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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 Earlham (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 Earlham. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Earlham is located in Madison 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 Madison County: Adair, Clarke, Dallas, Guthrie, Polk, Union & Warren.

Below are the counties that are near Earlham. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Earlham:

  • Madison County     (The home county of Earlham)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Earlham, with the one closest to Earlham listed first.
    • Pitzer
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Pitzer is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitzer
    • Winterset
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Webster
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Webster is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
    • Patterson
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Patterson is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
    • Ord
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Ord is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ord
    • Macksburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Macksburg is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
    • East Peru
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • East Peru is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peru
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
    • Saint Charles
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Barney
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Barney is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
    • Truro
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
  • Adair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Earlham, with the one closest to Earlham listed first.
    • Arbor Hill
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Arbor Hill is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
    • Stanzel
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Stanzel is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanzel
    • Hebron
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Hebron is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
    • Greenfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Zion
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Zion is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
    • Orient
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Fontanelle
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Fontanelle is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontanelle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 612 people
  • Boone County
    • Madrid
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Earlham, with the one closest to Earlham listed first.
    • Dexter
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • DeSoto
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Wiscotta
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Wiscotta is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiscotta
    • Redfield
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Van Meter
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Adel
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Adel is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,607 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Adel <1>
    • Booneville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Linden
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Linden is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
    • Panther
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Panther is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
    • Waukee
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Dallas Center
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Minburn
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Minburn is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minburn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 357 people
    • Granger
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
  • Greene County
    • Rippey
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Rippey is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rippey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 269 people
  • Guthrie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Earlham, with the one closest to Earlham listed first.
    • Stuart
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Dale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Dale is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
    • Menlo
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Glendon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Glendon is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendon
    • Panora
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Casey
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Yale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Yale is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 239 people
    • Guthrie Center
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Jamaica
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Herndon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Herndon is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herndon
    • Adair
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Bagley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Bagley is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 285 people
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Earlham, with the one closest to Earlham listed first.
    • Commerce
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Commerce is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
    • West Des Moines
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Clive
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Urbandale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Grimes
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Norwalk
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Windsor Heights
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Johnston
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Herrold
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Herrold is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrold
    • Andrews
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Andrews is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andrews
    • Des Moines
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Polk City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Saylorville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Saylorville is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saylorville
  • Union County
    • Lorimor
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Lorimor is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorimor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
  • Warren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Earlham, with the one closest to Earlham listed first.
    • Cumming
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Bevington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Churchville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Churchville is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
    • Orillia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Orillia is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
    • Martensdale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Prole
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Prole is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
    • Lakewood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Lakewood is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Saint Marys
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Saint Marys is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
    • Spring Hill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Spring Hill is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
    • New Virginia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Indianola
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Earlham, see our County-by-County Page for Earlham.

Cemeteries Near Earlham ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Earlham.

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 Earlham - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Earlham covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Earlham, with the one closest to Earlham listed first.

  • Earlham Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • North Branch Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Old Penn Center Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Penn Center Methodist Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • McKibben Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Bear Creek Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Worthington Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Bennett Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Ellis Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Longmire Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (238 more) ...
    • Dexter Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Trester Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Rodabough Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)

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 Earlham in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Earlham.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Earlham, with the one closest to Earlham listed first.

  • Dexter
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • DeSoto
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Kennedy
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Kennedy is located in Dallas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kennedy
  • Redfield
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Pitzer
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Pitzer is located in Madison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitzer
  • Van Meter
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Adel
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Adel is located in Dallas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adel
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,607 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Adel <1>
  • McBride
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • McBride is located in Madison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBride
  • Stuart
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Ortonville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Ortonville is located in Dallas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ortonville
  • Winterset
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Booneville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (19 more) ...
    • Linden
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Linden is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
    • Arbor Hill
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Arbor Hill is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
    • Panther
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Panther is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Earlham. See our List of 1890's Communities around Earlham.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Earlham ...

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 203 newspapers that have been published in the area around Earlham.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Earlham. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Earlham and those printed in the larger area surrounding Earlham.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Earlham.

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 Earlham:

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 Earlham, 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' (or 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- Earlham) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.