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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 Plessis (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 Plessis. 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 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.

Plessis is located in O'Brien 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 O'Brien County: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Lyon, Osceola, Plymouth & Sioux.

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

  • O'Brien County     (The home county of Plessis)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plessis, with the one closest to Plessis listed first.
    • Hartley
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Hartley is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,556 people
    • Sanborn
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Primghar
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Moneta
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Moneta is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moneta
    • Archer
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Sheldon
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Paullina
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Paullina is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paullina
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 965 people
    • Sutherland
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Calumet
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Calumet is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calumet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 155 people
    • Germantown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Germantown is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germantown
  • Buena Vista County
    • Linn Grove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plessis, with the one closest to Plessis listed first.
    • Larrabee
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Larrabee is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larrabee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
    • Cleghorn
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Cleghorn is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleghorn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
    • Meriden
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Meriden is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meriden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plessis, with the one closest to Plessis listed first.
    • Everly
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Everly is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everly
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
    • Royal
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Fostoria
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Fostoria is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 219 people
    • Spencer
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Langdon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Langdon is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langdon
    • Rossie
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Rossie is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
    • Peterson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Greenville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Dickens
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Dickens is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickens
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
    • Cornell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Cornell is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornell
    • Gillett Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Gillett Grove is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillett Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
  • Dickinson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plessis, with the one closest to Plessis listed first.
    • Lake Park
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Milford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • West Okoboji
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • West Okoboji is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Okoboji
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
    • Old Town
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Old Town is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
    • Wahpeton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Wahpeton is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahpeton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
    • Okoboji
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Arnolds Park
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Spirit Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Orleans
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Orleans is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 591 people
    • Terril
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Terril is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terril
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
  • Lyon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plessis, with the one closest to Plessis listed first.
    • Little Rock
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • George
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Edna
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Edna is located in Lyon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edna
  • Osceola County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plessis, with the one closest to Plessis listed first.
    • Melvin
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Melvin is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
    • May City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • May City is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May City
    • Cloverdale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Cloverdale is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
    • Ocheyedan
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Ocheyedan is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocheyedan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 463 people
    • Allendorf
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Allendorf is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allendorf
    • Ashton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Harris
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Harris is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 158 people
    • Sibley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Sioux County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plessis, with the one closest to Plessis listed first.
    • Matlock
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Hospers
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Boyden
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Boyden is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 682 people
    • Granville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Granville is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
    • Middleburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Middleburg is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleburg
    • Alton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Hull
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Hull is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hull
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,296 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hull <1>
    • Orange City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Jackson County (MN)
    • Sioux Valley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Sioux Valley is located in Jackson County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sioux Valley
  • Nobles County (MN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plessis, with the one closest to Plessis listed first.
    • Bigelow
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Bigelow is located in Nobles County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigelow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people
    • Round Lake
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Org
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Org is located in Nobles County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Org
    • Ransom
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Ransom is located in Nobles County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ransom
    • Worthington
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Rushmore
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Rushmore is located in Nobles County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushmore
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
    • Ellsworth
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Plessis ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Plessis.

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

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

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

  • Pleasant View Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Baker Twp. Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • St. Cecilla Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Roseland Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Steuck Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Randolph Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Harrison Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Center Twp. Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Mennonite Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Goewey Twp. Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Anthonys Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (108 more) ...
    • Doyle Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Grant Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Lone Tree Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)

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>

While we didn't find Plessis in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Plessis.

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

  • Hartley
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Hartley is located in O'Brien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartley
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,556 people
  • Sanborn
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • May City
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • May City is located in Osceola County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May City
  • Primghar
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Archer
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Everly
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Everly is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everly
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
  • Ocheyedan
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Ocheyedan is located in Osceola County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocheyedan
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 463 people
  • Ashton
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Ritter
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Ritter is located in O'Brien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritter
  • Gaza
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Gaza is located in O'Brien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaza
  • Sheldon
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
  • Harris
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Harris is located in Osceola County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 158 people
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Sibley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Paullina
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Paullina is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paullina
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 965 people
    • Sutherland
      (18 miles [29 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 Plessis. See our List of 1890's Communities around Plessis.

Newspapers Published in Plessis ...

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 124 newspapers that have been published in the area around Plessis.

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

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 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 Plessis:

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