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 Brownsville (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 Brownsville. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Brownsville is located in Poweshiek 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 Poweshiek County: Benton, Iowa, Jasper, Keokuk, Mahaska, Marshall & Tama.
Below are the counties that are near Brownsville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Brownsville:
- Poweshiek County (The home county of Brownsville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Montezuma
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Searsboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Searsboro is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Tilton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Tilton is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilton
- Deep River
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Deep River is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Malcom
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Guernsey
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Brooklyn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Grinnell
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Victor
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hartwick
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hartwick is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwick
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Sheridan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Sheridan is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Benton County
- Belle Plaine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Ambrose
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Ambrose is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ambrose
- Millersburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Millersburg is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 139 people
- North English
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Ladora
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Parnell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Williamsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Dayton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dayton is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Lynnville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Sully
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Oakland Acres
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Oakland Acres is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Acres
- Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
- Killduff
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Killduff is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Killduff
- Galesburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Galesburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galesburg
- Kellogg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Newburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Newburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Reasnor
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Reasnor is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reasnor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Newton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Monroe
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Lambs Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lambs Grove is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambs Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Keokuk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Gibson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Gibson is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 59 people
- Coal Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Coal Creek is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Creek
- Thornburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Thornburg is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- What Cheer
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Aurora
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Aurora is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
- Keswick
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Delta
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Delta is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 313 people
- Webster
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Webster is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Sigourney
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hayesville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Hayesville is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 48 people
- South English
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- South English is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South English
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Hedrick
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hedrick is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedrick
- Population from the 2020 Census: 743 people
- Mahaska County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Barnes City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Union Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Union Mills is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Mills
- New Sharon
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Lacey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lacey is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
- Taintor
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Taintor is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taintor
- Indianapolis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Indianapolis is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indianapolis
- Peoria
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Peoria is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria
- Rose Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Rose Hill is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
- Keomah Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Keomah Village is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keomah Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
- Oskaloosa
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- University Park
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- University Park is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
- Evans
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Evans is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Pella
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Harvey
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Harvey is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Howell ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Howell is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell
- Tracy
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Tracy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tracy
- Otley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Bussey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bussey is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bussey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 406 people
- Pershing
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Pershing is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pershing
- Cordova
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Cordova is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
- Hamilton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hamilton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Attica
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Attica is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Marysville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Marysville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
- Marshall County
- Gilman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Gilman is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 484 people
- Monroe County
- Bluff Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bluff Creek is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Creek
- Tama County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Chelsea
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Long Point
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Long Point is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Point
- Wapello County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Eddyville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Kirkville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Kirkville is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
- Highland Center
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Highland Center is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Center
- Chillicothe
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Chillicothe is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chillicothe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
- Dudley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Dudley is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
- Keb ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Keb is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keb
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Brownsville, see our County-by-County Page for Brownsville.
Cemeteries Near Brownsville ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brownsville.
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 Brownsville - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Brownsville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Sheley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Tilford Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Beason Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bone Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- McCoy Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Harper Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Forest Home Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Union Mills Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Barnes City Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes City Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Barnes City Cemetery is located outside and to the southwest of Barnes City.
- Jackson Twp. Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Masonic and IOOF Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Highland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (330 more) ...
- New Sharon Friends Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Mormon Point Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Lisor Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
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 Brownsville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Brownsville.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Union Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Union Mills is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Mills
- Barnes City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- New Sharon
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Montezuma
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lacey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lacey is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
- Searsboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Searsboro is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Ewart
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Ewart is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewart
- Coal Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Coal Creek is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Creek
- Taintor
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Taintor is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taintor
- Indianapolis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Indianapolis is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indianapolis
- Tilton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Tilton is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilton
- Deep River
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Deep River is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- What Cheer
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Thornburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Thornburg is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Lynnville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Brownsville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Brownsville.
Newspapers Published in Brownsville ...
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 105 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brownsville.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brownsville, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Brownsville.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Brownsville:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Poweshiek County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Iowa County
- Jasper County
- Keokuk County
- Mahaska County
- Marion County
- Marshall County
- Monroe County
- Tama County
- Wapello 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 Brownsville, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Brownsville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |