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 McPherson (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 McPherson. 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 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 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.
McPherson 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 McPherson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to McPherson:
- Madison County (The home county of McPherson)
- The following are listed by their distance from McPherson, with the one closest to McPherson listed first.
- Ord
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Ord is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ord
- Macksburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Macksburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
- Barney
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Barney is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- Winterset
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Webster
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Webster is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Pitzer
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Pitzer is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitzer
- East Peru
(10 miles [16.1 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
- Truro
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Patterson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Patterson is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
- Saint Charles
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Earlham
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Adair County
- The following are listed by their distance from McPherson, with the one closest to McPherson listed first.
- Hebron
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Hebron is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Stanzel
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Stanzel is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanzel
- Zion
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Zion is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
- Arbor Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Arbor Hill is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
- Orient
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Greenfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Fontanelle
(23 miles [37 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
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Gilead is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
- Bridgewater
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from McPherson, with the one closest to McPherson listed first.
- Williamson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Williamson is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamson
- Prescott
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Stringtown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Stringtown is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
- Carl
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Carl is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from McPherson, with the one closest to McPherson listed first.
- Murray
(16 miles [25.7 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
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Hopeville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Lacelle
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Lacelle is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
- Osceola
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Liberty
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Liberty is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Weldon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from McPherson, with the one closest to McPherson listed first.
- DeSoto
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Dexter
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Van Meter
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Wiscotta
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Wiscotta is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiscotta
- Booneville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Redfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Adel
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Linden
(28 miles [45.1 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
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Panther
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Panther is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from McPherson, with the one closest to McPherson listed first.
- Grand River
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Grand River is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
- Van Wert
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Van Wert is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Wert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Guthrie County
- The following are listed by their distance from McPherson, with the one closest to McPherson listed first.
- Stuart
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Menlo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Casey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dale is located in Guthrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- Glendon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Glendon is located in Guthrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendon
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from McPherson, with the one closest to McPherson listed first.
- Commerce
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Commerce is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Norwalk
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- West Des Moines
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Clive
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ringgold County
- The following are listed by their distance from McPherson, with the one closest to McPherson listed first.
- Ellston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Ellston is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 38 people
- Tingley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Beaconsfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Beaconsfield is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaconsfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
- Knowlton ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Knowlton is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowlton
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from McPherson, with the one closest to McPherson listed first.
- Lorimor
(8 miles [12.9 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
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Thayer
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Thayer is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Creston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- 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
- Arispe
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Arispe is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arispe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 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
- Shannon City
(24 miles [38.6 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 McPherson, with the one closest to McPherson listed first.
- Bevington
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- New Virginia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Saint Marys
(20 miles [32.2 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
- Churchville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Churchville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
- Martensdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Prole
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Prole is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
- Cumming
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Orillia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Orillia is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
- Spring Hill
(27 miles [43.5 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
- Cool
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Cool is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool
- Lakewood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lakewood is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Indianola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to McPherson, see our County-by-County Page for McPherson.
Cemeteries Near McPherson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of McPherson.
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 McPherson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for McPherson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from McPherson, with the one closest to McPherson listed first.
- Hamblin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Clark Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Welty Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant View Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Moon Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Boone Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bullock Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hooten Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Gordon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Wight Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- West Branch Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kivett Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (230 more) ...
- Wilson Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Wilson Chapel
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Kickman Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, McPherson had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from McPherson, with the one closest to McPherson listed first.
- Ord
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Ord is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ord
- Macksburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Macksburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
- Barney
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Barney is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- Lorimor
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Lorimor is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorimor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- Winterset
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hebron
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Hebron is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Pitzer
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Pitzer is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitzer
- East Peru
(10 miles [16.1 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
- Monette
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Monette is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monette
- Arbor Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Arbor Hill is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
- Spaulding
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Spaulding is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
- Talmage
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Talmage is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talmage
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Truro
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Patterson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Patterson is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
- Afton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around McPherson. See our List of 1890's Communities around McPherson.
Newspapers Published in McPherson ...
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 123 newspapers that have been published in the area around McPherson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of McPherson, 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 McPherson.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 McPherson:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Madison County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adair County
- Adams County
- Clarke County
- Dallas County
- Decatur 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 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- McPherson) 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 McPherson, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |