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 Williamson (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 Williamson. 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 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.
Williamson is located in Lucas 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 Lucas County: Appanoose, Clarke, Decatur, Marion, Monroe, Warren & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Williamson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Williamson:
- Lucas County (The home county of Williamson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Olmitz
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Olmitz is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmitz
- Chariton
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Russell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Zero
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Zero is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zero
- Lucas
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lucas is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Derby
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Derby is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Appanoose County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Iconium
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Iconium is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iconium
- Plano
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Walnut City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Walnut City is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut City
- Moravia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mystic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mystic is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mystic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
- Brazil
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Brazil is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazil
- Clarkdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Clarkdale is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkdale
- Darbyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Darbyville is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darbyville
- Rathbun
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rathbun is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathbun
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
- Jerome
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jerome is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Sunshine
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sunshine is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Woodburn
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Liberty
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Liberty is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Osceola
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Weldon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Le Roy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Le Roy is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Roy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Garden Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Garden Grove is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Jasper County
- Monroe
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Mahaska County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Olivet
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Olivet is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Lakonta
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Lakonta is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakonta
- Leighton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fishville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fishville is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishville
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Newbern
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Newbern is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Bauer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bauer is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Columbia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Columbia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Melcher - Dallas
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Melcher - Dallas is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melcher - Dallas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
- Indiana
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Indiana is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indiana
- Attica
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Attica is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Knoxville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Marysville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Marysville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
- Pershing
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Pershing is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pershing
- Hamilton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Hamilton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Pleasantville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Bussey
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bussey is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bussey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 406 people
- Harvey
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Harvey is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Melrose
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Georgetown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Georgetown is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Lovilia
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Bluff Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Bluff Creek is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Creek
- Albia
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Selection
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Selection is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selection
- Avery
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Avery is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Runnells
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Carlisle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Lacona
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty Center
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty Center is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Center
- Milo
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Clarkson ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Clarkson is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
- Cool
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Cool is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool
- Sandyville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Sandyville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Ackworth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ackworth is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Indianola
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Palmyra
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Palmyra is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- New Virginia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hartford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Saint Marys
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Marys is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Spring Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Hill is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Millerton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Millerton is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Confidence
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Confidence is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confidence
- Humeston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Corydon
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Promise City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Promise City is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promise City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Allerton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Seymour
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Hodge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Hodge is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodge
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Williamson, see our County-by-County Page for Williamson.
Cemeteries Near Williamson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Williamson.
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 Williamson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Williamson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Brownlee Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Oxford Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Pine Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Belinda Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Calvary Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- County Farm Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Strong Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Niswender Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (353 more) ...
- Chariton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Douglass Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Old Ireland Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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 Williamson in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Williamson.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Olmitz
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Olmitz is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmitz
- Belinda
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Belinda is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belinda
- Chariton
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Newbern
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Newbern is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Oakley
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Oakley is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
- Whitebreast
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Whitebreast is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitebreast
- Indianola Junction
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Indianola Junction is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indianola Junction
- Cloud
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Cloud is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloud
- Bauer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bauer is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Russell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Columbia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Columbia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Zero
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Zero is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zero
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Gosport
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Gosport is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gosport
- Lacona
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Weller
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Weller is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weller
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Williamson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Williamson.
Newspapers Published in Williamson ...
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 40 newspapers that have been published in the area around Williamson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Williamson, 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 Williamson.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Williamson:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Lucas County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Appanoose County
- Clarke County
- Decatur County
- Jasper County
- Mahaska County
- Marion County
- Monroe County
- Polk County
- Warren County
- Wayne 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 Williamson, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Williamson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |