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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 Wooster (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 Wooster. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.

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 south 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.

Wooster is located in Kosciusko 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 Kosciusko County: Elkhart, Fulton, Marshall, Noble, Wabash & Whitley.

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

  • Kosciusko County     (The home county of Wooster)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wooster, with the one closest to Wooster listed first.
    • Pierceton
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Winona Lake
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Arrowhead Park
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Arrowhead Park is located in Kosciusko County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrowhead Park
    • Sidney
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Sidney is located in Kosciusko County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sidney
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
    • North Webster
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Claypool
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Leesburg
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Clunette
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Clunette is located in Kosciusko County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clunette
    • Silver Lake
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Atwood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Atwood is located in Kosciusko County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atwood
    • Burket
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Burket is located in Kosciusko County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burket
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
    • Milford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Milford is located in Kosciusko County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,551 people
  • Allen County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wooster, with the one closest to Wooster listed first.
    • Arcola
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Ari
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Ari is located in Allen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ari
    • Dunn Mill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Dunn Mill is located in Allen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn Mill
    • Aboite
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Aboite is located in Allen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aboite
    • Huntertown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Wallen
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Wallen is located in Allen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallen
  • Elkhart County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wooster, with the one closest to Wooster listed first.
    • Gravelton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Gravelton is located in Elkhart County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravelton
    • Benton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Benton is located in Elkhart County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
    • New Paris
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Nappanee
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Bainter Town
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Bainter Town is located in Elkhart County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainter Town
    • Millersburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Foraker
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Foraker is located in Elkhart County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foraker
    • Southwest
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Southwest is located in Elkhart County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southwest
    • Goshen
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Wakarusa
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wooster, with the one closest to Wooster listed first.
    • Disko
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Disko is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Disko
    • Akron
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Athens
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Athens is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
    • Rochester
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
  • Huntington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wooster, with the one closest to Wooster listed first.
    • Bippus
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Bippus is located in Huntington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bippus
    • Goblesville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Goblesville is located in Huntington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goblesville
    • Andrews
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Huntington
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Roanoke
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Bowerstown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Bowerstown is located in Huntington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowerstown
    • Harlansburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Harlansburg is located in Huntington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlansburg
  • LaGrange County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wooster, with the one closest to Wooster listed first.
    • Topeka
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Wolcottville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Marshall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wooster, with the one closest to Wooster listed first.
    • Old Tip Town
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Old Tip Town is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Tip Town
    • Tippecanoe
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Bourbon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Bremen
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Argos
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Argos is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argos
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,619 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Argos <1>
    • Plymouth
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Miami County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wooster, with the one closest to Wooster listed first.
    • Gilead
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Gilead is located in Miami County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
    • Pettysville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Pettysville is located in Miami County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pettysville
    • Macy
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Deedsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Deedsville is located in Miami County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deedsville
    • Denver
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Noble County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wooster, with the one closest to Wooster listed first.
    • Wilmot
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Wilmot is located in Noble County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
    • Indian Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Indian Village is located in Noble County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
    • Cromwell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Wolf Lake
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Wolf Lake is located in Noble County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Lake
    • Merriam
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Merriam is located in Noble County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merriam
    • Kimmell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Port Mitchell
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Port Mitchell is located in Noble County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Mitchell
    • Ligonier
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Green Center
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Green Center is located in Noble County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Center
    • Albion
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Wawaka
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Cosperville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Cosperville is located in Noble County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cosperville
  • Wabash County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wooster, with the one closest to Wooster listed first.
    • Liberty Mills
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Liberty Mills is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Mills
    • North Manchester
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Laketon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Servia
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Servia is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Servia
    • Urbana
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Roann
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Stockdale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Stockdale is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockdale
    • Lagro
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Wabash
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Richvalley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Richvalley is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richvalley
  • Whitley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wooster, with the one closest to Wooster listed first.
    • Larwill
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Larwill is located in Whitley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larwill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 288 people
    • Lorane
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Lorane is located in Whitley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorane
    • Etna
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Etna is located in Whitley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
    • Collamer
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Collamer is located in Whitley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collamer
    • South Whitley
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Ormas
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Ormas is located in Whitley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ormas
    • Columbia City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Cresco
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Cresco is located in Whitley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cresco
    • Tri-Lakes
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Tri-Lakes is located in Whitley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tri-Lakes
    • Luther
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Luther is located in Whitley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luther
    • Collins
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Collins is located in Whitley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
    • Churubusco
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Wooster ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wooster.

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 Wooster - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • St. Francis Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Hillcrest Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Groves Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Oakwood Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Circle Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Lakeview Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Troy Presbyterian Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Pleasant Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Clemmers - Fishers Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Etna Baptist Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Mock Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Nye Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (238 more) ...
    • Richland Center Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Adams Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Salem Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Salem Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Wilmot.
      • The Salem Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Salem Community Church Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1949393 <2>

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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Wooster had a population of 72 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Pierceton
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Larwill
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Larwill is located in Whitley County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larwill
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 288 people
  • Packerton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Packerton is located in Kosciusko County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Packerton
  • Sidney
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Sidney is located in Kosciusko County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sidney
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
  • Oswego
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Oswego is located in Kosciusko County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswego
  • Kinsey
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Kinsey is located in Kosciusko County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinsey
  • Wilmot
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Wilmot is located in Noble County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
  • North Webster
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Claypool
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Lorane
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Lorane is located in Whitley County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorane
  • Palestine
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Palestine is located in Kosciusko County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palestine
  • Collamer
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Collamer is located in Whitley County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collamer
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • South Whitley
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Leesburg
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Ormas
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Ormas is located in Whitley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ormas

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

Newspapers Published in Wooster ...

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 42 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wooster.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wooster, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wooster.

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 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 Wooster:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Wooster) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Wooster, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.