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 Harrison (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 Harrison. 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 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.
Harrison is located in Madison 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 Madison County: Adair, Clarke, Dallas, Guthrie, Polk, Union & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Harrison. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Harrison:
- Madison County (The home county of Harrison)
- The following are listed by their distance from Harrison, with the one closest to Harrison listed first.
- Webster
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Webster is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Pitzer
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Pitzer is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitzer
- Macksburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Macksburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
- Ord
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ord is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ord
- Winterset
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Barney
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Barney is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- East Peru
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- East Peru is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peru
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Earlham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Patterson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Patterson is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
- Truro
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Saint Charles
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Adair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harrison, with the one closest to Harrison listed first.
- Stanzel
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Stanzel is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanzel
- Hebron
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hebron is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Arbor Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Arbor Hill is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
- Zion
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Zion is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
- Orient
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Greenfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Fontanelle
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Fontanelle is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontanelle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 612 people
- Gilead
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Gilead is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
- Bridgewater
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harrison, with the one closest to Harrison listed first.
- Williamson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Williamson is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamson
- Carl
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Carl is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
- Prescott
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Stringtown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Stringtown is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
- Mount Etna
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Mount Etna is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Etna
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harrison, with the one closest to Harrison listed first.
- Dewey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Dewey is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewey
- Massena
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harrison, with the one closest to Harrison listed first.
- Murray
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Murray is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
- Hopeville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hopeville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Osceola
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lacelle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lacelle is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
- Liberty
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Liberty is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harrison, with the one closest to Harrison listed first.
- Dexter
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- DeSoto
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Redfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Wiscotta
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Wiscotta is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiscotta
- Van Meter
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Booneville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Adel
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Linden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Linden is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
- Waukee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Panther
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Panther is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
- Dallas Center
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Guthrie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harrison, with the one closest to Harrison listed first.
- Stuart
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Menlo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Dale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Dale is located in Guthrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- Casey
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Glendon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Glendon is located in Guthrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendon
- Adair
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Panora
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harrison, with the one closest to Harrison listed first.
- Commerce
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Commerce is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- West Des Moines
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Norwalk
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Clive
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ringgold County
- Tingley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harrison, with the one closest to Harrison listed first.
- Lorimor
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lorimor is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorimor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- Afton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- East Creston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- East Creston is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Creston
- Creston
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Thayer
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Thayer is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Cromwell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cromwell is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Arispe
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Arispe is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arispe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
- Shannon City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Shannon City is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Kent
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Kent is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harrison, with the one closest to Harrison listed first.
- Bevington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Churchville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Churchville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
- Martensdale
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Saint Marys
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Saint Marys is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- New Virginia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Prole
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Prole is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
- Cumming
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Orillia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Orillia is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
- Spring Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Spring Hill is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Lakewood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lakewood is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Harrison, see our County-by-County Page for Harrison.
Cemeteries Near Harrison ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Harrison.
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 Harrison - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Harrison covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Harrison, with the one closest to Harrison listed first.
- Wight Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Pleasant View Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Welty Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Kivett Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hooten Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Wintermantle Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hebron Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Roberts Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Grand River Center Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Wilson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wilson Chapel
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Moon Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (228 more) ...
- Boone Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hamblin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clark Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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>
While we didn't find Harrison in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Harrison.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Harrison, with the one closest to Harrison listed first.
- McPherson
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- McPherson is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McPherson
- Hebron
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hebron is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Macksburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Macksburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
- Pitzer
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Pitzer is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitzer
- Ord
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ord is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ord
- Arbor Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Arbor Hill is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
- Winterset
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Spaulding
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Spaulding is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
- Lorimor
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lorimor is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorimor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- Barney
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Barney is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- Orient
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- East Peru
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- East Peru is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peru
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Greenfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Monette
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Monette is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monette
- Stuart
(16 miles [25.7 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 Harrison. See our List of 1890's Communities around Harrison.
Newspapers Published in Harrison ...
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 98 newspapers that have been published in the area around Harrison.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Harrison, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Harrison.
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 Harrison:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Madison County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adair County
- Adams County
- Cass County
- Clarke County
- Dallas County
- Guthrie County
- Polk County
- Ringgold County
- Union County
- Warren 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 '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- Harrison) 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 Harrison, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |