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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 Gruver (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 Gruver. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.

Gruver is located in Emmet 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 Emmet County: Dickinson, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Jackson (MN) & Martin (MN).

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

  • Emmet County     (The home county of Gruver)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gruver, with the one closest to Gruver listed first.
    • Dolliver
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Wallingford
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Wallingford is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
    • Estherville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Hoprig
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Hoprig is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoprig
    • Armstrong
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Armstrong is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 841 people
    • Ringsted
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gruver, with the one closest to Gruver listed first.
    • Langdon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Langdon is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langdon
    • Dickens
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Dickens is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickens
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
    • Fostoria
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Fostoria is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 219 people
    • Spencer
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Gillett Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Gillett Grove is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillett Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
  • Dickinson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gruver, with the one closest to Gruver listed first.
    • Superior
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Terril
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Terril is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terril
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
    • Orleans
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Orleans is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 591 people
    • Spirit Lake
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Arnolds Park
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Milford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Okoboji
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Old Town
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Old Town is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
    • Wahpeton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Wahpeton is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahpeton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
    • West Okoboji
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • West Okoboji is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Okoboji
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
  • Kossuth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gruver, with the one closest to Gruver listed first.
    • Seneca
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Seneca is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca
    • Fenton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Fenton is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
    • Swea City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Lone Rock
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Bancroft
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Bancroft is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bancroft
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 684 people
    • Gerled
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Gerled is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gerled
    • Whittemore
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Whittemore is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittemore
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 469 people
    • Ledyard
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Burt
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Burt is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 493 people
    • Lakota
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Lakota is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakota
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 275 people
  • Palo Alto County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gruver, with the one closest to Gruver listed first.
    • Graettinger
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Emmetsburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Ruthven
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Cylinder
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Cylinder is located in Palo Alto County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cylinder
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
    • Ayrshire
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Rodman
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Rodman is located in Palo Alto County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 41 people
    • Curlew
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Curlew is located in Palo Alto County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curlew
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
  • Jackson County (MN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gruver, with the one closest to Gruver listed first.
    • Petersburg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Petersburg is located in Jackson County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
    • Alpha
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Alpha is located in Jackson County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
    • Jackson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Jackson is located in Jackson County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,151 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jackson <1>
    • Lakefield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Martin County (MN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gruver, with the one closest to Gruver listed first.
    • Ceylon
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Ceylon is located in Martin County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceylon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 337 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ceylon <1>
    • Dunnell
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Dunnell is located in Martin County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
    • Sherburn
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Welcome
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Fairmont
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Trimont
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Granada
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Northrop
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Gruver ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gruver.

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

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

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

  • Swan Lake Village Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Swan lake Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Lincoln Twp. Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Prosser Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Wallingford Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • High Lake Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Estherville Lutheran Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Norwegian Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • East Side Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • St. Patricks Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Palestine Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (117 more) ...
    • Ellsworth Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Lake Belt Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • City Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)

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>

While we didn't find Gruver in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Gruver.

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

  • Maple Hill
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Maple Hill is located in Emmet County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Hill
  • Wallingford
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Wallingford is located in Emmet County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
  • Dolliver
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Estherville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Hoprig
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Hoprig is located in Emmet County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoprig
  • Graettinger
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Ringsted
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Armstrong
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Armstrong is located in Emmet County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 841 people
  • Dunnell
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Dunnell is located in Martin County (MN)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnell
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
  • Superior
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Osgood
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Osgood is located in Palo Alto County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osgood
  • Petersburg
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Petersburg is located in Jackson County (MN)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Swea ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Swea is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swea
    • Seneca
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Seneca is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca
    • Fenton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Fenton is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people

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

Newspapers Published in Gruver ...

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 102 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gruver.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gruver, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Gruver.

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 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 Gruver:

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 Gruver, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Gruver) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.