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 Washington Prairie (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 Washington Prairie. 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.
Name Variations for Washington Prairie ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Washington Prairie: Washington Pr.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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.
Washington Prairie is located in Winneshiek 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 Winneshiek County: Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, Fillmore (MN) & Houston (MN).
Below are the counties that are near Washington Prairie. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Washington Prairie:
- Winneshiek County (The home county of Washington Prairie)
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington Prairie, with the one closest to Washington Prairie listed first.
- Frankville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Frankville is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankville
- Decorah
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Castalia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Castalia is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Ossian
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Highlandville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Highlandville is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highlandville
- Calmar
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hesper
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hesper is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesper
- Festina
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bluffton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bluffton is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluffton
- Spillville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Burr Oak
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Fort Atkinson
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Allamakee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington Prairie, with the one closest to Washington Prairie listed first.
- Waukon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Lycurgus
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lycurgus is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lycurgus
- Quandahl
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Quandahl is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quandahl
- Postville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Rossville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rossville is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossville
- Elon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Elon is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elon
- Dorchester
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Volney
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Volney is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volney
- Waterville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Waterville is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 142 people
- Dalby
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Dalby is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalby
- Lansing
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Ion
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ion is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ion
- Chickasaw County
- Lawler
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Clayton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington Prairie, with the one closest to Washington Prairie listed first.
- Hardin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hardin is located in Clayton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardin
- Luana
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Monona
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Watson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Watson is located in Clayton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Gunder
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Gunder is located in Clayton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunder
- Beulah
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Beulah is located in Clayton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah
- Farmersburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Farmersburg is located in Clayton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmersburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 264 people
- Marquette
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Olaf
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- McGregor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Elkader
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Clayton Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Clayton Center is located in Clayton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton Center
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington Prairie, with the one closest to Washington Prairie listed first.
- Clermont
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Elgin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Saint Lucas
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Lucas is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- Douglass
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Douglass is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglass
- Brainard
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Brainard is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brainard
- West Union
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Illyria
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Illyria is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illyria
- Waucoma
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Alpha
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Alpha is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
- Donnan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Donnan is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donnan
- Hawkeye
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hawkeye is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkeye
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Wadena
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Howard County
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington Prairie, with the one closest to Washington Prairie listed first.
- Protivin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Cresco
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Vernon Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Vernon Springs is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon Springs
- Florenceville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Florenceville is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florenceville
- Fillmore County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington Prairie, with the one closest to Washington Prairie listed first.
- Mabel
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Newburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Newburg is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Canton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Harmony
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Granger
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Granger is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- Houston County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington Prairie, with the one closest to Washington Prairie listed first.
- Bee
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Bee is located in Houston County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee
- Eitzen
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Eitzen is located in Houston County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eitzen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 248 people
- Wilmington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Wilmington is located in Houston County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
- Spring Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Riceford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Riceford is located in Houston County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceford
- Willington Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Willington Grove is located in Houston County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willington Grove
- Caledonia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Yucatan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Yucatan is located in Houston County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yucatan
- Reno
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Reno is located in Houston County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
- Crawford County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington Prairie, with the one closest to Washington Prairie listed first.
- De Soto
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- De Soto is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Soto
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Charme
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Charme is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charme
- Ferryville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Ferryville is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferryville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
- Freeman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Freeman is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
- Prairie du Chien
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Prairie du Chien is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie du Chien
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,531 people
- Eastman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Eastman is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 404 people
- Vernon County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington Prairie, with the one closest to Washington Prairie listed first.
- Genoa
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Genoa is located in Vernon County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Retreat
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Retreat is located in Vernon County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Retreat
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Washington Prairie, see our County-by-County Page for Washington Prairie.
Cemeteries Near Washington Prairie ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Washington Prairie.
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 Washington Prairie - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Washington Prairie covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Washington Prairie, with the one closest to Washington Prairie listed first.
- East Glenwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Glenwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Pontoppidan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Teslow Farm Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Pagin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Salem United Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Zalmona Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- West Ridge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Baker School Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Eells Plot
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Frankville Village Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Mt. Olivet Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Olivet Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mt. Olivet Cemetery is located outside and to the northwest of Waukon.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #95539 <2>
- Continue List (330 more) ...
- East Freeport Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- North Washington Prairie Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Pioneer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
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, Washington Prairie had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Washington Prairie, with the one closest to Washington Prairie listed first.
- Thoten
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Thoten is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thoten
- Frankville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Frankville is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankville
- Waukon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Freeport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Freeport is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeport
- Nordness
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Nordness is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nordness
- Decorah
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Springwater
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Springwater is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springwater
- Lycurgus
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lycurgus is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lycurgus
- Ossian
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Castalia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Castalia is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Locust
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Locust is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust
- Highlandville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Highlandville is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highlandville
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Postville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Quandahl
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Quandahl is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quandahl
- Rossville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rossville is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Washington Prairie. See our List of 1890's Communities around Washington Prairie.
Newspapers Published in Washington Prairie ...
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 152 newspapers that have been published in the area around Washington Prairie.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Washington Prairie, 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 Washington Prairie.
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 Washington Prairie:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Winneshiek County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allamakee County
- Chickasaw County
- Clayton County
- Fayette County
- Howard County
- Fillmore County
- Houston County
- Crawford County
- Vernon 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 Washington Prairie, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Washington Prairie) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |