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 Samoa (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 Samoa. 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 northwest 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 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 west 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.
Samoa 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 Samoa. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Samoa:
- Jackson County (The home county of Samoa)
- The following are listed by their distance from Samoa, with the one closest to Samoa listed first.
- Sabula
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Miles
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Green Island
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Green Island is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Island
- Van Buren
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Van Buren is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Buren
- Preston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Spragueville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Springbrook
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Bellevue
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- North Bellevue
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- North Bellevue is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bellevue
- Smiths
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Smiths is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths
- Andrew
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Cottonville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Cottonville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottonville
- Maquoketa
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Samoa, with the one closest to Samoa listed first.
- Teeds Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Teeds Grove is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teeds Grove
- Elk River Junction
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Elk River Junction is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk River Junction
- Andover
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Andover is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Bryant
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bryant is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
- Tenmile
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tenmile is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenmile
- Goose Lake
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Goose Lake is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goose Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Sixmile
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sixmile is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sixmile
- Charlotte
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Clinton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Elvira
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Elvira is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elvira
- Camanche
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Low Moor
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Delmar
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Dubuque County
- The following are listed by their distance from Samoa, with the one closest to Samoa listed first.
- Wilkins
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wilkins is located in Dubuque County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkins
- Zwingle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Zwingle is located in Dubuque County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zwingle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Samoa, with the one closest to Samoa listed first.
- McCausland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- McCausland is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCausland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 311 people
- Princeton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Noel ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Noel is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noel
- Carroll County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Samoa, with the one closest to Samoa listed first.
- Savanna
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Ayers
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ayers is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayers
- Marcus
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Marcus is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcus
- Hickory Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Hickory Grove is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
- Arnold
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Arnold is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
- Center Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Center Hill is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Hill
- Wacker
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Wacker is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wacker
- Blackhawk
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Blackhawk is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackhawk
- Thomson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Polsgrove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Polsgrove is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polsgrove
- Argo Fay
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Argo Fay is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argo Fay
- Daggett ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Daggett is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daggett
- Mount Carroll
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Jo Daviess County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Samoa, with the one closest to Samoa listed first.
- Hanover
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Valley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Valley is located in Jo Daviess County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
- Elizabeth
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Stockton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Aiken
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Aiken is located in Jo Daviess County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aiken
- Bremen
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bremen is located in Jo Daviess County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bremen
- Galena Junction
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Galena Junction is located in Jo Daviess County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galena Junction
- Galena
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- 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>
- Scales Mound
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Apple River
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Nora
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Nora is located in Jo Daviess County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nora <1>
- Warren
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Warren is located in Jo Daviess County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,300 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Warren <1>
- Ogle County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Samoa, with the one closest to Samoa listed first.
- Brookville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Brookville is located in Ogle County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookville
- Harper
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Harper is located in Ogle County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Rock Island County (IL)
- Cordova
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Stephenson County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Samoa, with the one closest to Samoa listed first.
- Loran
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Loran is located in Stephenson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loran
- Kent
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pearl City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Yellow Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Yellow Creek is located in Stephenson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Creek
- Bolton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bolton is located in Stephenson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton
- Eleroy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lena
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lena is located in Stephenson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,680 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lena <1>
- Salem
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Salem is located in Stephenson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Florence
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Florence is located in Stephenson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Whiteside County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Samoa, with the one closest to Samoa listed first.
- Fulton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- 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>
- Spring Valley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Valley is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- East Clinton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- East Clinton is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Clinton
- Union Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Union Grove is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- Albany
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- White Pigeon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- White Pigeon is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Pigeon
- Malvern
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Malvern is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malvern
- Morrison
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Newton Corners
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Newton Corners is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Corners
- Coleta
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Fenton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Denrock
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Denrock is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denrock
- Lyndon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lafayette County (WI)
- White Oak
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- White Oak is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Samoa, see our County-by-County Page for Samoa.
Cemeteries Near Samoa ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Samoa.
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 Samoa - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Samoa covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Samoa, with the one closest to Samoa listed first.
- St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Simpson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Canada Hollow Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Dickson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sterling Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Savanna Twp. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savanna Twp. Cemetery
- The Savanna Twp. Cemetery has also been known as:
- Savanna Cemetery
- St. Johns Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Spring Lake Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Horst Farm Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Fairview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Schroeder Farm Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (307 more) ...
- Miles Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Teeds Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hauntown Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
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 Samoa in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Samoa.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Samoa, with the one closest to Samoa listed first.
- Sabula
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Savanna
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Sterling
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Sterling is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterling
- Lainsville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Lainsville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lainsville
- Teeds Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Teeds Grove is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teeds Grove
- Marcus
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Marcus is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcus
- Miles
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Elk River Junction
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Elk River Junction is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk River Junction
- Hickory Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Hickory Grove is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
- Andover
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Andover is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Almont
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Almont is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almont
- Green Island
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Green Island is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Island
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Van Buren
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Van Buren is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Buren
- Thomson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Preston
(10 miles [16.1 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 Samoa. See our List of 1890's Communities around Samoa.
Newspapers Published in Samoa ...
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 53 newspapers that have been published in the area around Samoa.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Samoa, 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 Samoa.
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 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 Samoa:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Jackson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clinton County
- Dubuque County
- Scott County
- Carroll County
- Jo Daviess County
- Ogle County
- Rock Island County
- Stephenson County
- Whiteside County
- Lafayette 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 Samoa, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Samoa) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |