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 Ellston (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 Ellston. 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 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.
Ellston is located in Ringgold 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 Ringgold County: Decatur, Taylor, Union, Harrison (MO) & Worth (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Ellston. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ellston:
- Ringgold County (The home county of Ellston)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellston, with the one closest to Ellston listed first.
- Beaconsfield
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Beaconsfield is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaconsfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
- Tingley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Kellerton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Mount Ayr
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Knowlton ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Knowlton is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowlton
- Diagonal
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Benton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Benton is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Delphos
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Delphos is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphos
- Estimated population in 2019: 24 people
- Maloy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Maloy is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maloy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 27 people
- Redding
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Redding is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redding
- Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
- Adair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellston, with the one closest to Ellston listed first.
- Zion
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Zion is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
- Orient
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hebron
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Hebron is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellston, with the one closest to Ellston listed first.
- Stringtown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Stringtown is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
- Mercer
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Mercer is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercer
- Prescott
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellston, with the one closest to Ellston listed first.
- Hopeville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hopeville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Lacelle
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lacelle is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
- Murray
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Murray is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Weldon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Osceola
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Woodburn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellston, with the one closest to Ellston listed first.
- Grand River
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Grand River is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
- Decatur City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Decatur City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Van Wert
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Van Wert is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Wert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Lamoni
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Leon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Davis City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Davis City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
- Garden Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Garden Grove is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Le Roy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Le Roy is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Roy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Pleasanton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasanton is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasanton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Woodland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Woodland is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Morgan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellston, with the one closest to Ellston listed first.
- Barney
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Barney is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- Macksburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Macksburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
- East Peru
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- East Peru is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peru
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Ord
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Ord is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ord
- Truro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Taylor County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellston, with the one closest to Ellston listed first.
- Clearfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Lenox
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Blockton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Blockton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
- Conway
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Conway is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Sharpsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Sharpsburg is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
- Athelstan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Athelstan is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athelstan
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellston, with the one closest to Ellston listed first.
- Arispe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Arispe is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arispe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
- Shannon City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Shannon City is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Afton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Thayer
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Thayer is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Lorimor
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Lorimor is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorimor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- East Creston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- East Creston is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Creston
- Kent
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kent is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Creston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cromwell
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Cromwell is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Warren County
- New Virginia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Harrison County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellston, with the one closest to Ellston listed first.
- Hatfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Hatfield is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
- Blythedale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Blythedale is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blythedale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 183 people
- Eagleville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Akron
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Akron is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron
- Mercer County (MO)
- Burrows
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Burrows is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows
- Worth County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellston, with the one closest to Ellston listed first.
- Irena
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Irena is located in Worth County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16 people
- Allendale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Grant City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ellston, see our County-by-County Page for Ellston.
Cemeteries Near Ellston ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ellston.
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 Ellston - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ellston covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ellston, with the one closest to Ellston listed first.
- Ellston Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Pumptown Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Johnston Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oliver Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Cornwall Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Bear Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Tingley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Woodland Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- O'Grady Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Leas Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Homewood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Grand River Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Continue List (246 more) ...
- Westervelt Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bever Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Eugene Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
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 Ellston in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ellston.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ellston, with the one closest to Ellston listed first.
- Beaconsfield
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Beaconsfield is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaconsfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
- Tingley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Grand River
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Grand River is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
- Kellerton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Hopeville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hopeville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Arispe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Arispe is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arispe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
- Shannon City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Shannon City is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Mount Ayr
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mortimer ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Mortimer is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mortimer
- Knowlton ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Knowlton is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowlton
- Talmage
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Talmage is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talmage
- Afton Junction ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Afton Junction is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afton Junction
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Diagonal
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Afton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Thayer
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Thayer is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ellston. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ellston.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Ellston ...
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 96 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ellston.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Ellston. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Ellston and those printed in the larger area surrounding Ellston.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4> of Ellston.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Ellston:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Ringgold County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adair County
- Adams County
- Clarke County
- Decatur County
- Madison County
- Taylor County
- Union County
- Warren County
- Harrison County
- Mercer County
- Worth 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 Ellston, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Ellston) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |