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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 Latimer (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 Latimer. 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 and doctors 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.

Latimer 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 Latimer. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Latimer:

  • Franklin County     (The home county of Latimer)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Latimer, with the one closest to Latimer listed first.
    • Coulter
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Coulter is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coulter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 261 people
    • Alexander
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Alexander is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
    • Hampton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Chapin
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Chapin is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
    • Reeve
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Reeve is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeve
    • Bradford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Bradford is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
    • Sheffield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Sheffield is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,096 people
    • Popejoy
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Popejoy is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popejoy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
    • Hansell
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Oakland
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Oakland is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
    • Geneva
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Faulkner
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Faulkner is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faulkner
  • Butler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Latimer, with the one closest to Latimer listed first.
    • Aredale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Dumont
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Bristow
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Bristow is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
    • Kesley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Kesley is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kesley
    • Austinville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Austinville is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinville
    • Aplington
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Allison
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Butler Center
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Butler Center is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler Center
    • Greene
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Cerro Gordo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Latimer, with the one closest to Latimer listed first.
    • Meservey
      (11 miles [17.7 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
    • Thornton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Thornton is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 401 people
    • Swaledale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Swaledale is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swaledale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
    • Rockwell
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Dougherty
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Dougherty is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dougherty
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
    • Burchinal
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Burchinal is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burchinal
    • Cartersville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Cartersville is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
    • Cameron
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Cameron is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
    • Clear Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Ventura
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Mason City Junction
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Mason City Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason City Junction
    • Mason City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Floyd County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Latimer, with the one closest to Latimer listed first.
    • Aureola
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Aureola is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aureola
    • Marble Rock
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Rockford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Latimer, with the one closest to Latimer listed first.
    • Williams
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Blairsburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Blairsburg is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
    • Webster City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Hancock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Latimer, with the one closest to Latimer listed first.
    • Goodell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Goodell is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
    • Klemme
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Kanawha
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Garner
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Duncan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Duncan is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
  • Hardin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Latimer, with the one closest to Latimer listed first.
    • Alden
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Iowa Falls
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Ackley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Robertson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Robertson is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robertson
    • Buckeye
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Buckeye is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
    • Eagle City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Eagle City is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle City
    • Owasa
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Owasa is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owasa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 41 people
    • Abbott
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Abbott is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
    • Cleves
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Cleves is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleves
    • Sherman
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Sherman is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
    • Steamboat Rock
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Eldora
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Wright County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Latimer, with the one closest to Latimer listed first.
    • Rowan
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Dows
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Solberg ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Solberg is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solberg
    • Belmond
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Galt
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Cornelia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Cornelia is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornelia
    • Clarion
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Olaf
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Olaf is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olaf
    • Holmes
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Holmes is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmes
    • Woolstock
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Woolstock is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woolstock
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
    • Eagle Grove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Goldfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Latimer ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Latimer.

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

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

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

  • St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Coulter Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Marion Center Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Trinity Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Zion Reformed Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Alexander Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Morgan Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Morgan Twp. Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Old Chapin Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Hope Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (155 more) ...
    • Hampton Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Way Side Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Olson Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)

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, Latimer had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Latimer had a population of 463 people.

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

  • Alexander
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Alexander is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
  • Reeve
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Reeve is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeve
  • Hampton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Chapin
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Chapin is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
  • Rowan
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Dows
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Sheffield
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Sheffield is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,096 people
  • Popejoy
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Popejoy is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popejoy
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
  • Thornton
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Thornton is located in Cerro Gordo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 401 people
  • Galt
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Burdette
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Burdette is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdette
  • Geneva
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Hansell
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Belmond
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Swaledale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Swaledale is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swaledale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people

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

Newspapers Published in Latimer ...

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 141 newspapers that have been published in the area around Latimer.

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

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 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 Latimer:

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 Latimer, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Latimer) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.