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 Kingston (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 Kingston. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals 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.
Kingston 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 Kingston. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Kingston:
- Decatur County (The home county of Kingston)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kingston, with the one closest to Kingston listed first.
- Van Wert
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Van Wert is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Wert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Decatur City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Decatur City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Leon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Grand River
(6 miles [9.7 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
- Garden Grove
(11 miles [17.7 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
- Davis City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Davis City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
- Le Roy
(13 miles [20.9 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
- Lamoni
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Woodland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Woodland is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Pleasanton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Pleasanton is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasanton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Morgan
(17 miles [27.4 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 Kingston, with the one closest to Kingston listed first.
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Weldon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Lacelle
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Lacelle is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
- Hopeville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hopeville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Osceola
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Murray
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Murray is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
- Woodburn
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Liberty is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Lucas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kingston, with the one closest to Kingston listed first.
- Derby
(21 miles [33.8 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
(24 miles [38.6 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
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kingston, with the one closest to Kingston listed first.
- Barney
(25 miles [40.2 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
- Ringgold County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kingston, with the one closest to Kingston listed first.
- Beaconsfield
(11 miles [17.7 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
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Ellston
(14 miles [22.5 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
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Mount Ayr
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Diagonal
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Knowlton ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Knowlton is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowlton
- Benton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Benton is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Delphos
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Delphos is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphos
- Estimated population in 2019: 24 people
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kingston, with the one closest to Kingston listed first.
- Thayer
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Thayer is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Arispe
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Arispe is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arispe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
- Afton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Shannon City
(23 miles [37 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
- Lorimor
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lorimor is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorimor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- Warren County
- New Virginia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kingston, with the one closest to Kingston listed first.
- Humeston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Lineville
(22 miles [35.4 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
(23 miles [37 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
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Hodge is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodge
- Allerton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Corydon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Millerton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Millerton is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Harrison County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kingston, with the one closest to Kingston listed first.
- Akron
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Akron is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron
- 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
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Hatfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hatfield is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
- Cainsville
(26 miles [41.8 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 Kingston, with the one closest to Kingston listed first.
- Burrows
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Burrows is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows
- South Lineville
(23 miles [37 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
- Mercer
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Kingston, see our County-by-County Page for Kingston.
Cemeteries Near Kingston ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Kingston.
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 Kingston - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Kingston covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Kingston, with the one closest to Kingston listed first.
- West Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Munyon Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Shy Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- McKee Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Van Wert Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Clinton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Old Funk Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Decatur City Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Woodmansee Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Waller Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Palenstine Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (269 more) ...
- Young Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Trinity Hills Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity Hills Cemetery
- The Trinity Hills Cemetery has also been known as:
- Trinity Hills Lutheran Church Cemetery
- Cash Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Kingston had a population of 110 people in 1895 with railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Kingston, with the one closest to Kingston listed first.
- Van Wert
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Van Wert is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Wert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Leon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Grand River
(6 miles [9.7 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
- Weldon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Leslie
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Leslie is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leslie
- Lacelle
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Lacelle is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
- Blockly
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Blockly is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blockly
- Garden Grove
(11 miles [17.7 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
- Groveland ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Groveland is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groveland
- Beaconsfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Beaconsfield is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaconsfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
- Davis City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Davis City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Hopeville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hopeville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Kellerton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- High Point
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- High Point is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Point
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Kingston. See our List of 1890's Communities around Kingston.
Newspapers Published in Kingston ...
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 119 newspapers that have been published in the area around Kingston.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Kingston, 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 Kingston.
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 helpful 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 Kingston:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Decatur County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clarke County
- Lucas County
- Madison County
- Ringgold County
- Union County
- Warren County
- Wayne County
- Harrison County
- Mercer 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> | 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 Kingston, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Kingston) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |