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 Garden Grove (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 Garden Grove. 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.
Name Variations for Garden Grove ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
Another variation: Gardengrove.
- A typical abbreviation for Garden Grove: Garden Grv.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Garden Grove. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Garden Grove.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 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.
Garden Grove is located in Decatur 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 Decatur County: Clarke, Ringgold, Wayne, Harrison (MO) & Mercer (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Garden Grove. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Garden Grove:
- Decatur County (The home county of Garden Grove)
- The following are listed by their distance from Garden Grove, with the one closest to Garden Grove listed first.
- Le Roy
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Le Roy is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Roy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Woodland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Woodland is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Leon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Van Wert
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Van Wert is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Wert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Decatur City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Decatur City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Morgan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Morgan is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Davis City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Davis City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
- Pleasanton
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Pleasanton is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasanton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Grand River
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Grand River is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
- Lamoni
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Appanoose County
- Plano
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garden Grove, with the one closest to Garden Grove listed first.
- Weldon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Woodburn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Lacelle
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lacelle is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
- Osceola
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hopeville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Hopeville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Liberty
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Liberty is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Murray
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Murray is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
- Lucas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garden Grove, with the one closest to Garden Grove listed first.
- Derby
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Derby is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Lucas
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lucas is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Chariton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Russell
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Williamson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Zero
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Zero is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zero
- Olmitz
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Olmitz is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmitz
- Madison County
- Truro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garden Grove, with the one closest to Garden Grove listed first.
- Newbern
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Newbern is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Bauer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bauer is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Monroe County
- Melrose
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Ringgold County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garden Grove, with the one closest to Garden Grove listed first.
- Beaconsfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Beaconsfield is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaconsfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
- Kellerton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Ellston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Ellston is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 38 people
- Tingley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Union County
- Thayer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Thayer is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garden Grove, with the one closest to Garden Grove listed first.
- New Virginia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Liberty Center
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Liberty Center is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Center
- Cool
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Cool is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool
- Lacona
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garden Grove, with the one closest to Garden Grove listed first.
- Humeston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Allerton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hodge
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hodge is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodge
- Corydon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Millerton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Millerton is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Clio
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Clio is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
- Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
- Lineville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Lineville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lineville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
- Promise City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Promise City is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promise City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Confidence
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Confidence is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confidence
- Seymour
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Genoa
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Genoa is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
- Harrison County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Garden Grove, with the one closest to Garden Grove listed first.
- Akron
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Akron is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron
- Cainsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Cainsville is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cainsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Blythedale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blythedale is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blythedale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 183 people
- Mercer County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Garden Grove, with the one closest to Garden Grove listed first.
- South Lineville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- South Lineville is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lineville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 27 people
- Burrows
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Burrows is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows
- Mercer
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Ravanna
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Ravanna is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravanna
- Princeton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Putnam County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Garden Grove, with the one closest to Garden Grove listed first.
- Powersville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Powersville is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Saint John
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Saint John is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint John
- Lucerne
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lucerne is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucerne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Garden Grove, see our County-by-County Page for Garden Grove.
Cemeteries Near Garden Grove ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Garden Grove.
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 Garden Grove - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Garden Grove covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Garden Grove, with the one closest to Garden Grove listed first.
- Garden Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Morman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- McCullough Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Doze Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Trullinger Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Winters Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- High Point Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Green Bay Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Metier Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Franklin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Franklin Cemetery is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<2> to the northeast of Leon.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1104436 <3>
- Lewisburg Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Blair Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (292 more) ...
- Johnson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Humeston Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Gwinn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Garden Grove had a population of 554 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Garden Grove had a population of 200 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Garden Grove, with the one closest to Garden Grove listed first.
- Le Roy
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Le Roy is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Roy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- High Point
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- High Point is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Point
- Humeston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Smyrna
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Smyrna is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smyrna
- Weldon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Leon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Woodland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Woodland is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Saxon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Saxon is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxon
- Big Spring ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Big Spring is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Spring
- Cambria
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Cambria is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambria
- Derby
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Derby is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Van Wert
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Van Wert is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Wert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Kingston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Kingston is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Woodburn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Garden Grove. See our List of 1890's Communities around Garden Grove.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Garden Grove ...
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 105 newspapers that have been published in the area around Garden Grove.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Garden Grove. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Garden Grove and those printed in the larger area surrounding Garden Grove.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2> of Garden Grove.
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 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 Garden Grove:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Decatur County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Appanoose County
- Clarke County
- Lucas County
- Madison County
- Marion County
- Monroe County
- Ringgold County
- Union County
- Warren County
- Wayne County
- Harrison County
- Mercer County
- Putnam 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 '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- Garden Grove) 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 Garden Grove, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |