Oralabor
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Oralabor is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oralabor
- Hastie
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Hastie is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hastie
- Bondurant
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Saylorville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Saylorville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saylorville
- Levey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Levey is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
- Ivy
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Ivy is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivy
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Avon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Avon is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Ankeny
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Valley Junction
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Valley Junction is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Junction
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bowsher. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bowsher.
Newspapers Published in Bowsher ...
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 315 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bowsher.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bowsher, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bowsher.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Bowsher:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Polk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Dallas County
- Jasper County
- Madison County
- Marion County
- Marshall County
- Story County
- Warren 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> | 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. |
| <3> | 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 Bowsher, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Bowsher) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |