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 Rathbun (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 Rathbun. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Rathbun is located in Appanoose 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 Appanoose County: Davis, Lucas, Monroe, Wapello, Wayne, Putnam (MO) & Schuyler (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Rathbun. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rathbun:
- Appanoose County (The home county of Rathbun)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- Darbyville
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Darbyville is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darbyville
- Clarkdale
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Clarkdale is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkdale
- Mystic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mystic is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mystic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
- Walnut City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Walnut City is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut City
- Centerville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Brazil
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Brazil is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazil
- Sunshine
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sunshine is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine
- Udell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Udell is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Udell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Moravia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Iconium
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Iconium is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iconium
- Plano
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Jerome
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Jerome is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Davis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- Paris
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Paris is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- West Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- West Grove is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Grove
- Drakesville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Mark
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mark is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mark
- Bloomfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Carbon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Carbon is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon
- Savannah
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Savannah is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savannah
- Steuben
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Steuben is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steuben
- Floris
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Floris is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floris
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Stiles
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Stiles is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiles
- Lucas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- Zero
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Zero is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zero
- Russell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Olmitz
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Olmitz is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmitz
- Chariton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Williamson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mahaska County
- Lakonta
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Lakonta is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakonta
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- Hamilton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Hamilton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Marysville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Marysville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
- Bussey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bussey is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bussey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 406 people
- Indiana
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Indiana is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indiana
- Columbia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Columbia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Attica
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Attica is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- Selection
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Selection is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selection
- Melrose
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Georgetown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Georgetown is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Albia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Avery
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Avery is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Bluff Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Bluff Creek is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Creek
- Lovilia
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Wapello County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- Blakesburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bidwell
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Bidwell is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bidwell
- Dudley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Dudley is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
- Chillicothe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Chillicothe is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chillicothe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
- Eddyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ottumwa
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Keb ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Keb is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keb
- East Ottumwa
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- East Ottumwa is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Ottumwa
- Kirkville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kirkville is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- Confidence
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Confidence is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confidence
- Seymour
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Promise City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Promise City is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promise City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Genoa
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Genoa is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
- Corydon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Millerton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Millerton is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Allerton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Hodge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Hodge is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodge
- Putnam County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- Pearl City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Pearl City is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl City
- Mendota
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Mendota is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendota
- Unionville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Livonia
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Livonia is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Saint John
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Saint John is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint John
- Powersville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Powersville is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Worthington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Worthington is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 76 people
- Schuyler County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- Coatsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Coatsville is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatsville
- Glenwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Glenwood is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 201 people
- Lancaster
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Julesburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Julesburg is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Julesburg
- Sullivan County (MO)
- Pennville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Pennville is located in Sullivan County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rathbun, see our County-by-County Page for Rathbun.
Cemeteries Near Rathbun ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rathbun.
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 Rathbun - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rathbun covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- Haynes Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Forbush Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Dale Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Zimmer Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jewish Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Fairview Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Shaeffer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bohm Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Elgin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Highland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Baker Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bryant Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (414 more) ...
- Denny Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- New Hope Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Antioch Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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.<3>
While we didn't find Rathbun in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rathbun.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- Forbush
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Forbush is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forbush
- Mystic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mystic is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mystic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
- Maine
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Maine is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maine
- Walnut City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Walnut City is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut City
- Diamond
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Diamond is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond
- Brazil
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Brazil is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazil
- Centerville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Garfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Garfield is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield
- Udell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Udell is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Udell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Iconium
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Iconium is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iconium
- Moravia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Plano
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Jerome
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Jerome is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Numa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Numa is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Numa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Exline
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Exline is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rathbun. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rathbun.
Newspapers Published in Rathbun ...
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 34 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rathbun.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rathbun, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rathbun.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Rathbun:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Appanoose County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Davis County
- Lucas County
- Mahaska County
- Marion County
- Monroe County
- Wapello County
- Wayne County
- Putnam County
- Schuyler County
- Sullivan 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 Rathbun, 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- Rathbun) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |