It\u2019s really fun to find your ancestors in old newspaper columns, vital records and census listings. But what happens if you cannot recognize the name of the town they lived in?<\/p>\n
If it doesn\u2019t exist now, how can you find out where it was and if it still exists by another name?<\/p>\n
One resource is Abandoned Towns, Villages and Post Offices of Iowa<\/em>. The call number for this item is 977.7 Mot<\/em> and it is available for use in the Special Collections department or check it out to use at home, as there is also a circulating copy.<\/p>\n For a quick fix, here is a brief list of local cities that have changed their names over\u00a0the years.\u00a0 This list\u00a0was published in the very first issue of\u00a0the Scott County Iowan<\/em>, our Scott County Iowa Genealogical Society\u2019s publication, way back in 1977:<\/p>\n Bettendorf previously went by Lilienthal, Gilbert or Gilbertown<\/p>\n Burlington was known as Flint Hills<\/p>\n Davenport\u2019s Indian name was Oskosh; another name was Morgan<\/p>\n Fairport was known as Salem<\/p>\n LeClaire had the names of Parkhurst, Berlin and Middletown<\/p>\n Keokuk was known as Fort Edwards<\/p>\n Milan, Illinois, was first named Camden<\/p>\n Muscatine went by Bloomington<\/p>\n Pleasant Valley was known as Valley City<\/p>\n Rock Island, Illinois, had two prior names \u2013 Stephenson and Farnhamsburg<\/p>\n _________________<\/p>\n (posted by Karen O)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s really fun to find your ancestors in old newspaper columns, vital records and census listings. But what happens if you cannot recognize the name of the town they lived in? If it doesn\u2019t exist now, how can you find … Continue reading