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 West Yards (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 West Yards. 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 West Yards ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for West Yards: W. Yards
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 hospitals and doctors 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.
West Yards is located in Clayton 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 Clayton County: Allamakee, Buchanan, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Winneshiek, Crawford (WI) & Grant (WI).
Below are the counties that are near West Yards. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Yards:
- Clayton County (The home county of West Yards)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Yards, with the one closest to West Yards listed first.
- Marquette
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- McGregor
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Beulah
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Beulah is located in Clayton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah
- Watson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Watson is located in Clayton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Clayton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Clayton is located in Clayton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 39 people
- Monona
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Farmersburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Farmersburg is located in Clayton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmersburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 264 people
- Garnavillo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Clayton Center
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Clayton Center is located in Clayton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton Center
- Saint Olaf
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Luana
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Hardin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Hardin is located in Clayton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardin
- Elkader
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Allamakee County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Yards, with the one closest to West Yards listed first.
- Ion
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Ion is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ion
- Waukon Junction
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Waukon Junction is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waukon Junction
- Volney
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Volney is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volney
- Harpers Ferry
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Waterville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Waterville is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 142 people
- Rossville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rossville is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossville
- Dalby
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Dalby is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalby
- Elon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Elon is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elon
- Postville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Waukon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lansing
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Lycurgus
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lycurgus is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lycurgus
- Delaware County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Yards, with the one closest to West Yards listed first.
- Colesburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Colesburg is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colesburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 371 people
- Edgewood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Holy Cross
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Holy Cross is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holy Cross
- Dubuque County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Yards, with the one closest to West Yards listed first.
- Luxemburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Luxemburg is located in Dubuque County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luxemburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
- Waupeton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Waupeton is located in Dubuque County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waupeton
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Yards, with the one closest to West Yards listed first.
- Elgin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Clermont
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Illyria
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Illyria is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illyria
- Wadena
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Brainard
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Brainard is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brainard
- Winneshiek County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Yards, with the one closest to West Yards listed first.
- Frankville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Frankville is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankville
- Castalia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Castalia is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Ossian
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Crawford County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Yards, with the one closest to West Yards listed first.
- Prairie du Chien
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- 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
- Bridgeport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bridgeport is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
- Charme
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Charme is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charme
- Eastman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Eastman is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 404 people
- Wauzeka
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Wauzeka is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauzeka
- Population from the 2020 Census: 733 people
- Steuben
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Steuben is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steuben
- Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
- Boydtown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Boydtown is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boydtown
- Ferryville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Ferryville is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferryville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
- Freeman
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Freeman is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
- Mount Sterling
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Sterling is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sterling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 196 people
- Petersburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Petersburg is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
- Bell Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bell Center is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 114 people
- De Soto
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- De Soto is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Soto
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Grant County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Yards, with the one closest to West Yards listed first.
- Wyalusing
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wyalusing is located in Grant County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyalusing
- Bagley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bagley is located in Grant County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 367 people
- Millville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Millville is located in Grant County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millville
- Patch Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Patch Grove is located in Grant County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patch Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 192 people
- Glen Haven
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Glen Haven is located in Grant County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Haven
- Mount Hope
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Mount Hope is located in Grant County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Population from the 2020 Census: 216 people
- Bloomington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bloomington is located in Grant County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 702 people
- North Andover
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- North Andover is located in Grant County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Andover
- Woodman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Woodman is located in Grant County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Mount Ida
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Mount Ida is located in Grant County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Ida
- Werley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Werley is located in Grant County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Werley
- Beetown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Beetown is located in Grant County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beetown
- Boscobel
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Boscobel is located in Grant County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boscobel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,134 people
- Richland County (WI)
- Westport
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Westport is located in Richland County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westport
- Vernon County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Yards, with the one closest to West Yards listed first.
- Retreat
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Retreat is located in Vernon County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Retreat
- West Prairie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- West Prairie is located in Vernon County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Prairie
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Yards, see our County-by-County Page for West Yards.
Cemeteries Near West Yards ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Yards.
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 West Yards - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Yards covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Yards, with the one closest to West Yards listed first.
- Buell Park Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Walton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Pt. Ann Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- St. Marys Catholic Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Baylis Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Knapp Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Eastman Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Moody Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Ft. Crawford National Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Prairie du Chien Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- St. Gabriel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (308 more) ...
- Calvary Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- French Town Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Spaulding Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
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 West Yards in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Yards.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Yards, with the one closest to West Yards listed first.
- McGregor
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Prairie du Chien
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- 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
- Yellow River
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Yellow River is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow River
- Beulah
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Beulah is located in Clayton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah
- Giard
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Giard is located in Clayton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Giard
- Ion
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Ion is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ion
- Watson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Watson is located in Clayton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Wyalusing
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wyalusing is located in Grant County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyalusing
- Bridgeport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bridgeport is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
- Waukon Junction
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Waukon Junction is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waukon Junction
- Clayton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Clayton is located in Clayton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 39 people
- Charme
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Charme is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charme
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Monona
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Farmersburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Farmersburg is located in Clayton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmersburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 264 people
- Bagley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bagley is located in Grant County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 367 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Yards. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Yards.
Newspapers Published in West Yards ...
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 138 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Yards.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Yards, 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 West Yards.
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 West Yards:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Clayton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allamakee County
- Delaware County
- Dubuque County
- Fayette County
- Winneshiek County
- Crawford County
- Grant County
- Richland 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 West Yards, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- West Yards) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |