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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 Whittemore (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 Whittemore. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.

Whittemore is located in Kossuth 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 Kossuth County: Emmet, Hancock, Humboldt, Palo Alto, Winnebago, Faribault (MN) & Martin (MN).

Below are the counties that are near Whittemore. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Whittemore:

  • Kossuth County     (The home county of Whittemore)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whittemore, with the one closest to Whittemore listed first.
    • Algona
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Fenton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Fenton is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
    • Lone Rock
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Irvington
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Irvington is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvington
    • Burt
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Burt is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 493 people
    • Seneca
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Seneca is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca
    • Sexton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Sexton is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexton
    • Bancroft
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Bancroft is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bancroft
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 684 people
    • Lu Verne
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Wesley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Wesley is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 364 people
    • Swea City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Titonka
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Titonka is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Titonka
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 433 people
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whittemore, with the one closest to Whittemore listed first.
    • Dickens
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Dickens is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickens
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
    • Webb
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Webb is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
  • Emmet County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whittemore, with the one closest to Whittemore listed first.
    • Ringsted
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Hoprig
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Hoprig is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoprig
    • Armstrong
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Armstrong is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 841 people
    • Wallingford
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Wallingford is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
    • Gruver
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Gruver is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gruver
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
    • Dolliver
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Hancock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whittemore, with the one closest to Whittemore listed first.
    • Corwith
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Corwith is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corwith
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 245 people
    • Hutchins
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Hutchins is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutchins
    • Woden
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Humboldt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whittemore, with the one closest to Whittemore listed first.
    • Ottosen
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Ottosen is located in Humboldt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottosen
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 36 people
    • Bode
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Bode is located in Humboldt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bode
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 286 people
    • Bradgate
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Bradgate is located in Humboldt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradgate
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
    • Livermore
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Livermore is located in Humboldt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livermore
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
    • Arnold
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Arnold is located in Humboldt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
    • Rutland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Rutland is located in Humboldt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
    • Gilmore City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Hardy
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Hardy is located in Humboldt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 41 people
    • Humboldt
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Dakota City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Renwick
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Pioneer
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Pioneer is located in Humboldt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 22 people
  • Palo Alto County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whittemore, with the one closest to Whittemore listed first.
    • Rodman
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Rodman is located in Palo Alto County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 41 people
    • Cylinder
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Cylinder is located in Palo Alto County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cylinder
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
    • West Bend
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Emmetsburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Mallard
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Curlew
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Curlew is located in Palo Alto County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curlew
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
    • Graettinger
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Ayrshire
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Ruthven
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
  • Pocahontas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whittemore, with the one closest to Whittemore listed first.
    • Plover
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Plover is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plover
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
    • Rolfe
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Rolfe is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rolfe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 530 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rolfe <1>
    • Havelock
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Pocahontas
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Laurens
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Whittemore, see our County-by-County Page for Whittemore.

Cemeteries Near Whittemore ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Whittemore.

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 Whittemore - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Whittemore covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Whittemore, with the one closest to Whittemore listed first.

  • St. Pauls Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Whittemore Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • St. Michaels Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Garfield Twp. Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Apostolic Christian Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • St. Lukes Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • West Bend Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Lotts Creek Lutheran Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Lutheran Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (113 more) ...
    • United Methodist Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Lincoln Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Union Twp. Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)

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 Whittemore had a population of 578 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Whittemore had a population of 469 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Whittemore, with the one closest to Whittemore listed first.

  • Rodman
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Rodman is located in Palo Alto County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodman
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 41 people
  • Cylinder
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Cylinder is located in Palo Alto County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cylinder
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
  • West Bend
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Fenton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Fenton is located in Kossuth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenton
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
  • Algona
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Irvington
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Irvington is located in Kossuth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvington
  • Burt
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Burt is located in Kossuth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 493 people
  • Emmetsburg
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Saint Joseph
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Saint Joseph is located in Kossuth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joseph
  • Mallard
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Bode
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Bode is located in Humboldt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bode
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 286 people
  • Curlew
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Curlew is located in Palo Alto County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curlew
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Plover
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Plover is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plover
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
    • Ringsted
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Seneca
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Seneca is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Whittemore. See our List of 1890's Communities around Whittemore.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Whittemore ...

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 75 newspapers that have been published in the area around Whittemore.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Whittemore. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Whittemore and those printed in the larger area surrounding Whittemore.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Whittemore.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Whittemore:

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 Whittemore, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Whittemore) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.