Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Wilson. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Wilson to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Wilson, please Contact Us.
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 Wilson (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 Wilson. 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 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Wilson is historic, it would have been located within present day Jasper 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 Jasper County: Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek, Story & Tama.
Below are the counties that are near Wilson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wilson:
- Jasper County (The home county of Wilson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson, with the one closest to Wilson listed first.
- Lambs Grove
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Lambs Grove is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambs Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Newton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Metz
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Metz is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Reasnor
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Reasnor is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reasnor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Killduff
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Killduff is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Killduff
- Goddard
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Goddard is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
- Monroe
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Galesburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Galesburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galesburg
- Prairie City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Colfax
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Kellogg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Green Castle
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Green Castle is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
- Ira
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ira is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Mahaska County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson, with the one closest to Wilson listed first.
- Peoria
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Peoria is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria
- Taintor
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Taintor is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taintor
- New Sharon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Leighton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Olivet
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Olivet is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Fishville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fishville is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishville
- Lacey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lacey is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
- Evans
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Evans is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Union Mills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Union Mills is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Mills
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson, with the one closest to Wilson listed first.
- Otley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Cordova
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Cordova is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
- Percy ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Percy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
- Pella
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Swan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Swan is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Howell ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Howell is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell
- Pleasantville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Knoxville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Harvey
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Harvey is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Pershing
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Pershing is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pershing
- Tracy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Tracy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tracy
- Attica
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Attica is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Indiana
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Indiana is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indiana
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson, with the one closest to Wilson listed first.
- Laurel
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Laurel is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 234 people
- Melbourne
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Rhodes
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Rhodes is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 298 people
- State Center Junction
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Haverhill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Gilman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gilman is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 484 people
- Malta
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Malta is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malta
- Ferguson
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Ferguson is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferguson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
- Luray
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Luray is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luray
- Dunbar
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dunbar is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbar
- State Center
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Dillon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dillon is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillon
- LaMoille
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- LaMoille is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaMoille
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson, with the one closest to Wilson listed first.
- Mitchellville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Santiago
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Santiago is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiago
- Runnells
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Adelphi
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Adelphi is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
- Bondurant
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Altoona
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Rising Sun
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Rising Sun is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
- Loring
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Loring is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loring
- Carlisle
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Berwick
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Berwick is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
- Country Estate Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Levey
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Levey is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
- Poweshiek County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson, with the one closest to Wilson listed first.
- Searsboro
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Searsboro is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Grinnell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Malcom
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Montezuma
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Sheridan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sheridan is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Story County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson, with the one closest to Wilson listed first.
- Collins
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Collins is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Maxwell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Iowa Center
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Iowa Center is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Center
- Colo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cambridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Tama County
- Montour
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson, with the one closest to Wilson listed first.
- Hartford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Palmyra
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Palmyra is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Sandyville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Sandyville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Ackworth
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ackworth is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Clarkson ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Clarkson is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
- Milo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wilson, see our County-by-County Page for Wilson.
Cemeteries Near Wilson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wilson.
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 Wilson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wilson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wilson, with the one closest to Wilson listed first.
- Livingston Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Palo Alto Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Mound Prairie Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Adamson Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jasper County Burying Ground
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Moffitt Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Slagel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Memorial Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Newton Union Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (312 more) ...
- Dowler Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rorabaugh Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Kelley Family Burial Ground
(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.
While we didn't find Wilson in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Wilson.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wilson, with the one closest to Wilson listed first.
- Coal Siding ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Coal Siding is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Siding
- Reasnor
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Reasnor is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reasnor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Newton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Metz
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Metz is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Murphy
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Murphy is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murphy
- Prairie City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Monroe
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Galesburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Galesburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galesburg
- Killduff
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Killduff is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Killduff
- Colfax
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Kellogg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Otley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Sully
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Ira
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ira is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Green Castle
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Green Castle is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wilson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wilson.
Newspapers Published in Wilson ...
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 216 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wilson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wilson, 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 Wilson.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Wilson:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Jasper County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Mahaska County
- Marion County
- Marshall County
- Polk County
- Poweshiek County
- Story County
- Tama County
- Warren County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Iowa
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Wilson, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Wilson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |