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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 Martensdale (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 Martensdale. 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 doctors 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.

Martensdale is located in Warren 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 Warren County: Clarke, Dallas, Lucas, Madison, Marion & Polk.

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

  • Warren County     (The home county of Martensdale)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Martensdale, with the one closest to Martensdale listed first.
    • Churchville
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Churchville is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
    • Prole
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Prole is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
    • Bevington
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Saint Marys
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Saint Marys is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
    • Spring Hill
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Spring Hill is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
    • Cumming
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Indianola
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Lakewood
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Lakewood is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Orillia
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Orillia is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
    • Ackworth
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Ackworth is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
    • New Virginia
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Cool
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Cool is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool
  • Adair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Martensdale, with the one closest to Martensdale listed first.
    • Stanzel
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Stanzel is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanzel
    • Hebron
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Hebron is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
    • Arbor Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Arbor Hill is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
  • Clarke County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Martensdale, with the one closest to Martensdale listed first.
    • Liberty
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Liberty is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
    • Osceola
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Murray
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Murray is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
    • Woodburn
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Lacelle
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Lacelle is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Martensdale, with the one closest to Martensdale listed first.
    • Booneville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Van Meter
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • DeSoto
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Waukee
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Adel
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Adel is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,607 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Adel <1>
    • Dallas Center
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Granger
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Wiscotta
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Wiscotta is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiscotta
    • Dexter
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Panther
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Panther is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
    • Redfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Minburn
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Minburn is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minburn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 357 people
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Martensdale, with the one closest to Martensdale listed first.
    • Vandalia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Vandalia is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
    • Prairie City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Lucas County
    • Lucas
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Lucas is located in Lucas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Martensdale, with the one closest to Martensdale listed first.
    • Saint Charles
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Patterson
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Patterson is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
    • Truro
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • East Peru
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • East Peru is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peru
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
    • Winterset
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Barney
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Barney is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
    • Ord
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Ord is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ord
    • Earlham
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Pitzer
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Pitzer is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitzer
    • Macksburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Macksburg is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
    • Webster
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Webster is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Martensdale, with the one closest to Martensdale listed first.
    • Swan
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Swan is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
    • Pleasantville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Bauer
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Bauer is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
    • Percy ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Percy is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
    • Newbern
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Newbern is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
    • Melcher - Dallas
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Melcher - Dallas is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melcher - Dallas
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Martensdale, with the one closest to Martensdale listed first.
    • Norwalk
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Commerce
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Commerce is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
    • West Des Moines
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Windsor Heights
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Carlisle
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Clive
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Des Moines
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Levey
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Levey is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
    • Urbandale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Pleasant Hill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Adelphi
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Adelphi is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
    • Country Estate Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Martensdale, with the one closest to Martensdale listed first.
    • Lorimor
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Lorimor is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorimor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
    • Thayer
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Thayer is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people

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

Cemeteries Near Martensdale ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Martensdale.

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

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

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

  • Wallace Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Warren Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Linn Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Patricks Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Brush Ridge Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Blair Chapel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Dillman Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Webb Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Close Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Charles Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (279 more) ...

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>

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

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

  • Conger
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Conger is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conger
  • Wick
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Wick is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wick
  • Churchville
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Churchville is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
  • Bevington
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Prole
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Prole is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
  • Saint Marys
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Saint Marys is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
  • Spring Hill
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Spring Hill is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
  • Saint Charles
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Patterson
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Patterson is located in Madison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
  • Hanley
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Hanley is located in Madison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanley
  • Cumming
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Norwalk
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Indianola
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Orillia
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Orillia is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
    • Summerset
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Summerset is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerset

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

Newspapers Published in Martensdale ...

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 242 newspapers that have been published in the area around Martensdale.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Martensdale, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Martensdale.

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 Martensdale:

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 Martensdale, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Martensdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.