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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 Searsboro (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 Searsboro. 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 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.

Searsboro is located in Poweshiek County.

To see how the shape of Iowa's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Poweshiek County: Benton, Iowa, Jasper, Keokuk, Mahaska, Marshall & Tama.

Below are the counties that are near Searsboro. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Searsboro:

  • Poweshiek County     (The home county of Searsboro)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Searsboro, with the one closest to Searsboro listed first.
    • Montezuma
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Montezuma have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montezuma
      • Montezuma is located in Poweshiek County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,388 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Montezuma <2>
    • Grinnell
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Malcom
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Malcom have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malcom
      • Malcom is located in Poweshiek County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 275 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Malcom <2>
    • Brooklyn
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brooklyn have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
      • Brooklyn is located in Poweshiek County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,390 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Brooklyn <2>
    • Deep River
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Deep River have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
      • Deep River is located in Poweshiek County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
    • Tilton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Tilton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilton
      • Tilton is located in Poweshiek County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Tilton
      • From Searsboro to Tilton
    • Sheridan
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Guernsey
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Guernsey have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guernsey
      • Guernsey is located in Poweshiek County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 61 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Guernsey <2>
    • Hartwick
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Victor
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Victor have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victor
      • Victor is located in Poweshiek County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 865 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Victor <2>
  • Iowa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Searsboro, with the one closest to Searsboro listed first.
    • Millersburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Ladora
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ladora have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladora
      • Ladora is located in Iowa County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ladora <2>
  • Jasper County
  • Keokuk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Searsboro, with the one closest to Searsboro listed first.
    • Gibson
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gibson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
      • Gibson is located in Keokuk County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 59 people
    • Coal Creek
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Coal Creek. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Creek
      • Coal Creek is located in Keokuk County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Coal Creek
      • From Searsboro to Coal Creek
    • Thornburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • What Cheer
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Aurora
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Aurora have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
      • Aurora is located in Keokuk County
    • Keswick
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Delta
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Webster
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Webster have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
      • Webster is located in Keokuk County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
    • Sigourney
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sigourney have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sigourney
      • Sigourney is located in Keokuk County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,980 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sigourney <2>
  • Mahaska County
  • Marion County
  • Marshall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Searsboro, with the one closest to Searsboro listed first.
    • Gilman
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Laurel
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Laurel have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
      • Laurel is located in Marshall County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 234 people
    • Dunbar
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Ferguson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ferguson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferguson
      • Ferguson is located in Marshall County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
    • Dillon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Haverhill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Haverhill have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haverhill
      • Haverhill is located in Marshall County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Haverhill <2>
    • Le Grand
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • State Center Junction
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for State Center Junction have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Center Junction
      • State Center Junction is located in Marshall County
  • Monroe County
    • Bluff Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Tama County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Searsboro, with the one closest to Searsboro listed first.
    • Montour
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Montour have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montour
      • Montour is located in Tama County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 242 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Montour <2>
    • Tama
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Long Point
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Long Point have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Point
      • Long Point is located in Tama County
    • Gladstone
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gladstone have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladstone
      • Gladstone is located in Tama County
    • Chelsea
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chelsea have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chelsea
      • Chelsea is located in Tama County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Chelsea <2>
    • Toledo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Toledo have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toledo
      • Toledo is located in Tama County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,125 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Toledo <2>
  • Wapello County

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Searsboro, see our County-by-County Page for Searsboro.

Cemeteries Near Searsboro ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Searsboro.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Searsboro covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Searsboro, with the one closest to Searsboro listed first.

  • Searsboro IOOF Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Searsboro IOOF Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Searsboro IOOF Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Cemetery Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Cemetery Hill Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Cemetery Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • West Liberty Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the West Liberty Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the West Liberty Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Lower Blue Point Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lower Blue Point Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lower Blue Point Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Friends Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Friends Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Friends Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Hayes Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hayes Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hayes Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • New Salem Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the New Salem Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the New Salem Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Mill Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mill Grove Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mill Grove Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Little Mt. Baptist Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Little Mt. Baptist Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Little Mt. Baptist Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • McDonald Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the McDonald Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the McDonald Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Upper Blue Point Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Upper Blue Point Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Upper Blue Point Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Sugar Creek Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sugar Creek Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sugar Creek Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (330 more) ...
    • Campbell Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Campbell Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Campbell Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Woodland Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Woodland Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Woodland Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Stewart Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Searsboro had a population of 153 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Searsboro had a population of 145 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Searsboro, with the one closest to Searsboro listed first.

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Searsboro. See our List of 1890's Communities around Searsboro.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Searsboro ...

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 120 newspapers that have been published in the area around Searsboro.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Searsboro. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Searsboro and those printed in the larger area surrounding Searsboro.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Searsboro.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Searsboro:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Searsboro. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of Iowa: https://www.iowa.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Searsboro) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Searsboro. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 41.5802, Longitude: -92.7035    
<5>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 Searsboro, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025