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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 Mount Ayr (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 Mount Ayr. 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.

Name Variations for Mount Ayr ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

  • A typical abbreviation for Mount Ayr: Mt. Ayr
  • In past government published Postal Guides, Mount Ayr was referred to as Mount Ayr Courthouse.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Mount Ayr. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Mount Ayr.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.

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 southwest 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 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 west 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.

Mount Ayr is located in Ringgold County and is the County Seat.

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 Ringgold County: Decatur, Taylor, Union, Harrison (MO) & Worth (MO).

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

  • Ringgold County     (The home county of Mount Ayr)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mount Ayr, with the one closest to Mount Ayr listed first.
    • Delphos
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Delphos is located in Ringgold County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphos
      • Estimated population in 2019: 24 people
    • Benton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Benton is located in Ringgold County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
    • Diagonal
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Kellerton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Tingley
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Knowlton ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Maloy
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Ellston
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Ellston is located in Ringgold County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 38 people
    • Redding
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Redding is located in Ringgold County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redding
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
    • Beaconsfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Beaconsfield is located in Ringgold County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaconsfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
  • Adams County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mount Ayr, with the one closest to Mount Ayr listed first.
    • Stringtown
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Stringtown is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
    • Mercer
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Prescott
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Clarke County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mount Ayr, with the one closest to Mount Ayr listed first.
    • Hopeville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Lacelle
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Murray
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Murray is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
    • Green Bay ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Weldon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Decatur County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mount Ayr, with the one closest to Mount Ayr listed first.
    • Grand River
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Grand River is located in Decatur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand River
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
    • Lamoni
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Decatur City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Decatur City is located in Decatur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
    • Davis City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Leon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Van Wert
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Pleasanton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Taylor County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mount Ayr, with the one closest to Mount Ayr listed first.
    • Clearfield
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Blockton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Blockton is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blockton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
    • Athelstan
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Athelstan is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athelstan
    • Lenox
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Conway
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Conway is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
    • Sharpsburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Bedford
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Gravity
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Ladoga
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Union County
  • Gentry County (MO)
  • Harrison County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mount Ayr, with the one closest to Mount Ayr listed first.
    • Hatfield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Hatfield is located in Harrison County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
    • Eagleville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Blythedale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Blythedale is located in Harrison County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blythedale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 183 people
    • Akron
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Martinsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Martinsville is located in Harrison County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
    • Ridgeway
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Cainsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Gardner
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Mercer County (MO)
  • Nodaway County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mount Ayr, with the one closest to Mount Ayr listed first.
    • Parnell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Parnell is located in Nodaway County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Parnell <1>
    • Gaynor
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Worth County (MO)

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

Cemeteries Near Mount Ayr ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mount Ayr.

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 Mount Ayr - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Rose Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Oak Ridge Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Thompson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Oakland Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Sweet Home Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Marshalltown Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Bohemian Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Caledonia Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Tedrow Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Merritt Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Woodland Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Dead Man's Curve Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (252 more) ...
    • Benton Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Shaha Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Johnston Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)

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 Mount Ayr had a population of 1,265 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Mount Ayr had a population of 1,601 people.

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

  • Delphos
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Delphos is located in Ringgold County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphos
    • Estimated population in 2019: 24 people
  • Benton
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Benton is located in Ringgold County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
  • Caledonia ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Caledonia is located in Ringgold County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
  • Diagonal
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Maloy
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Ringgold ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Ringgold is located in Ringgold County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ringgold
  • Kellerton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Tingley
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Knowlton ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Redding
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Redding is located in Ringgold County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redding
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
  • Beaconsfield
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Beaconsfield is located in Ringgold County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaconsfield
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
  • Mortimer ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Mortimer is located in Ringgold County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mortimer
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Shannon City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Hatfield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Hatfield is located in Harrison County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
    • Blockton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Blockton is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blockton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Mount Ayr ...

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 100 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mount Ayr.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Mount Ayr. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Mount Ayr and those printed in the larger area surrounding Mount Ayr.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Mount Ayr.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Mount Ayr:

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 Mount Ayr, 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- Mount Ayr) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.