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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 Stuart (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 Stuart. 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 doctors and 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.

Stuart is primarily located in Guthrie County. A portion of Stuart extends into Adair 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 Guthrie County: Adair, Audubon, Carroll, Cass, Dallas, Greene & Madison.

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

  • Guthrie County     (The home county of Stuart)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stuart, with the one closest to Stuart listed first.
    • Menlo
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Dale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Dale is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
    • Glendon
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Glendon is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendon
    • Casey
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Panora
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Guthrie Center
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Adair
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Yale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Yale is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 239 people
    • North Branch
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • North Branch is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Branch
    • Herndon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Herndon is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herndon
    • Bagley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Bagley is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 285 people
    • Jamaica
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
  • Adair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stuart, with the one closest to Stuart listed first.
    • Arbor Hill
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Arbor Hill is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
    • Stanzel
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Stanzel is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanzel
    • Greenfield
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Hebron
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Hebron is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
    • Fontanelle
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Fontanelle is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontanelle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 612 people
    • Zion
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Zion is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
    • Orient
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Bridgewater
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Gilead
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Gilead is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
  • Adams County
    • Williamson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Williamson is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamson
  • Audubon County
    • Exira
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stuart, with the one closest to Stuart listed first.
    • Anita
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Massena
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Norway Center
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Norway Center is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norway Center
    • Wiota
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stuart, with the one closest to Stuart listed first.
    • Dexter
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Wiscotta
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Wiscotta is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiscotta
    • Redfield
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Linden
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Linden is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
    • DeSoto
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Adel
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Adel is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,607 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Adel <1>
    • Panther
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Panther is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
    • Van Meter
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Booneville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Dallas Center
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Waukee
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Minburn
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Minburn is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minburn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 357 people
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stuart, with the one closest to Stuart listed first.
    • Cooper
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Cooper is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
    • Rippey
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Rippey is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rippey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 269 people
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stuart, with the one closest to Stuart listed first.
    • Earlham
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Pitzer
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Pitzer is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitzer
    • Webster
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Webster is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
    • Winterset
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Macksburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Macksburg is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
    • Ord
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Ord is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ord
    • Patterson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Patterson is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
    • East Peru
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • East Peru is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peru
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
    • Barney
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Barney is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
    • Saint Charles
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stuart, with the one closest to Stuart listed first.
    • Clive
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Commerce
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Commerce is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
    • West Des Moines
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Urbandale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Grimes
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stuart, with the one closest to Stuart listed first.
    • Lorimor
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Lorimor is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorimor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
    • Creston
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • East Creston
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • East Creston is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Creston
  • Warren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stuart, with the one closest to Stuart listed first.
    • Cumming
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Bevington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Churchville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Churchville is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
    • Orillia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Orillia is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia

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

Cemeteries Near Stuart ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Stuart.

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 Stuart - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Calvary Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • North Oak Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • South Oak Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Dexter Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Rosehill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Menlo Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Jefferson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Loucks Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Cemetery
    • The Fairview Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Fairview Congregational Christian Church Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1977305 <2>
  • Spillers Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Morrisburg Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Penn Center Methodist Church Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (210 more) ...
    • Old Penn Center Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Bear Creek Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Glendon Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)

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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Stuart had a population of 2,052 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Stuart had a population of 1,756 people.

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

  • Dexter
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Menlo
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Dale
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Dale is located in Guthrie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
  • Glendon
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Glendon is located in Guthrie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendon
  • Arbor Hill
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Arbor Hill is located in Adair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
  • Redfield
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Monteith
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Monteith is located in Guthrie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monteith
  • Linden
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Linden is located in Dallas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
  • Casey
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Pitzer
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Pitzer is located in Madison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitzer
  • Kennedy
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Kennedy is located in Dallas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kennedy
  • Canby
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Canby is located in Adair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canby
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Panora
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Greenfield
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Guthrie Center
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Stuart ...

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 42 newspapers that have been published in the area around Stuart.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Stuart. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Stuart and those printed in the larger area surrounding Stuart.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Stuart.

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 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 Stuart:

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>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Stuart) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Stuart, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.