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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 Etna (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 Etna. 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 Etna ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Mount Etna: Mt. Etna

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

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.

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.

Mount Etna is located in Adams 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 Adams County: Adair, Cass, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold, Taylor & Union.

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

  • Adams County     (The home county of Mount Etna)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mount Etna, with the one closest to Mount Etna listed first.
    • Carl
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Carl is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
    • Carbon
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Carbon is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 31 people
    • Quincy
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Quincy is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
    • Lincoln Center
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Lincoln Center is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln Center
    • Williamson
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Williamson is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamson
    • Corning
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Queen City ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Queen City is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen City
    • Prescott
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Strand
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Strand is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strand
    • Brooks
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Brooks is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooks
    • Mercer
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Mercer is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercer
    • Stringtown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Stringtown is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
    • Iveyville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Iveyville is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iveyville
  • Adair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mount Etna, with the one closest to Mount Etna listed first.
    • Gilead
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Gilead is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
    • Bridgewater
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Fontanelle
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Fontanelle is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontanelle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 612 people
    • Orient
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Greenfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Zion
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Zion is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
    • Hebron
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Hebron is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
    • Arbor Hill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Arbor Hill is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
    • Stanzel
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Stanzel is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanzel
  • Audubon County
    • Brayton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mount Etna, with the one closest to Mount Etna listed first.
    • Dewey
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Dewey is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewey
    • Massena
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Cumberland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Cumberland is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
    • Lyman
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Lyman is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyman
    • Norway Center
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Norway Center is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norway Center
    • Wiota
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Grove City ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Grove City is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
    • Anita
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Lewis
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Griswold
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Atlantic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Sycamore Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Sycamore Village is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore Village
    • Marne
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Guthrie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mount Etna, with the one closest to Mount Etna listed first.
    • Adair
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Casey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mount Etna, with the one closest to Mount Etna listed first.
    • Macksburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Macksburg is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
    • Webster
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Webster is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mount Etna, with the one closest to Mount Etna listed first.
    • Grant
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Grant is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
    • Sciola
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Sciola is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sciola
    • Tenville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Tenville is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenville
    • Clarinda Junction ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Clarinda Junction is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarinda Junction
    • Villisca
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Stanton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Elliott
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Red Oak
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Coburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Coburg is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 39 people
  • Page County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mount Etna, with the one closest to Mount Etna listed first.
    • Hepburn
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Hepburn is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hepburn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17 people
    • Hawleyville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Hawleyville is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawleyville
    • Nyman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Nyman is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nyman
    • Clarinda
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Ringgold County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mount Etna, with the one closest to Mount Etna listed first.
    • Diagonal
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Knowlton ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Knowlton is located in Ringgold County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowlton
  • Taylor County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mount Etna, with the one closest to Mount Etna listed first.
    • Lenox
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Guss
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Guss is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guss
    • Sharpsburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Sharpsburg is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
    • Gravity
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Gravity is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravity
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
    • Clearfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Conway
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Conway is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
    • Ladoga
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Ladoga is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladoga
    • New Market
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • New Market is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Market
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 397 people
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mount Etna, with the one closest to Mount Etna listed first.
    • Cromwell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Cromwell is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
    • Kent
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Kent is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
    • Creston
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • East Creston
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • East Creston is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Creston
    • Afton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Shannon City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Shannon City is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
    • Arispe
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Arispe is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arispe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people

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

Cemeteries Near Mount Etna ...

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

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

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

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

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 Mount Etna had a population of 111 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Carl
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Carl is located in Adams County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
  • Carbon
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Carbon is located in Adams County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 31 people
  • Quincy
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Quincy is located in Adams County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
  • Corning
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Massena
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Strand
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Strand is located in Adams County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strand
  • Prescott
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Bridgewater
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Brooks
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Brooks is located in Adams County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooks
  • Nevinville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Nevinville is located in Adams County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nevinville
  • Fisk
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Fisk is located in Adair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisk
  • Cumberland
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Cumberland is located in Cass County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Grant
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Grant is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
    • Sciola
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Sciola is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sciola
    • Fontanelle
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Fontanelle is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontanelle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 612 people

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

Newspapers Published in Mount Etna ...

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 75 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mount Etna.

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

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Mount Etna:

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>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 from Point A (ie- Mount Etna) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Mount Etna, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.