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 Somers (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 Somers. 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 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.
Somers is located in Calhoun 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 Calhoun County: Buena Vista, Carroll, Greene, Pocahontas, Sac & Webster.
Below are the counties that are near Somers. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Somers:
- Calhoun County (The home county of Somers)
- The following are listed by their distance from Somers, with the one closest to Somers listed first.
- Rinard
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rinard is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rinard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 48 people
- Knierim
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Knierim is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knierim
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Farnhamville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Farnhamville is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farnhamville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Rands
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rands is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rands
- Lohrville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rockwell City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Manson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Twin Lakes
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Twin Lakes is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
- Wightman
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wightman is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wightman
- Sherwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Sherwood is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood
- Jolley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jolley is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jolley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 37 people
- Lake City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somers, with the one closest to Somers listed first.
- Boxholm
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pilot Mound
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pilot Mound is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Mound
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Beaver
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
- Fraser
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fraser is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fraser
- Population from the 2020 Census: 103 people
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somers, with the one closest to Somers listed first.
- Lanesboro
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Lanesboro is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanesboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 108 people
- Lidderdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lidderdale is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lidderdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
- Ralston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ralston is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
- Glidden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Carroll Community Estates
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somers, with the one closest to Somers listed first.
- Churdan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Churdan is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churdan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 363 people
- Paton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Farlin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Farlin is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farlin
- Dana
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Dana is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Jefferson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Scranton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Grand Junction
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hamilton County
- Stratford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Humboldt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somers, with the one closest to Somers listed first.
- Pioneer
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Pioneer is located in Humboldt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 22 people
- Gilmore City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Dakota City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Humboldt
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rutland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Rutland is located in Humboldt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
- Thor
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bradgate
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bradgate is located in Humboldt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradgate
- Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
- Pocahontas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somers, with the one closest to Somers listed first.
- Palmer
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Fonda
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pocahontas
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rolfe
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Varina
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Varina is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 64 people
- Sac County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somers, with the one closest to Somers listed first.
- Auburn
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Grant City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Grant City is located in Sac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant City
- Sac City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somers, with the one closest to Somers listed first.
- Slifer
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Slifer is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slifer
- Callender
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Callender is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callender
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Moorland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Barnum
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Barnum is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnum
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Tara
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tara is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tara
- Gowrie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Palm Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Palm Grove is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palm Grove
- Otho
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Kalo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Kalo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalo
- Clare
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Clare is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clare
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Fort Dodge
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Harcourt
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Harcourt is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harcourt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Somers, see our County-by-County Page for Somers.
Cemeteries Near Somers ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Somers.
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 Somers - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Somers covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Somers, with the one closest to Somers listed first.
- Cedar Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Danish Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Mizpah Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mizpah Cemetery
- The Mizpah Cemetery has also been known as:
- Fulton Twp. Mizpah Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #95484 <2>
- Fulton Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Logan Twp. Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Piper Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Trinity Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Our Saviour Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fulton Twp. Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Calvary United Presbyterian Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Callender Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Our Lady of Good Council Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (165 more) ...
- Reading Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Reformatory Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
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 Somers in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Somers.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Somers, with the one closest to Somers listed first.
- Farnhamville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Farnhamville is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farnhamville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Callender
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Callender is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callender
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Rands
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rands is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rands
- Moorland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lohrville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Barnum
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Barnum is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnum
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Gowrie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Tara
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tara is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tara
- Rockwell City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Manson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Twin Lakes
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Twin Lakes is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
- Lena
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Lena is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lena
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Otho
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Churdan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Churdan is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churdan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 363 people
- Harcourt
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Harcourt is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harcourt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Somers. See our List of 1890's Communities around Somers.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Somers ...
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 97 newspapers that have been published in the area around Somers.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Somers. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Somers and those printed in the larger area surrounding Somers.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Somers.
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 helpful 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 Somers:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Calhoun County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Carroll County
- Greene County
- Hamilton County
- Humboldt County
- Pocahontas County
- Sac County
- Webster 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 Somers, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Somers) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |