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 Sewal (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 Sewal. 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.
Sewal is located in Wayne 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 Wayne County: Appanoose, Decatur, Lucas, Mercer (MO) & Putnam (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Sewal. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sewal:
- Wayne County (The home county of Sewal)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sewal, with the one closest to Sewal listed first.
- Seymour
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Allerton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Genoa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Genoa is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
- Corydon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hodge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Hodge is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodge
- Promise City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Promise City is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promise City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Clio
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Clio is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
- Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
- Millerton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Millerton is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Lineville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Lineville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lineville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
- Confidence
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Confidence is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confidence
- Humeston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Appanoose County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sewal, with the one closest to Sewal listed first.
- Jerome
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Jerome is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Plano
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Numa
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Numa is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Numa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Cincinnati
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Cincinnati is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cincinnati
- Population from the 2020 Census: 345 people
- Brazil
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Brazil is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazil
- Sunshine
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Sunshine is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine
- Mystic
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Mystic is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mystic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
- Clarkdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Clarkdale is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkdale
- Walnut City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Walnut City is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut City
- Centerville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Exline
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Exline is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
- Rathbun
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- 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 Sewal, with the one closest to Sewal listed first.
- Weldon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Woodburn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sewal, with the one closest to Sewal listed first.
- Woodland
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Woodland is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Morgan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Morgan is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Garden Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Garden Grove is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Le Roy
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Le Roy is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Roy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Pleasanton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Pleasanton is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasanton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Leon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Davis City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Davis City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
- Decatur City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Decatur City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Lucas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sewal, with the one closest to Sewal listed first.
- Derby
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Derby is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Russell
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Zero
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Zero is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zero
- Chariton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Lucas
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Lucas is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Olmitz
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Olmitz is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmitz
- Williamson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sewal, with the one closest to Sewal listed first.
- Melrose
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Georgetown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Georgetown is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Harrison County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sewal, with the one closest to Sewal listed first.
- Cainsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cainsville is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cainsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Akron
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Akron is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron
- Mercer County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sewal, with the one closest to Sewal listed first.
- South Lineville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- South Lineville is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lineville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 27 people
- Mercer
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ravanna
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ravanna is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravanna
- Princeton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Burrows
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Burrows is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows
- Putnam County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sewal, with the one closest to Sewal listed first.
- Powersville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Powersville is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Saint John
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Saint John is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint John
- Lucerne
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Lucerne is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucerne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
- Unionville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mendota
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Mendota is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendota
- Pearl City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Pearl City is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl City
- Sullivan County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sewal, with the one closest to Sewal listed first.
- Newtown
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Pollock
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pollock is located in Sullivan County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pollock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 79 people
- Harris
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Pennville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pennville is located in Sullivan County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennville
- Boynton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Boynton is located in Sullivan County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
- Green City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Green City is located in Sullivan County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 582 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sewal, see our County-by-County Page for Sewal.
Cemeteries Near Sewal ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sewal.
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 Sewal - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sewal covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sewal, with the one closest to Sewal listed first.
- Moss Sturgeon Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Thomas Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Richardson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Shriver Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Banta Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hickerson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Ripper Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Medicineville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Medicineville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pleasant View Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Harris Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Sharp Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (319 more) ...
- Rankin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Edmond Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Tharp Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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 in 1895, Sewal had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sewal, with the one closest to Sewal listed first.
- Harvard
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Harvard is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard
- Powersville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Powersville is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Seymour
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bridgeport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Bridgeport is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
- Allerton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Saint John
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Saint John is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint John
- Corydon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Genoa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Genoa is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
- Hodge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Hodge is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodge
- Promise City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Promise City is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promise City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Cleopatra
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cleopatra is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleopatra
- Clio
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Clio is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
- Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Ilia ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ilia is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ilia
- Lucerne
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Lucerne is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucerne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
- West Liberty ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- West Liberty is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Liberty
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sewal. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sewal.
Newspapers Published in Sewal ...
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 135 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sewal.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sewal, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sewal.
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 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 Sewal:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Wayne County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Appanoose County
- Clarke County
- Decatur County
- Lucas County
- Monroe County
- Harrison County
- Mercer County
- Putnam 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 Sewal, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Sewal) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |