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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 Ladysmith (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 Ladysmith. 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 and 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.

Ladysmith is located in Clay County.

To see how the shape of Kansas' counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Clay County: Cloud, Dickinson, Geary, Ottawa, Riley & Washington.

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

  • Clay County     (The home county of Ladysmith)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ladysmith, with the one closest to Ladysmith listed first.
    • Broughton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Broughton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broughton
      • Broughton is located in Clay County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Broughton
      • From Ladysmith to Broughton
    • Idana
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Idana. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idana
      • Idana is located in Clay County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Idana
      • From Ladysmith to Idana
    • Clay Center
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Oak Hill
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Wakefield
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Industry
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Browndale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Browndale. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browndale
      • Browndale is located in Clay County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Browndale
      • From Ladysmith to Browndale
    • Longford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Morganville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Green
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Garfield Center
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Oscar ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oscar have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oscar
      • Oscar is located in Clay County
    • Vining
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vining have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining
      • Vining is located in Clay County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
  • Cloud County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ladysmith, with the one closest to Ladysmith listed first.
    • Miltonvale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Saint Joseph
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Aurora
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Aurora have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
      • Aurora is located in Cloud County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
    • Ames
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Clyde
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clyde have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
      • Clyde is located in Cloud County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 647 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clyde <2>
    • Huscher
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Rice
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Cook
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Cook. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook
      • Cook is located in Cloud County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Cook
      • From Ladysmith to Cook
  • Dickinson County
  • Geary County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ladysmith, with the one closest to Ladysmith listed first.
    • Milford
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Alida
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Alida. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alida
      • Alida is located in Geary County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Alida
      • From Ladysmith to Alida
    • Kansas Falls
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Junction City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Grandview Plaza
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Grandview Plaza have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview Plaza
      • Grandview Plaza is located in Geary County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,553 people
    • Wreford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wreford have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wreford
      • Wreford is located in Geary County
  • Ottawa County
  • Riley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ladysmith, with the one closest to Ladysmith listed first.
    • Bala
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Lasita ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lasita have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lasita
      • Lasita is located in Riley County
    • Leonardville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Riley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • May Day
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Walsburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Walsburg. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walsburg
      • Walsburg is located in Riley County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Walsburg
      • From Ladysmith to Walsburg
    • Winkler
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Winkler. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkler
      • Winkler is located in Riley County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Winkler
      • From Ladysmith to Winkler
    • Keats
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Randolph
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Ogden
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Eureka Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Eureka Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Lake
      • Eureka Lake is located in Riley County
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ladysmith, with the one closest to Ladysmith listed first.
    • Clifton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Kimeo
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Kimeo. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimeo
      • Kimeo is located in Washington County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Kimeo
      • From Ladysmith to Kimeo
    • Palmer
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Linn
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Chepstow
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Chepstow. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chepstow
      • Chepstow is located in Washington County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Chepstow
      • From Ladysmith to Chepstow

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

Cemeteries Near Ladysmith ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ladysmith.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Zion Lutheran Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Zion Lutheran Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Zion Lutheran Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Wesleyan Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Pleasant Valley Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pleasant Valley Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pleasant Valley Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Uniondale Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Republican City Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Republican City Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Republican City Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Athelstane Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Athelstane Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Athelstane Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Johns Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Johns Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Gilbert Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Gilbert Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Gilbert Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Wilson Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Wilson Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Wilson Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Rose Meron Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Broughton Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (141 more) ...
    • Highland Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Highland Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Highland Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Greenwood Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Greenwood Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Greenwood Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Shields Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Shields Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Shields Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.<6>

While we didn't find Ladysmith in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ladysmith.

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

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

Newspapers Published in Ladysmith ...

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 78 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ladysmith.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ladysmith, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ladysmith.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Ladysmith:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Ladysmith. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Clay County: www.claycountyks.org/

The official website for State of Kansas: https://portal.kansas.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<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 location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Ladysmith) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Ladysmith. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 39.2713, Longitude: -97.1842       In this case, the coordinates for Ladysmith have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>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.
<6>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 Ladysmith, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025