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 Potter (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 Potter. 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 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.
Potter is located in Tama 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 Tama County: Benton, Black Hawk, Grundy, Iowa, Jasper, Marshall & Poweshiek.
Below are the counties that are near Potter. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Potter:
- Tama County (The home county of Potter)
- The following are listed by their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Montour
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Tama
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Toledo
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Gladstone
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Gladstone is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladstone
- Long Point
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Long Point is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Point
- Garwin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Garwin is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 490 people
- Chelsea
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Vining
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Vining is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining
- Population from the 2020 Census: 49 people
- Gladbrook
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Clutier
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Elberon
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Traer
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Buckingham
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Buckingham is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckingham
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Irving
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Irving is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Belle Plaine
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Keystone
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Luzerne
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Luzerne is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luzerne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Blairstown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Van Horne
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Van Horne is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Horne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 646 people
- Garrison
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Garrison is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 355 people
- Black Hawk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Blessing
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Blessing is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blessing
- Voorhies
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Voorhies is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Beaman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Beaman is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 183 people
- Conrad
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Reinbeck
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Morrison
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Grundy Center
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Hardin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Whitten
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Whitten is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitten
- Population from the 2020 Census: 140 people
- Union
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Union is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Dayton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Dayton is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Ladora
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Newburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Newburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Oakland Acres
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Oakland Acres is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Acres
- Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
- Kellogg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Newton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lynnville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Baxter
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Sully
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Killduff
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Killduff is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Killduff
- Lambs Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lambs Grove is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambs Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Ira
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ira is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Dunbar
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Dunbar is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbar
- Le Grand
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Gilman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gilman is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 484 people
- Dillon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Dillon is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillon
- Ferguson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Ferguson is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferguson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
- Green Mountain
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Green Mountain is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Mountain
- Marshalltown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Laurel
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 234 people
- Haverhill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Luray
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Luray is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luray
- Marietta
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Marietta is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
- Albion
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- LaMoille
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- LaMoille is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaMoille
- Poweshiek County
- The following are listed by their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Sheridan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sheridan is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Grinnell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Malcom
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Brooklyn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hartwick
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hartwick is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwick
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Victor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Searsboro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Searsboro is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Montezuma
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Guernsey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Deep River
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Deep River is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Potter, see our County-by-County Page for Potter.
Cemeteries Near Potter ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Potter.
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 Potter - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Potter covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Maple Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Rouse Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Mesquakie Indian Burial Grounds
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- West Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- McIntosh Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Croskrey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Butlerville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Korns Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Murty Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Maple Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (261 more) ...
- Turner Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Strand Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Rock Valley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
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 in 1895, Potter had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Montour
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dunbar
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Dunbar is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbar
- Tama
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Toledo
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Le Grand
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pickering
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Pickering is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pickering
- Gilman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gilman is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 484 people
- Quarry
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Quarry is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quarry
- Dillon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Dillon is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillon
- Garwin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Garwin is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 490 people
- Sheridan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sheridan is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Long Point
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Long Point is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Point
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Gladstone
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Gladstone is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladstone
- Ferguson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Ferguson is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferguson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
- Helena
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Helena is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Potter. See our List of 1890's Communities around Potter.
Newspapers Published in Potter ...
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 164 newspapers that have been published in the area around Potter.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Potter, 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 Potter.
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 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 Potter:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Tama County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Black Hawk County
- Grundy County
- Hardin County
- Iowa County
- Jasper County
- Marshall County
- Poweshiek 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> | 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 Potter, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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 from Point A (ie- Potter) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |