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 Freeman (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 Freeman. 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.
Freeman is located in Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo County: Butler, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Mitchell, Winnebago, Worth & Wright.
Below are the counties that are near Freeman. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Freeman:
- Cerro Gordo County (The home county of Freeman)
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeman, with the one closest to Freeman listed first.
- Plymouth Junction
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Plymouth Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth Junction
- Plymouth
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Plymouth is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
- Mason City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Rock Falls
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Rock Falls is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
- Mason City Junction
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Mason City Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason City Junction
- Portland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Portland is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland
- Creamery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Creamery is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creamery
- Cameron
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Cameron is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Burchinal
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Burchinal is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burchinal
- Clear Lake
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ventura
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rockwell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Cartersville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Cartersville is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeman, with the one closest to Freeman listed first.
- Aredale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Greene
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeman, with the one closest to Freeman listed first.
- Nora Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rudd
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Rockford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Floyd
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Aureola
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Aureola is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aureola
- Marble Rock
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Roseville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Roseville is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseville
- Oakwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Oakwood is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Charles City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Colwell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeman, with the one closest to Freeman listed first.
- Sheffield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Sheffield is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,096 people
- Chapin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Chapin is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeman, with the one closest to Freeman listed first.
- Garner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Klemme
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Duncan
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Duncan is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Goodell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Goodell is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
- Crystal Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Crystal Lake is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
- Mitchell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeman, with the one closest to Freeman listed first.
- Rock Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
- Carpenter
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Carpenter is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpenter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 108 people
- Mitchell
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Mitchell is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
- Saint Ansgar
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Osage
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Orchard
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Orchard is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Toeterville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Little Cedar
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Little Cedar is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Cedar
- Stacyville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Stacyville is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stacyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 466 people
- New Haven
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- New Haven is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Haven
- Meyer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Meyer is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
- Winnebago County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeman, with the one closest to Freeman listed first.
- Lake Mills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Forest City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Leland
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Leland is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Scarville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Vinje
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Vinje is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinje
- Thompson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Worth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeman, with the one closest to Freeman listed first.
- Manly
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Kensett
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Kensett is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kensett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Grafton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hanlontown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hanlontown is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanlontown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Bolan
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Bolan is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolan
- Fertile
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Northwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Joice
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Joice is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joice
- Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
- Bristol
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bristol is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Silver Lake
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Silver Lake is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
- Freeborn County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeman, with the one closest to Freeman listed first.
- London
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- London is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for London
- Glenville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Myrtle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Myrtle is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Emmons
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Emmons is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmons
- Population from the 2020 Census: 380 people
- Twin Lakes
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Twin Lakes is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Hayward
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Mower County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeman, with the one closest to Freeman listed first.
- Lyle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Johnsburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Johnsburg is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsburg
- Varco
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Varco is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varco
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Freeman, see our County-by-County Page for Freeman.
Cemeteries Near Freeman ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Freeman.
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 Freeman - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Freeman covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Freeman, with the one closest to Freeman listed first.
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- IOOF Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Bohemian Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bohemian Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Bohemian Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Plymouth.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #94297 <2>
- Oakwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Oakwood Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Plymouth.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #95696 <2>
- Manly Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Elmwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Rock Falls Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wise Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Grandview Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Benjegerdes Family Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (183 more) ...
- Schmidt Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Trebilcock Family Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lincoln Twp. 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 Freeman in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Freeman.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Freeman, with the one closest to Freeman listed first.
- Plymouth Junction
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Plymouth Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth Junction
- Mason City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Plymouth
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Plymouth is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
- Rock Falls
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Rock Falls is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
- Manly
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Mason City Junction
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Mason City Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason City Junction
- Portland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Portland is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland
- Creamery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Creamery is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creamery
- Cameron
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Cameron is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Kensett
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Kensett is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kensett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Clear Lake
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Burchinal
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Burchinal is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burchinal
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Nora Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Grafton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bolan
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Bolan is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolan
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Freeman. See our List of 1890's Communities around Freeman.
Newspapers Published in Freeman ...
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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Freeman.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Freeman, 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 Freeman.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Freeman:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Cerro Gordo County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Butler County
- Floyd County
- Franklin County
- Hancock County
- Mitchell County
- Winnebago County
- Worth County
- Freeborn County
- Mower 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 Freeman, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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 from Point A (ie- Freeman) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |