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 Ford (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 Ford. 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 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 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.
Ford is located in Warren 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 Warren County: Clarke, Dallas, Lucas, Madison, Marion & Polk.
Below are the counties that are near Ford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ford:
- Warren County (The home county of Ford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ford, with the one closest to Ford listed first.
- Hartford
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Palmyra
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Palmyra is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Sandyville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Sandyville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Ackworth
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ackworth is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Clarkson ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Clarkson is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
- Indianola
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Milo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Spring Hill
(14 miles [22.5 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
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Lakewood is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Orillia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Orillia is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
- Prole
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Prole is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
- Churchville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Churchville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
- Clarke County
- Liberty
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Liberty is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ford, with the one closest to Ford listed first.
- Booneville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Waukee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Granger
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Van Meter
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ford, with the one closest to Ford listed first.
- Vandalia
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Vandalia is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Prairie City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Monroe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Oswalt
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Oswalt is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswalt
- Colfax
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Valeria
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Valeria is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valeria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Goddard
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Goddard is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
- Metz
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Metz is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Green Castle
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Green Castle is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
- Reasnor
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Reasnor is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reasnor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Mingo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Lambs Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lambs Grove is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambs Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Lucas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ford, with the one closest to Ford listed first.
- Williamson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Olmitz
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Olmitz is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmitz
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ford, with the one closest to Ford listed first.
- Saint Charles
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Patterson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Patterson is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
- Truro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mahaska County
- Peoria
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Peoria is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ford, with the one closest to Ford listed first.
- Swan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Swan is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Percy ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Percy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
- Pleasantville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cordova
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Cordova is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
- Otley
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Knoxville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Bauer
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Bauer is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Melcher - Dallas
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Melcher - Dallas is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melcher - Dallas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
- Howell ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Howell is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell
- Newbern
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Newbern is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Columbia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Columbia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Pershing
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Pershing is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pershing
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ford, with the one closest to Ford listed first.
- Runnells
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Adelphi
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Adelphi is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
- Carlisle
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Levey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Levey is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
- Rising Sun
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rising Sun is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
- Pleasant Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mitchellville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Altoona
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Country Estate Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bondurant
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Berwick
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Berwick is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
- Des Moines
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Story County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ford, with the one closest to Ford listed first.
- Maxwell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Cambridge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Collins
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Collins is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Huxley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Iowa Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Iowa Center is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Center
- Slater
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ford, see our County-by-County Page for Ford.
Cemeteries Near Ford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ford.
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 Ford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ford, with the one closest to Ford listed first.
- Moore Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Hartford Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wicker Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Middle River Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Black Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Swan Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Murray Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Lowman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Palmyra Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Powers - Warren Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Vandalia Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Spry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (327 more) ...
- Carlisle Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Wheeling Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Stuart Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Ford had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ford, with the one closest to Ford listed first.
- Hartford
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Runnells
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Adelphi
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Adelphi is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
- Palmyra
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Palmyra is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Swan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Swan is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Morgin Valley ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Morgin Valley is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgin Valley
- Vandalia
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Vandalia is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Carlisle
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Sandyville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Sandyville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Percy ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Percy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
- Hastie
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hastie is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hastie
- Avon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Avon is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Ivy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Ivy is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivy
- Summerset
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Summerset is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerset
- Rising Sun
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rising Sun is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ford.
Newspapers Published in Ford ...
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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ford, 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 Ford.
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 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 Ford:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Warren County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clarke County
- Dallas County
- Jasper County
- Lucas County
- Madison County
- Mahaska County
- Marion County
- Polk County
- Story 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 Ford, 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- Ford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |