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 Maple Leaf (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 Maple Leaf. 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.
Maple Leaf is located in Howard 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 Howard County: Chickasaw, Floyd, Mitchell, Winneshiek, Fillmore (MN) & Mower (MN).
Below are the counties that are near Maple Leaf. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Maple Leaf:
- Howard County (The home county of Maple Leaf)
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Leaf, with the one closest to Maple Leaf listed first.
- Davis Corners
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Davis Corners is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Corners
- Elma
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Riceville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Lime Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Chester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Vernon Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Vernon Springs is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon Springs
- Cresco
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Forest City ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Forest City is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Protivin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Florenceville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Florenceville is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florenceville
- Bremer County
- Frederika
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Frederika is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frederika
- Population from the 2020 Census: 205 people
- Chickasaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Leaf, with the one closest to Maple Leaf listed first.
- Alta Vista
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Jerico
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jerico is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerico
- Deerfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Deerfield is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
- North Washington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- North Washington is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Washington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- New Hampton
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bassett
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Bassett is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bassett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 62 people
- Chickasaw
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Chickasaw is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chickasaw
- Ionia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Lawler
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bradford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Bradford is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Republic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Republic is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Republic
- Fredericksburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Leaf, with the one closest to Maple Leaf listed first.
- Waucoma
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Alpha
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Alpha is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
- Saint Lucas
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Lucas is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Leaf, with the one closest to Maple Leaf listed first.
- Colwell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Charles City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Floyd
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Carrville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Carrville is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrville
- Oakwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oakwood is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Rudd
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Roseville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Roseville is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseville
- Mitchell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Leaf, with the one closest to Maple Leaf listed first.
- McIntire
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- McIntire is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntire
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- New Haven
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- New Haven is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Haven
- Little Cedar
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Little Cedar is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Cedar
- Meyer
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Meyer is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
- Orchard
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Orchard is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Osage
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Stacyville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Stacyville is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stacyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 466 people
- Mitchell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Mitchell is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
- Toeterville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Rock Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
- Saint Ansgar
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Winneshiek County
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Leaf, with the one closest to Maple Leaf listed first.
- Ridgeway
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Kendallville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Kendallville is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendallville
- Spillville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Jackson Junction
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jackson Junction is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Junction
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Navan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Navan is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navan
- Bluffton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bluffton is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluffton
- Fort Atkinson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Burr Oak
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Calmar
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Decorah
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Festina
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fillmore County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Leaf, with the one closest to Maple Leaf listed first.
- York
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- York is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Granger
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Granger is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- Etna
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Etna is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Ostrander
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Harmony
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Valley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Canton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Carimona
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Carimona is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carimona
- Wykoff
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Preston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Fillmore
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Fillmore is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
- Mower County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Leaf, with the one closest to Maple Leaf listed first.
- Le Roy
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Taopi
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Taopi is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taopi
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Adams
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Johnsburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Johnsburg is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsburg
- Grand Meadow
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Elkton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Elkton is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Rose Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lyle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Maple Leaf, see our County-by-County Page for Maple Leaf.
Cemeteries Near Maple Leaf ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Maple Leaf.
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 Maple Leaf - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Maple Leaf covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Maple Leaf, with the one closest to Maple Leaf listed first.
- Maple Leaf Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Saratoga Twp. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Saratoga Twp. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Calvary Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Howard Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Reckner Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Calvary Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Union Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Howard Center Twp. Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- St. Peters Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Continue List (239 more) ...
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Jenkins Twp. Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Calvary Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
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 Maple Leaf in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Maple Leaf.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Maple Leaf, with the one closest to Maple Leaf listed first.
- Saratoga
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Saratoga is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
- Elma
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Lourdes
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Lourdes is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lourdes
- Davis Corners
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Davis Corners is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Corners
- Alta Vista
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Riceville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Lime Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Jerico
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jerico is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerico
- Bonair
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bonair is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonair
- Chester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Deerfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Deerfield is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
- New Haven
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- New Haven is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Haven
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- North Washington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- North Washington is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Washington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Devon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Devon is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devon
- Saude
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Saude is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saude
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Maple Leaf. See our List of 1890's Communities around Maple Leaf.
Newspapers Published in Maple Leaf ...
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 89 newspapers that have been published in the area around Maple Leaf.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Maple Leaf, 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 Maple Leaf.
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 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 Maple Leaf:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Howard County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bremer County
- Chickasaw County
- Fayette County
- Floyd County
- Mitchell County
- Winneshiek County
- Fillmore County
- Mower 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 Maple Leaf, 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- Maple Leaf) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |