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 Thomaston (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 Thomaston. 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 hospitals and 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.
Thomaston is located in LaPorte County.
To see how the shape of Indiana's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of LaPorte County: Jasper, Porter, Saint Joseph, Starke & Berrien (MI).
Below are the counties that are near Thomaston. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Thomaston:
- LaPorte County (The home county of Thomaston)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomaston, with the one closest to Thomaston listed first.
- Hanna
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wanatah
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- La Crosse
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Union Mills
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Haskell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Haskell is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haskell
- Kingsford Heights
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Kingsford Heights is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsford Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,379 people
- Alida
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Alida is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alida
- Westville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kingsbury
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kingsbury is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 239 people
- Door Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Door Village is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Door Village
- Holmesville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Holmesville is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmesville
- Otis
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Otis is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otis
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomaston, with the one closest to Thomaston listed first.
- Delong
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Delong is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delong
- Lake Bruce
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Bruce is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Bruce
- Leiters Ford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Leiters Ford is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leiters Ford
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomaston, with the one closest to Thomaston listed first.
- Tefft
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tefft is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tefft
- Wheatfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Stoutsburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Stoutsburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoutsburg
- DeMotte
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- DeMotte is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeMotte
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,172 people
- DeMotte has also been known as:
- De Motte
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for DeMotte <1>
- Gifford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Gifford is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gifford
- Forest City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Forest City is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Virgie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Virgie is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgie
- Lake County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomaston, with the one closest to Thomaston listed first.
- Lakes of the Four Seasons
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Deep River
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Deep River is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Leroy
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Leroy is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leroy
- Winfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Winfield is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,265 people
- Hobart
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dinwiddie
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Dinwiddie is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dinwiddie
- Lake Station
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- New Chicago
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- New Chicago is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Chicago
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,937 people
- Green Acres
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Green Acres is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Acres
- Duneland Village of Gary
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Liverpool
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Liverpool is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liverpool
- Merrillville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomaston, with the one closest to Thomaston listed first.
- Donaldson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Donaldson is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donaldson
- Tyner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Tyner is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyner
- Burr Oak
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Burr Oak is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burr Oak
- Culver
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Culver is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culver
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,484 people
- Harris
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Harris is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- La Paz
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- La Paz is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Paz
- Population from the 2020 Census: 549 people
- Plymouth
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Linkville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Linkville is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linkville
- Argos
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Newton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomaston, with the one closest to Thomaston listed first.
- Roselawn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Roselawn is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselawn
- Thayer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Thayer is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Porter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomaston, with the one closest to Thomaston listed first.
- Kouts
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Suman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Suman is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suman
- Valparaiso
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tratebas Mill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Tratebas Mill is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tratebas Mill
- Aylesworth
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Aylesworth is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aylesworth
- Boone Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Boone Grove is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boone Grove
- Porter Crossroads
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Porter Crossroads is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter Crossroads
- Babcock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Babcock is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babcock
- Chesterton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- South Haven
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- South Haven is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Haven
- Hebron
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Porter
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Pulaski County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomaston, with the one closest to Thomaston listed first.
- Denham
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Denham is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denham
- Beardstown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Beardstown is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beardstown
- Medaryville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Monterey
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Monterey is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Lawton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Lawton is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawton
- Winamac
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Francesville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Saint Joseph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomaston, with the one closest to Thomaston listed first.
- Walkerton
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- North Liberty
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Crumstown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Crumstown is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumstown
- New Carlisle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lakeville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Zeigler
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Zeigler is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeigler
- Starke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomaston, with the one closest to Thomaston listed first.
- Toto
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Toto is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toto
- Hamlet
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- North Judson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Knox
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- San Pierre
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Aldine
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Aldine is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldine
- Grovertown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Grovertown is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grovertown
- Bass Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bass Lake is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bass Lake
- Ober
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ober is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ober
- Koontz Lake
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Koontz Lake is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koontz Lake
- Ora
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ora is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora
- Berrien County (MI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomaston, with the one closest to Thomaston listed first.
- Michiana
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Grand Beach
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Grand Beach is located in Berrien County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Beach
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- New Buffalo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Three Oaks
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Thomaston, see our County-by-County Page for Thomaston.
Cemeteries Near Thomaston ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Thomaston.
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 Thomaston - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Thomaston covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Thomaston, with the one closest to Thomaston listed first.
- Morgan Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- St. Martins Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hepner Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Clinton Chapel Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Tracy Lutheran Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Luther Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Highland Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Oak Park Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Adam Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (155 more) ...
- Hopewell Mennonite Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Graceland Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Eaheart Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Thomaston had railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Thomaston, with the one closest to Thomaston listed first.
- Hanna
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- South Wanatah
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- South Wanatah is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wanatah
- La Crosse
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Wanatah
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- English Lake
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- English Lake is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Lake
- Wilders
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wilders is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilders
- Haskell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Haskell is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haskell
- Wellsboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Wellsboro is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellsboro
- Union Mills
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Clanricarde
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Clanricarde is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clanricarde
- Toto
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Toto is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toto
- Alida
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Alida is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alida
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Tracy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tracy is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tracy
- Kouts
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- North Judson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Thomaston. See our List of 1890's Communities around Thomaston.
Newspapers Published in Thomaston ...
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 81 newspapers that have been published in the area around Thomaston.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Thomaston, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Thomaston.
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 either 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 Thomaston:
- Websites specific to Indiana
- Pages specific to LaPorte County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Fulton County
- Jasper County
- Lake County
- Marshall County
- Newton County
- Porter County
- Pulaski County
- Saint Joseph County
- Starke County
- Berrien County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Indiana
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 Thomaston, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Thomaston) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |