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 Donnelley (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 Donnelley. 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 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.
Donnelley is located in Marion 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 Marion County: Jasper, Lucas, Mahaska, Monroe, Polk, Poweshiek & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Donnelley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Donnelley:
- Marion County (The home county of Donnelley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Donnelley, with the one closest to Donnelley listed first.
- Knoxville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Pleasantville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Cordova
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cordova is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
- Melcher - Dallas
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Melcher - Dallas is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melcher - Dallas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
- Percy ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Percy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
- Attica
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Attica is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Pershing
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pershing is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pershing
- Howell ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Howell is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell
- Otley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Columbia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Columbia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Indiana
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Indiana is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indiana
- Bauer
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bauer is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Clarke County
- Liberty
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Liberty is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donnelley, with the one closest to Donnelley listed first.
- Monroe
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Vandalia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Vandalia is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Prairie City
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Reasnor
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Reasnor is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reasnor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Galesburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Galesburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galesburg
- Metz
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Metz is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Colfax
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Killduff
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Killduff is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Killduff
- Sully
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Lambs Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Lambs Grove is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambs Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Oswalt
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Oswalt is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswalt
- Goddard
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Goddard is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
- Lucas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donnelley, with the one closest to Donnelley listed first.
- Olmitz
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Olmitz is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmitz
- Williamson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Chariton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Russell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Zero
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Zero is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zero
- Lucas
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lucas is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Mahaska County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donnelley, with the one closest to Donnelley listed first.
- Olivet
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Olivet is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Leighton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Peoria
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Peoria is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria
- Fishville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Fishville is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishville
- Evans
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Evans is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Lakonta
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Lakonta is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakonta
- Taintor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Taintor is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taintor
- Beacon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Beacon is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beacon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
- Givin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Givin is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Givin
- Oskaloosa
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Lacey
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Lacey is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
- New Sharon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donnelley, with the one closest to Donnelley listed first.
- Lovilia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bluff Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bluff Creek is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Creek
- Georgetown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Georgetown is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Melrose
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Albia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Avery
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Avery is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donnelley, with the one closest to Donnelley listed first.
- Runnells
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Adelphi
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Adelphi is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
- Carlisle
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Levey
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Levey is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
- Rising Sun
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Rising Sun is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
- Mitchellville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Altoona
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Santiago
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Santiago is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiago
- Country Estate Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bondurant
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Norwalk
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Poweshiek County
- Searsboro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Searsboro is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Wapello County
- Eddyville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donnelley, with the one closest to Donnelley listed first.
- Sandyville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Sandyville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Hartford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lacona
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Clarkson ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Clarkson is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
- Milo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Palmyra
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Palmyra is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Ackworth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Ackworth is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Liberty Center
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Liberty Center is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Center
- Indianola
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Cool
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Cool is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool
- Spring Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Spring Hill is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Lakewood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lakewood is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Donnelley, see our County-by-County Page for Donnelley.
Cemeteries Near Donnelley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Donnelley.
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 Donnelley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Donnelley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Donnelley, with the one closest to Donnelley listed first.
- Lincoln Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Shire Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Watkins Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- DeWitt Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Graceland Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Schlotterback Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Wren Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Stickle Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Poor Farm Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Schirey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Burch Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Continue List (344 more) ...
- Greenwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Finarty Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Competine 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.<4>
While we didn't find Donnelley in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Donnelley.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Donnelley, with the one closest to Donnelley listed first.
- Knoxville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Pleasantville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Caloma
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Caloma is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caloma
- Cordova
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cordova is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
- Flagler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Flagler is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagler
- Gosport
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Gosport is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gosport
- Percy ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Percy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
- Attica
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Attica is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Bauer
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bauer is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Cloud
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Cloud is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloud
- Columbia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Columbia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Durham
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Durham is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Howell ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Howell is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell
- Otley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Swan
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Swan is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Donnelley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Donnelley.
Newspapers Published in Donnelley ...
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 173 newspapers that have been published in the area around Donnelley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Donnelley, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Donnelley.
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 helpful 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 Donnelley:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Marion County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clarke County
- Jasper County
- Lucas County
- Mahaska County
- Monroe County
- Polk County
- Poweshiek County
- Wapello 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Donnelley) 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 Donnelley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |