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 Grand River (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 Grand River. 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 Grand River ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Grand River: Grand Riv.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Grand River. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Grand River.
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.
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 north 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.
Grand River 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 Grand River. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Grand River:
- Decatur County (The home county of Grand River)
- The following are listed by their distance from Grand River, with the one closest to Grand River listed first.
- Decatur City
(8 miles [12.9 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
(9 miles [14.5 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
- Leon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lamoni
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Davis City
(14 miles [22.5 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
(18 miles [29 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
(19 miles [30.6 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
(20 miles [32.2 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
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Woodland is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Morgan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Grand River, with the one closest to Grand River listed first.
- Hopeville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hopeville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Lacelle
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lacelle is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Weldon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Murray
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Murray is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
- Osceola
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Woodburn
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Lucas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Grand River, with the one closest to Grand River listed first.
- Derby
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Derby is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Lucas
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lucas is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Grand River, with the one closest to Grand River listed first.
- Barney
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Barney is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- Truro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- 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
- Macksburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Macksburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
- Ord
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Ord is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ord
- Ringgold County
- The following are listed by their distance from Grand River, with the one closest to Grand River listed first.
- Beaconsfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Beaconsfield is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaconsfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
- Ellston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Ellston is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 38 people
- Kellerton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Tingley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Mount Ayr
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Diagonal
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Knowlton ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Knowlton is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowlton
- Delphos
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Delphos is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphos
- Estimated population in 2019: 24 people
- Benton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Benton is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Maloy
(25 miles [40.2 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
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Redding is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redding
- Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
- Taylor County
- The following are listed by their distance from Grand River, with the one closest to Grand River listed first.
- Clearfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Blockton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Blockton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Grand River, with the one closest to Grand River listed first.
- Thayer
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Thayer is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Arispe
(16 miles [25.7 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
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Shannon City is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Afton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Lorimor
(21 miles [33.8 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
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- East Creston is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Creston
- Creston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Kent
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Kent is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Cromwell
(30 miles [48.3 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
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Grand River, with the one closest to Grand River listed first.
- Humeston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Lineville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lineville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lineville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
- Clio
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clio is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
- Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
- Hodge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Hodge is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodge
- Harrison County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Grand River, with the one closest to Grand River listed first.
- Akron
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Akron is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron
- Hatfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hatfield is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
- Blythedale
(23 miles [37 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
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- 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
- Ridgeway
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Mercer County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Grand River, with the one closest to Grand River listed first.
- Burrows
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Burrows is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows
- South Lineville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- South Lineville is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lineville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 27 people
- Worth County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Grand River, with the one closest to Grand River listed first.
- Allendale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Irena
(29 miles [46.7 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
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Grand River, see our County-by-County Page for Grand River.
Cemeteries Near Grand River ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Grand River.
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 Grand River - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Grand River covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Grand River, with the one closest to Grand River listed first.
- Grand River Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Young Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Old Funk Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Westervelt Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- O'Grady Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Munyon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Tennessee Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Millsap Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- West Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Warrick Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Bear Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (264 more) ...
- Elk Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Woodmansee Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Leas 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Grand River had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Grand River had a population of 215 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Grand River, with the one closest to Grand River listed first.
- Beaconsfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Beaconsfield is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaconsfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
- Kingston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Kingston is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Hopeville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hopeville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Kellerton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Van Wert
(9 miles [14.5 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
- Lacelle
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lacelle is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Leon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Leslie
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Leslie is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leslie
- Tingley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Lamoni
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Weldon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Davis City
(14 miles [22.5 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
- Groveland ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Groveland is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groveland
- Mount Ayr
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Grand River. See our List of 1890's Communities around Grand River.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Grand River ...
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 70 newspapers that have been published in the area around Grand River.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Grand River. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Grand River and those printed in the larger area surrounding Grand River.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Grand River.
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 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 Grand River:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Decatur County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clarke County
- Lucas County
- Madison County
- Ringgold County
- Taylor County
- Union County
- Warren County
- Wayne 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> | 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 Grand River, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Grand River) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |