RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Iowa >> Warren County >> Summerset >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Summerset (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 Summerset. 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 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.

Summerset is located in Warren 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 Warren County: Clarke, Dallas, Lucas, Madison, Marion & Polk.

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

  • Warren County     (The home county of Summerset)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Summerset, with the one closest to Summerset listed first.
    • Indianola
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Palmyra
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Palmyra is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
    • Ackworth
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Ackworth is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
    • Spring Hill
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Spring Hill is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
    • Hartford
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Lakewood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Lakewood is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Clarkson ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Clarkson is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
    • Sandyville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Sandyville is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
    • Prole
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Prole is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
    • Churchville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Churchville is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
    • Martensdale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Cumming
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Clarke County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Summerset, with the one closest to Summerset listed first.
    • Liberty
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Liberty is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
    • Osceola
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Woodburn
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Summerset, with the one closest to Summerset listed first.
    • Booneville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Waukee
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Van Meter
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • DeSoto
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Granger
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Adel
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • 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>
    • Dallas Center
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • High Bridge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • High Bridge is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Bridge
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Summerset, with the one closest to Summerset listed first.
    • Vandalia
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Vandalia is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
    • Prairie City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Colfax
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Oswalt
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Oswalt is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswalt
    • Monroe
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Valeria
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Valeria is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valeria
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
    • Goddard
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Goddard is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
    • Green Castle
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Green Castle is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
    • Metz
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Metz is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
    • Mingo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Reasnor
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Reasnor is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reasnor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
    • Ira
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Ira is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
  • Lucas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Summerset, with the one closest to Summerset listed first.
    • Lucas
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Lucas is located in Lucas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
    • Williamson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Summerset, with the one closest to Summerset listed first.
    • Saint Charles
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Patterson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Patterson is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
    • Truro
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • East Peru
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • East Peru is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peru
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
    • Winterset
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Barney
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Barney is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
    • Ord
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Ord is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ord
    • Earlham
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Summerset, with the one closest to Summerset listed first.
    • Swan
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Swan is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
    • Pleasantville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Percy ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Percy is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
    • Bauer
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Bauer is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
    • Melcher - Dallas
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Melcher - Dallas is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melcher - Dallas
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
    • Newbern
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Newbern is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
    • Cordova
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Cordova is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
    • Knoxville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Otley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Columbia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Columbia is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
    • Howell ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Howell is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell
    • Attica
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Attica is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Summerset, with the one closest to Summerset listed first.
    • Carlisle
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Levey
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Levey is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
    • Norwalk
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Adelphi
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Adelphi is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
    • Pleasant Hill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Des Moines
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Rising Sun
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Rising Sun is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
    • Runnells
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Country Estate Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Commerce
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Commerce is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
    • West Des Moines
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Windsor Heights
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Summerset ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Summerset.

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

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

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

  • Laverty Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Scotch Ridge Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • North River Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Middle River Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Carlisle Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Indianola City Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • IOOF Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Ackworth Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Palmyra Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Elm Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Ft. Des Moines Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Avon Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (310 more) ...
    • Webb Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Black Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Hartford Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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 Summerset had a population of 100 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Indianola
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Spring Hill
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Spring Hill is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
  • Ackworth
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Ackworth is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
  • Palmyra
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Palmyra is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
  • Carlisle
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Avon
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Avon is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
  • Hartford
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Clarkson ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Clarkson is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
  • Ford
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Ford is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford
  • Levey
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Levey is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
  • Norwalk
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Sandyville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Sandyville is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • East Des Moines
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • East Des Moines is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Des Moines
    • Adelphi
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Adelphi is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
    • Hastie
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Hastie is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hastie

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

Newspapers Published in Summerset ...

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 Summerset.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Summerset, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Summerset.

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 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 Summerset:

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 Summerset, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Summerset) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.