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 Preston (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 Preston. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Preston is located in Jackson 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 Jackson County: Clinton, Dubuque, Jones, Carroll (IL) & Jo Daviess (IL).
Below are the counties that are near Preston. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Preston:
- Jackson County (The home county of Preston)
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Van Buren
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Van Buren is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Buren
- Spragueville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Miles
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Green Island
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Green Island is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Island
- Springbrook
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sabula
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Andrew
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Maquoketa
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Bellevue
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- North Bellevue
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- North Bellevue is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bellevue
- Cottonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cottonville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottonville
- Fulton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fulton is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Cedar County
- Lowden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Goose Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Goose Lake is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goose Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Bryant
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bryant is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
- Tenmile
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Tenmile is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenmile
- Charlotte
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Teeds Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Teeds Grove is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teeds Grove
- Andover
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Andover is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Sixmile
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sixmile is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sixmile
- Delmar
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Elk River Junction
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Elk River Junction is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk River Junction
- Elvira
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Elvira is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elvira
- North Welton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- North Welton is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Welton
- Welton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Welton is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Dubuque County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Zwingle
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Zwingle is located in Dubuque County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zwingle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Wilkins
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Wilkins is located in Dubuque County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkins
- Washington Mills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Washington Mills is located in Dubuque County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington Mills
- Massey
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Massey is located in Dubuque County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massey
- Bernard
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cattese
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cattese is located in Dubuque County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cattese
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Oxford Junction
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Oxford Junction is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford Junction
- Population from the 2020 Census: 480 people
- Clay Mills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Clay Mills is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clay Mills
- Oxford Mills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Oxford Mills is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford Mills
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- McCausland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- McCausland is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCausland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 311 people
- Noel ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Noel is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noel
- Park View
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Park View is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park View
- Long Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Princeton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Eldridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Dixon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dixon is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Donahue
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Big Rock
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Big Rock is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Carroll County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Savanna
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Arnold
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Arnold is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
- Marcus
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Marcus is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcus
- Blackhawk
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Blackhawk is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackhawk
- Ayers
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Ayers is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayers
- Thomson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Hickory Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Hickory Grove is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
- Wacker
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Wacker is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wacker
- Center Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Center Hill is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Hill
- Argo Fay
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Argo Fay is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argo Fay
- Polsgrove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Polsgrove is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polsgrove
- Daggett ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Daggett is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daggett
- Jo Daviess County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Hanover
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Aiken
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Aiken is located in Jo Daviess County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aiken
- Elizabeth
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Galena Junction
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Galena Junction is located in Jo Daviess County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galena Junction
- Pleasant Valley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Valley is located in Jo Daviess County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
- Bremen
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bremen is located in Jo Daviess County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bremen
- Galena
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Galena is located in Jo Daviess County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,151 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Galena <1>
- Stockton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Scales Mound
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Rock Island County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Cordova
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Port Byron
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Stephenson County (IL)
- Loran
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Loran is located in Stephenson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loran
- Whiteside County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Fulton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fulton is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,285 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fulton <1>
- East Clinton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- East Clinton is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Clinton
- Albany
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Valley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Valley is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Union Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Union Grove is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- Newton Corners
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Newton Corners is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Corners
- Morrison
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- White Pigeon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- White Pigeon is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Pigeon
- Fenton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Malvern
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Malvern is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malvern
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Preston, see our County-by-County Page for Preston.
Cemeteries Near Preston ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Preston.
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 Preston - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Preston covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Farley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Preston Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Valley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Salem's Lutheran Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Vernon Prairie Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Watts Farm Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Old Van Buren Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Buckeye Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Russell Farm Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Summer Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (311 more) ...
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Miles Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Schroeder Farm Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Preston had a population of 489 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Preston had a population of 941 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Van Buren
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Van Buren is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Buren
- Spragueville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Miles
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Browns
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Browns is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns
- Goose Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Goose Lake is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goose Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Bryant
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bryant is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
- Riggs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Riggs is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riggs
- Charlotte
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sterling
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Sterling is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterling
- Andover
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Andover is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Teeds Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Teeds Grove is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teeds Grove
- Green Island
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Green Island is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Island
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Springbrook
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Creek is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Creek
- Delmar
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Preston. See our List of 1890's Communities around Preston.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Preston ...
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 71 newspapers that have been published in the area around Preston.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Preston. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Preston and those printed in the larger area surrounding Preston.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4> of Preston.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Preston:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Jackson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cedar County
- Clinton County
- Dubuque County
- Jones County
- Scott County
- Carroll County
- Jo Daviess County
- Rock Island County
- Stephenson County
- Whiteside 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 Preston, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Preston) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |