RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Iowa >> Franklin County >> Geneva >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Geneva (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 Geneva. 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.

Geneva is located in Franklin 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 Franklin County: Butler, Cerro Gordo, Hardin & Wright.

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

  • Franklin County     (The home county of Geneva)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Geneva, with the one closest to Geneva listed first.
    • Faulkner
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Faulkner is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faulkner
    • Hansell
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Hampton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Bradford
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Bradford is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
    • Reeve
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Reeve is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeve
    • Chapin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Chapin is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
    • Coulter
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Coulter is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coulter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 261 people
    • Latimer
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Sheffield
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Sheffield is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,096 people
    • Popejoy
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Popejoy is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popejoy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
    • Oakland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Oakland is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
    • Alexander
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Alexander is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
  • Black Hawk County
    • Finchford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Finchford is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finchford
  • Butler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Geneva, with the one closest to Geneva listed first.
    • Dumont
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Austinville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Austinville is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinville
    • Kesley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Kesley is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kesley
    • Aredale
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Bristow
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Bristow is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
    • Aplington
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Allison
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Butler Center
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Butler Center is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler Center
    • Parkersburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Coster
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Coster is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coster
    • Greene
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Sinclair
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Sinclair is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sinclair
    • Clarksville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
  • Cerro Gordo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Geneva, with the one closest to Geneva listed first.
    • Dougherty
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Dougherty is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dougherty
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
    • Rockwell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Cartersville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Cartersville is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
    • Swaledale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Swaledale is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swaledale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
    • Thornton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Thornton is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 401 people
    • Meservey
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Meservey is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meservey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 237 people
    • Burchinal
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Burchinal is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burchinal
    • Cameron
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Cameron is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
    • Mason City Junction
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Mason City Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason City Junction
  • Floyd County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Geneva, with the one closest to Geneva listed first.
    • Aureola
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Aureola is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aureola
    • Marble Rock
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Rockford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Roseville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Roseville is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseville
    • Oakwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Oakwood is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
  • Grundy County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Geneva, with the one closest to Geneva listed first.
    • Buck Grove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Buck Grove is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Grove
    • Wellsburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Fern
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Fern is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fern
    • Stout
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Stout is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stout
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
    • Holland
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Grundy Center
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Dike
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Dike is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dike
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,267 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dike <1>
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Geneva, with the one closest to Geneva listed first.
    • Williams
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Blairsburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Blairsburg is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
  • Hancock County
    • Goodell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Goodell is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
  • Hardin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Geneva, with the one closest to Geneva listed first.
    • Ackley
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Robertson
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Robertson is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robertson
    • Iowa Falls
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Abbott
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Abbott is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
    • Cleves
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Cleves is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleves
    • Eagle City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Eagle City is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle City
    • Alden
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Owasa
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Owasa is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owasa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 41 people
    • Steamboat Rock
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Eldora
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Buckeye
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Buckeye is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
    • Sherman
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Sherman is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
    • Gifford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
  • Wright County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Geneva, with the one closest to Geneva listed first.
    • Dows
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Rowan
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Galt
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Solberg ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Solberg is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solberg
    • Belmond
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Cornelia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Cornelia is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornelia
    • Clarion
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Geneva ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Geneva.

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

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

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

  • St. Paul's Catholic Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Lindenwood Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Fourmile Grove Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Towle Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Maysville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Peters Evangelical Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Hampton Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Maynes Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Washington Reform Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Hansell Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Ingham Twp. Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (181 more) ...

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 Geneva had a population of 193 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Geneva had a population of 154 people.

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

  • Faulkner
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Faulkner is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faulkner
  • Hansell
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Hampton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Reeve
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Reeve is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeve
  • Ackley
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Dumont
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Robertson
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Robertson is located in Hardin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robertson
  • Iowa Falls
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Abbott Crossing ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Abbott Crossing is located in Hardin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott Crossing
  • Chapin
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Chapin is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
  • Aredale
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Burdette
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Burdette is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdette
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Abbott
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Abbott is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
    • Bristow
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Bristow is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
    • Latimer
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Geneva ...

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 97 newspapers that have been published in the area around Geneva.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Geneva, 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 Geneva.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Geneva:

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 Geneva, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Geneva) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.