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 Oakley (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 Oakley. 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.
Oakley is located in Lucas 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 Lucas County: Appanoose, Clarke, Decatur, Marion, Monroe, Warren & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Oakley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Oakley:
- Lucas County (The home county of Oakley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakley, with the one closest to Oakley listed first.
- Williamson
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Chariton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lucas
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lucas is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Olmitz
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Olmitz is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmitz
- Russell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Derby
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Derby is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Zero
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Zero is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zero
- Appanoose County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakley, with the one closest to Oakley listed first.
- Iconium
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Iconium is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iconium
- Plano
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Walnut City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Walnut City is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut City
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakley, with the one closest to Oakley listed first.
- Woodburn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Liberty
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Liberty is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Osceola
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Weldon
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Lacelle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Lacelle is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
- Murray
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Murray is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakley, with the one closest to Oakley listed first.
- Le Roy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Le Roy is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Roy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Garden Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Garden Grove is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Van Wert
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Van Wert is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Wert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Woodland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Woodland is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Jasper County
- Vandalia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Vandalia is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakley, with the one closest to Oakley listed first.
- Saint Charles
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Truro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- East Peru
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- East Peru is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peru
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakley, with the one closest to Oakley listed first.
- Newbern
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Newbern is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Bauer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Bauer is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Melcher - Dallas
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Melcher - Dallas is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melcher - Dallas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
- Columbia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Columbia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Indiana
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Indiana is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indiana
- Pleasantville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Attica
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Attica is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Knoxville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pershing
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pershing is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pershing
- Marysville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Marysville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
- Hamilton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Hamilton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Bussey
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Bussey is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bussey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 406 people
- Swan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Swan is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakley, with the one closest to Oakley listed first.
- Melrose
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Georgetown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Georgetown is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Lovilia
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Bluff Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Bluff Creek is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Creek
- Albia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakley, with the one closest to Oakley listed first.
- Carlisle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Runnells
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Adelphi
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Adelphi is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakley, with the one closest to Oakley listed first.
- Lacona
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Liberty Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty Center is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Center
- Milo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Cool
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cool is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool
- Clarkson ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Clarkson is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
- Sandyville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Sandyville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Ackworth
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Ackworth is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- New Virginia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Indianola
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Palmyra
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Palmyra is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Saint Marys
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Marys is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Hartford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Spring Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Hill is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakley, with the one closest to Oakley listed first.
- Millerton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Millerton is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Humeston
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Confidence
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Confidence is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confidence
- Corydon
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Promise City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Promise City is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promise City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Allerton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Hodge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Hodge is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodge
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Oakley, see our County-by-County Page for Oakley.
Cemeteries Near Oakley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oakley.
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 Oakley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Oakley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Oakley, with the one closest to Oakley listed first.
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Niswender Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Parr Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- County Farm Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Brownlee Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Spring Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Newbern Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Arnold Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fry Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fry Hill Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Fry Hill Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<3> to the northeast of Lucas.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #517695 <2>
- Grimes Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Graceland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Clore Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (329 more) ...
- Calvary Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oxford Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pine Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
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 Oakley had a population of 26 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Oakley, with the one closest to Oakley listed first.
- Whitebreast
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Whitebreast is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitebreast
- Indianola Junction
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Indianola Junction is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indianola Junction
- Newbern
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Newbern is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Lucas
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lucas is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Chariton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Norwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Norwood is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- Lacona
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Bauer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Bauer is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Cloud
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cloud is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloud
- Belinda
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Belinda is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belinda
- Olmitz
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Olmitz is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmitz
- Liberty Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty Center is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Center
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Russell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jay
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Jay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jay
- Derby
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Derby is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Oakley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Oakley.
Newspapers Published in Oakley ...
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 128 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oakley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oakley, 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 Oakley.
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 Oakley:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Lucas County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Appanoose County
- Clarke County
- Decatur County
- Jasper County
- Madison County
- Marion County
- Monroe County
- Polk County
- Warren County
- Wayne 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> | 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 '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- Oakley) 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 Oakley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |