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 Parnell (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 Parnell. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.
Parnell is located in Iowa 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 Iowa County: Benton, Johnson, Keokuk, Linn, Poweshiek, Tama & Washington.
Below are the counties that are near Parnell. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Parnell:
- Iowa County (The home county of Parnell)
- The following are listed by their distance from Parnell, with the one closest to Parnell listed first.
- Williamsburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- North English
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Millersburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Millersburg is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 139 people
- Conroy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Conroy is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conroy
- Ambrose
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Ambrose is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ambrose
- South Amana
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Marengo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Middle Amana
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- West Amana
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- West Amana is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Amana
- Ladora
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Amana
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dayton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dayton is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Parnell, with the one closest to Parnell listed first.
- Watkins
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Watkins is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
- Blairstown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Norway
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Luzerne
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Luzerne is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luzerne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Belle Plaine
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Newhall
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Atkins
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Van Horne
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Van Horne is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Horne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 646 people
- Irving
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Irving is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Keystone
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Parnell, with the one closest to Parnell listed first.
- Linby
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Linby is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linby
- Pekin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Pekin is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pekin
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Parnell, with the one closest to Parnell listed first.
- Amish
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Amish is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amish
- Windham
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Windham is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windham
- Frytown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Frytown is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frytown
- Williamstown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Williamstown is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
- Cosgrove
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Cosgrove is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cosgrove
- Oxford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Tiffin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Coralville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- North Liberty
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oakdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oakdale is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- University Heights
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- University Heights is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,025 people
- Cou Falls
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Cou Falls is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cou Falls
- Hills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Keokuk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Parnell, with the one closest to Parnell listed first.
- Kinross
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Kinross is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinross
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- South English
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- South English is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South English
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Aurora
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Aurora is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
- Webster
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Webster is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Harper
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Harper is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Keota
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Keswick
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Thornburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Thornburg is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Talleyrand
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Talleyrand is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talleyrand
- Sigourney
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gibson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Gibson is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 59 people
- Coal Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Coal Creek is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Creek
- What Cheer
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Linn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Parnell, with the one closest to Parnell listed first.
- Walford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Walford is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,436 people
- Fairfax
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Western
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Western is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western
- Grand View Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Grand View Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand View Village
- Ely
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lincolnway Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lincolnway Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincolnway Village
- Cedar Hills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Hills is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Hills
- Mahaska County
- The following are listed by their distance from Parnell, with the one closest to Parnell listed first.
- Barnes City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Indianapolis
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Indianapolis is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indianapolis
- Rose Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rose Hill is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
- Union Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Union Mills is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Mills
- Poweshiek County
- The following are listed by their distance from Parnell, with the one closest to Parnell listed first.
- Victor
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Guernsey
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Tilton
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Tilton is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilton
- Deep River
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Deep River is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Hartwick
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hartwick is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwick
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Brooklyn
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Montezuma
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Malcom
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Tama County
- Chelsea
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Parnell, with the one closest to Parnell listed first.
- Nira
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Nira is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nira
- Wellman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Kalona
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- West Chester
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- West Chester is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
- Riverside
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Rubio
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Rubio is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rubio
- Washington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Brighton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Ainsworth
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Havre
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Havre is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havre
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Parnell, see our County-by-County Page for Parnell.
Cemeteries Near Parnell ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Parnell.
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 Parnell - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Parnell covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Parnell, with the one closest to Parnell listed first.
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Yankee Point Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Clothier Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Piersol Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- St. Michaels Catholic Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Campbell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Walsh Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Watters Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Champion Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (339 more) ...
- Pilot Grove Union Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- North English Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Vincent Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Parnell had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Parnell had a population of 265 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Parnell, with the one closest to Parnell listed first.
- Holbrook
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Holbrook is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holbrook
- Williamsburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- North English
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Green Center
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Green Center is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Center
- Kinross
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Kinross is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinross
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Millersburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Millersburg is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 139 people
- Nira
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Nira is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nira
- South English
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- South English is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South English
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Conroy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Conroy is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conroy
- Creswell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Creswell is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creswell
- Wellman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Amish
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Amish is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amish
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Windham
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Windham is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windham
- Webster
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Webster is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- South Amana
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Parnell. See our List of 1890's Communities around Parnell.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Parnell ...
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 154 newspapers that have been published in the area around Parnell.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Parnell. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Parnell and those printed in the larger area surrounding Parnell.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Parnell.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Parnell:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Iowa County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Jefferson County
- Johnson County
- Keokuk County
- Linn County
- Mahaska County
- Poweshiek County
- Tama County
- Washington 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> | 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 Parnell, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Parnell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |