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 Wellsburg (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 Wellsburg. 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.
Wellsburg is located in Grundy 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 Grundy County: Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler, Hardin, Marshall & Tama.
Below are the counties that are near Wellsburg. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wellsburg:
- Grundy County (The home county of Wellsburg)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wellsburg, with the one closest to Wellsburg listed first.
- Holland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Buck Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Buck Grove is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Grove
- Fern
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Fern is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fern
- Grundy Center
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Stout
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Stout is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stout
- Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
- Conrad
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Morrison
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Dike
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Beaman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Beaman is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 183 people
- Fredsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Fredsville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredsville
- Reinbeck
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Black Hawk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wellsburg, with the one closest to Wellsburg listed first.
- Voorhies
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Voorhies is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Finchford
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Finchford is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finchford
- Hudson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Blessing
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Blessing is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blessing
- Cedar City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Cedar City is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar City
- Cedar Falls
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- North Cedar
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- North Cedar is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Cedar
- Janesville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Waterloo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Eagle Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Eagle Center is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Center
- Bremer County
- Waverly
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wellsburg, with the one closest to Wellsburg listed first.
- Aplington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Austinville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Austinville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinville
- Sinclair
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sinclair is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sinclair
- Parkersburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kesley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Kesley is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kesley
- New Hartford
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Butler Center
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Butler Center is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler Center
- Coster
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Coster is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coster
- Dumont
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Allison
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Bristow
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Bristow is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
- Shell Rock
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wellsburg, with the one closest to Wellsburg listed first.
- Faulkner
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Faulkner is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faulkner
- Geneva
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bradford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bradford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Reeve
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Reeve is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeve
- Hansell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hampton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Popejoy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Popejoy is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popejoy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Oakland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Oakland is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Coulter
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Coulter is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coulter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 261 people
- Hardin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wellsburg, with the one closest to Wellsburg listed first.
- Cleves
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cleves is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleves
- Steamboat Rock
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Abbott
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Abbott is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
- Ackley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Eldora
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Robertson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Robertson is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robertson
- Eagle City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Eagle City is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle City
- Whitten
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Whitten is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitten
- Population from the 2020 Census: 140 people
- Gifford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Union
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Union is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Owasa
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Owasa is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owasa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 41 people
- New Providence
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- New Providence is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Providence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wellsburg, with the one closest to Wellsburg listed first.
- Liscomb
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Liscomb is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liscomb
- Population from the 2020 Census: 296 people
- Bangor
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bangor is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangor
- Albion
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Green Mountain
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Green Mountain is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Mountain
- Marietta
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Marietta is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
- Clemons
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Clemons is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clemons
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Saint Anthony
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Anthony is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Anthony
- Population from the 2020 Census: 101 people
- Marshalltown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- LaMoille
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- LaMoille is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaMoille
- Le Grand
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Luray
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Luray is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luray
- Story County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wellsburg, with the one closest to Wellsburg listed first.
- Zearing
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- McCallsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- McCallsburg is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCallsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 320 people
- Tama County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wellsburg, with the one closest to Wellsburg listed first.
- Lincoln
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lincoln is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Gladbrook
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Dinsdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Dinsdale is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dinsdale
- Garwin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Garwin is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 490 people
- Buckingham
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Buckingham is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckingham
- Traer
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wellsburg, see our County-by-County Page for Wellsburg.
Cemeteries Near Wellsburg ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wellsburg.
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 Wellsburg - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wellsburg covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wellsburg, with the one closest to Wellsburg listed first.
- Shiloh Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Wellsburg Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- First Christian Reformed Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- St. Paul's Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Valley U M C Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Sheller Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Colfax Center Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. Peter's Evangelical Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Valley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- East Friesland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Valley Reformed Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Buck Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (240 more) ...
- German Twp. Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Leverton Family Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Clay Center Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Wellsburg had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Wellsburg had a population of 685 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wellsburg, with the one closest to Wellsburg listed first.
- Holland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Cleves
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cleves is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleves
- Steamboat Rock
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Abbott Crossing ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Abbott Crossing is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott Crossing
- Abbott
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Abbott is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
- Grundy Center
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Eldora
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Aplington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Ackley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Secor ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Secor is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Secor
- Robertson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Robertson is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robertson
- Hughs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Hughs is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hughs
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Whitten
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Whitten is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitten
- Population from the 2020 Census: 140 people
- Swanton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Swanton is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swanton
- Parkersburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wellsburg. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wellsburg.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Wellsburg ...
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 50 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wellsburg.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Wellsburg. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Wellsburg and those printed in the larger area surrounding Wellsburg.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Wellsburg.
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 Wellsburg:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Grundy County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Black Hawk County
- Bremer County
- Butler County
- Franklin County
- Hardin County
- Marshall County
- Story County
- Tama 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> | 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 Wellsburg, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Wellsburg) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |