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 Ward (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 Ward. 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.
Ward is located in Monroe 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 Monroe County: Appanoose, Davis, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Wapello & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Ward. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ward:
- Monroe County (The home county of Ward)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- Georgetown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Georgetown is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Albia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Lovilia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Selection
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Selection is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selection
- Bluff Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bluff Creek is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Creek
- Avery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Avery is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Melrose
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Appanoose County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- Iconium
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Iconium is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iconium
- Moravia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Darbyville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Darbyville is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darbyville
- Rathbun
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Rathbun is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathbun
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
- Walnut City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Walnut City is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut City
- Clarkdale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Clarkdale is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkdale
- Mystic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Mystic is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mystic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
- Unionville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Udell
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Udell is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Udell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Brazil
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Brazil is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazil
- Centerville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Sunshine
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Sunshine is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine
- Plano
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Davis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- Paris
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Paris is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Carbon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Carbon is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon
- Drakesville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- West Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- West Grove is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Grove
- Lucas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- Zero
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Zero is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zero
- Olmitz
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Olmitz is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmitz
- Russell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Williamson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Chariton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Lucas
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Lucas is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Derby
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Derby is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Mahaska County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- Lakonta
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lakonta is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakonta
- Givin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Givin is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Givin
- Olivet
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Olivet is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Beacon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Beacon is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beacon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
- Evans
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Evans is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Fishville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Fishville is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishville
- Leighton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Cedar
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar
- Oskaloosa
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- University Park
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- University Park is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
- Wright
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Wright is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
- Exeelsior
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Exeelsior is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeelsior
- Keomah Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Keomah Village is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keomah Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- Hamilton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Hamilton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Marysville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Marysville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
- Bussey
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Bussey is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bussey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 406 people
- Indiana
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Indiana is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indiana
- Attica
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Attica is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Tracy
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Tracy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tracy
- Pershing
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Pershing is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pershing
- Columbia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Columbia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Harvey
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Harvey is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Knoxville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Melcher - Dallas
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Melcher - Dallas is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melcher - Dallas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
- Newbern
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Newbern is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Howell ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Howell is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell
- Wapello County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- Blakesburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Dudley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Dudley is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
- Eddyville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bidwell
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Bidwell is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bidwell
- Chillicothe
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Chillicothe is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chillicothe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
- Kirkville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Kirkville is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
- Keb ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Keb is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keb
- Ottumwa
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Dahlonega
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Dahlonega is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahlonega
- East Ottumwa
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- East Ottumwa is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Ottumwa
- Highland Center
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Highland Center is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Center
- Cliffland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Cliffland is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffland
- Agency
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Warren County
- Lacona
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- Confidence
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Confidence is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confidence
- Promise City
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Promise City is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promise City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Millerton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Millerton is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Seymour
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Corydon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Putnam County (MO)
- Pearl City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Pearl City is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl City
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ward, see our County-by-County Page for Ward.
Cemeteries Near Ward ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ward.
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 Ward - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ward covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- Babb Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Hiteman Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rowley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Inghram Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Oakview Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakview Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Oakview Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Albia.
- The Oakview Cemetery has also been known as:
- Oak View Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #521670 <2>
- Union Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Abegglen Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Piper Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Georgetown Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (436 more) ...
- Boggs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- St. Peters Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Derby Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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 Ward in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ward.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- Hiteman
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hiteman is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hiteman
- Georgetown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Georgetown is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Hagerty
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Hagerty is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagerty
- Tyrone
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Tyrone is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone
- Albia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Maxon
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Maxon is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxon
- Selection
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Selection is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selection
- Lovilia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Bluff Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bluff Creek is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Creek
- Melrose
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Foster
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Foster is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster
- Avery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Avery is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Hamilton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Hamilton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Iconium
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Iconium is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iconium
- Moravia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ward. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ward.
Newspapers Published in Ward ...
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 53 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ward.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ward, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ward.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Ward:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Monroe County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Appanoose County
- Davis County
- Lucas County
- Mahaska County
- Marion County
- Wapello County
- Warren County
- Wayne County
- Putnam 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 Ward, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Ward) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |