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 Wise (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 Wise. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Wise is located in Buchanan 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 Buchanan County: Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Clayton, Delaware & Fayette.
Below are the counties that are near Wise. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wise:
- Buchanan County (The home county of Wise)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
- Independence
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Shady Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Shady Grove is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
- Doris
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Doris is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doris
- Fairbank
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Hazleton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brandon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Brandon is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 320 people
- Rowley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hamerville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hamerville is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamerville
- Winthrop
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Winthrop is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winthrop
- Population from the 2020 Census: 848 people
- Quasqueton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Stanley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Stanley is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Aurora
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Aurora is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
- Population from the 2020 Census: 162 people
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
- Mount Auburn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Mount Auburn is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Auburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
- Spencers Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Spencers Grove is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencers Grove
- Urbana
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Benton City ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Benton City is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton City
- Vinton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Garrison
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Garrison is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 355 people
- Shellsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Black Hawk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
- Jesup
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Jubilee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jubilee is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jubilee
- Dunkerton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dunkerton is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
- Gilbertville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Gilbertville is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbertville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 725 people
- Dewar
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Dewar is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewar
- Raymond
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Raymond is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 788 people
- Elk Run Heights
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Elk Run Heights is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Run Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,135 people
- Edwards ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Edwards is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwards
- Evansdale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- La Porte City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Waterloo
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Eagle Center
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Eagle Center is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Center
- Bremer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
- Klinger
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Klinger is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klinger
- Readlyn
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Denver
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Knittel
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Knittel is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knittel
- Sumner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Tripoli
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bremer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bremer is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bremer
- Waverly
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Seigel
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Seigel is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seigel
- Butler County
- New Hartford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Clayton County
- Strawberry Point
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Delaware County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
- Masonville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Masonville is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Robinson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Robinson is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
- Dundee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Forestville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Forestville is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestville
- Golden
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Golden is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden
- Manchester
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Ehler
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ehler is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ehler
- Ryan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
- Oelwein
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Oran
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Oran is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oran
- Westgate
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Westgate is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westgate
- Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
- Maynard
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Maryville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Maryville is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maryville
- Arlington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Arlington is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 393 people
- Randalia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Randalia is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
- Fayette
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Donnan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Donnan is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donnan
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
- Fredsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Fredsville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredsville
- Dike
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Linn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
- Walker
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Walker is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Population from the 2020 Census: 782 people
- Troy Mills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Center Point
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Coggon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lafayette
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lafayette is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette
- Paris ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Paris is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Alburnett
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Toddville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Tama County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
- Dysart
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Buckingham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Buckingham is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckingham
- Dinsdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dinsdale is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dinsdale
- Traer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wise, see our County-by-County Page for Wise.
Cemeteries Near Wise ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wise.
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 Wise - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wise covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
- Cedar Crest Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- St. Athanasius Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Littleton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Otterville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Old Barclay Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- New Barclay Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- St. Michaels Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- State Hospital Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Amish Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Hope Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mt. Hope Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the south of Independence.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #95532 <2>
- Oakwood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (257 more) ...
- Union Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Zion Lutheran Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<3>
While we didn't find Wise in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Wise.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
- Jesup
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Littleton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Littleton is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleton
- Otterville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Otterville is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otterville
- Independence
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Canfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Canfield is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canfield
- Jubilee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jubilee is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jubilee
- Shady Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Shady Grove is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
- Bryantsburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bryantsburg is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryantsburg
- Dunkerton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dunkerton is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
- Gilbertville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Gilbertville is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbertville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 725 people
- Gatesville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Gatesville is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gatesville
- Fairbank
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Dewar
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Dewar is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewar
- Raymond
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Raymond is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 788 people
- Brandon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Brandon is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 320 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wise. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wise.
Newspapers Published in Wise ...
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 126 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wise.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wise, 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 Wise.
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 helpful 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 Wise:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Buchanan County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Black Hawk County
- Bremer County
- Butler County
- Clayton County
- Delaware County
- Fayette County
- Grundy County
- Linn 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> | 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 Wise, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Wise) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |