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 Westfield (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 Westfield. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.
Westfield is located in Poweshiek 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 Poweshiek County: Benton, Iowa, Jasper, Keokuk, Mahaska, Marshall & Tama.
Below are the counties that are near Westfield. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Westfield:
- Poweshiek County (The home county of Westfield)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Grinnell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Searsboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Searsboro is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Malcom
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Sheridan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sheridan is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Montezuma
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Brooklyn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Deep River
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Deep River is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Guernsey
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Hartwick
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Hartwick is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwick
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Victor
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Tilton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Tilton is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilton
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Belle Plaine
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Irving
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Irving is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Ladora
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ambrose
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ambrose is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ambrose
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Oakland Acres
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Oakland Acres is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Acres
- Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
- Newburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Newburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Kellogg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Lynnville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Killduff
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Killduff is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Killduff
- Sully
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Galesburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Galesburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galesburg
- Newton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Reasnor
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Reasnor is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reasnor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Lambs Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Lambs Grove is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambs Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Metz
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Metz is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Monroe
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Baxter
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Keokuk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Gibson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Gibson is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 59 people
- Coal Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Coal Creek is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Creek
- Thornburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Thornburg is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- What Cheer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Aurora
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Aurora is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
- Mahaska County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Taintor
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Taintor is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taintor
- Peoria
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Peoria is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria
- New Sharon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Union Mills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Union Mills is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Mills
- Barnes City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lacey
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Lacey is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
- Leighton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Fishville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Fishville is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishville
- Evans
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Evans is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Olivet
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Olivet is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Indianapolis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Indianapolis is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indianapolis
- Oskaloosa
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Beacon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Beacon is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beacon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Pella
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Otley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Howell ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Howell is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell
- Cordova
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cordova is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
- Harvey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Harvey is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Percy ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Percy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
- Tracy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Tracy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tracy
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Gilman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Gilman is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 484 people
- Laurel
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Laurel is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 234 people
- Dunbar
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Dunbar is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbar
- Ferguson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Ferguson is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferguson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
- Dillon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Dillon is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillon
- Haverhill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Le Grand
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- State Center Junction
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Luray
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Luray is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luray
- Melbourne
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Marshalltown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Malta
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Malta is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malta
- LaMoille
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- LaMoille is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaMoille
- Tama County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Montour
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Tama
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Long Point
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Long Point is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Point
- Toledo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gladstone
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gladstone is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladstone
- Chelsea
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Garwin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Garwin is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 490 people
- Vining
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Vining is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining
- Population from the 2020 Census: 49 people
- Elberon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Westfield, see our County-by-County Page for Westfield.
Cemeteries Near Westfield ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westfield.
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 Westfield - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Westfield covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Westfield Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- West Westfield Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Mormon Grave
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Hazelwood Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Hazelwood Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located outside and to the southwest of Grinnell.
- The Hazelwood Cemetery has also been known as:
- Grinnell Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #95027 <2>
- Bethel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hayes Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Norwegian Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Rock Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sugar Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Saums Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Lower Blue Point Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (311 more) ...
- Upper Blue Point Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Our Silent City Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Swans Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Westfield in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Westfield.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Grinnell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Newburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Newburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Kellogg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Lynnville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Ewart
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ewart is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewart
- Killduff
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Killduff is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Killduff
- Sully
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Searsboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Searsboro is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Malcom
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Murphy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Murphy is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murphy
- Sheridan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sheridan is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Gilman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Gilman is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 484 people
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Galesburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Galesburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galesburg
- Taintor
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Taintor is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taintor
- Montezuma
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Westfield. See our List of 1890's Communities around Westfield.
Newspapers Published in Westfield ...
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 44 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westfield.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Westfield, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Westfield.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Westfield:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Poweshiek County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Iowa County
- Jasper County
- Keokuk County
- Mahaska County
- Marion County
- Marshall 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> | 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Westfield) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Westfield, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |