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 Purdy (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 Purdy. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Purdy is primarily located in Lucas County. A portion of Purdy extends into Marion 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 Purdy. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Purdy:
- Lucas County (The home county of Purdy)
- The following are listed by their distance from Purdy, with the one closest to Purdy listed first.
- Williamson
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Olmitz
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Olmitz is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmitz
- Chariton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Russell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Zero
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Zero is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zero
- Lucas
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lucas is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Derby
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Derby is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Appanoose County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purdy, with the one closest to Purdy listed first.
- Iconium
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Iconium is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iconium
- Moravia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Walnut City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Walnut City is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut City
- Plano
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Darbyville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Darbyville is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darbyville
- Mystic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mystic is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mystic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
- Rathbun
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rathbun is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathbun
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purdy, with the one closest to Purdy listed first.
- Woodburn
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Liberty
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Liberty is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Osceola
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purdy, with the one closest to Purdy listed first.
- Le Roy
(27 miles [43.5 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
(30 miles [48.3 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
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purdy, with the one closest to Purdy listed first.
- Monroe
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Vandalia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Vandalia is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Prairie City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Reasnor
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Reasnor is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reasnor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Mahaska County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purdy, with the one closest to Purdy listed first.
- Olivet
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Olivet is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Lakonta
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Lakonta is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakonta
- Leighton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Evans
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Evans is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Fishville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fishville is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishville
- Beacon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Beacon is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beacon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
- Givin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Givin is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Givin
- Peoria
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Peoria is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purdy, with the one closest to Purdy listed first.
- Columbia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Columbia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Melcher - Dallas
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Melcher - Dallas is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melcher - Dallas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
- Bauer
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bauer is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Newbern
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Newbern is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Indiana
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Indiana is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indiana
- Attica
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Attica is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Knoxville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pershing
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pershing is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pershing
- Marysville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Marysville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
- Pleasantville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Hamilton
(17 miles [27.4 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
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Bussey is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bussey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 406 people
- Cordova
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Cordova is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purdy, with the one closest to Purdy listed first.
- Melrose
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lovilia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Georgetown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Georgetown is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Bluff Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Bluff Creek is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Creek
- Albia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Avery
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Avery is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Selection
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Selection is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selection
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purdy, with the one closest to Purdy listed first.
- Runnells
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Adelphi
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Adelphi is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
- Carlisle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Levey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Levey is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purdy, with the one closest to Purdy listed first.
- Lacona
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Milo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty Center
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Liberty Center is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Center
- Clarkson ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Clarkson is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
- Sandyville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sandyville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Ackworth
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Ackworth is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Cool
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Cool is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool
- Indianola
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Palmyra
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Palmyra is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Hartford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- New Virginia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Spring Hill
(27 miles [43.5 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
- Saint Marys
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Saint Marys is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purdy, with the one closest to Purdy listed first.
- Confidence
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Confidence is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confidence
- Millerton
(21 miles [33.8 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
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Corydon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Promise City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Promise City is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promise City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Purdy, see our County-by-County Page for Purdy.
Cemeteries Near Purdy ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Purdy.
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 Purdy - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Purdy covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Purdy, with the one closest to Purdy listed first.
- Strong Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Pine Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Belinda Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Brownlee Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Clear Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Columbia Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Tickel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Josephs Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Josephs Cemetery is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<3> to the southwest of Melcher - Dallas.
- The St. Josephs Cemetery has also been known as:
- Bauer Cemetery
- St. Josephs Catholic Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2245673 <2>
- Fairview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (352 more) ...
- Arian Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Dallas Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Zion Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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.<4>
While we didn't find Purdy in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Purdy.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Purdy, with the one closest to Purdy listed first.
- Cloud
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Cloud is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloud
- Belinda
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Belinda is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belinda
- Columbia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Columbia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Bauer
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bauer is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Newbern
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Newbern is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Gosport
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Gosport is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gosport
- Olmitz
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Olmitz is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmitz
- Oakley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Oakley is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
- Caloma
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Caloma is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caloma
- Lacona
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Whitebreast
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Whitebreast is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitebreast
- Indianola Junction
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Indianola Junction is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indianola Junction
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Chariton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Weller
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Weller is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weller
- Russell
(12 miles [19.3 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 Purdy. See our List of 1890's Communities around Purdy.
Newspapers Published in Purdy ...
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 91 newspapers that have been published in the area around Purdy.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Purdy, 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 Purdy.
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 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 Purdy:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Lucas County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Appanoose County
- Clarke County
- Decatur County
- Jasper County
- Mahaska 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 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Purdy) 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 Purdy, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |