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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 Elkader (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 Elkader. 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.

Elkader is located in Logan 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 Logan County: Gove, Scott, Sherman, Thomas, Wallace & Wichita.

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

  • Logan County     (The home county of Elkader)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elkader, with the one closest to Elkader listed first.
    • Russell Springs
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Russell Springs have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell Springs
      • Russell Springs is located in Logan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24 people
    • Monument
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Oakley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Page City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Winona
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Winona have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winona
      • Winona is located in Logan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 155 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Winona <2>
  • Gove County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elkader, with the one closest to Elkader listed first.
    • Gove City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Grinnell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Grainfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Lane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elkader, with the one closest to Elkader listed first.
    • Healy
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Healy have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healy
      • Healy is located in Lane County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Healy <2>
    • Amy ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Amy have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amy
      • Amy is located in Lane County
      • Former name for Amy:
      • Ellen
    • Shields
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shields have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
      • Shields is located in Lane County
    • Dighton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elkader, with the one closest to Elkader listed first.
    • Pence
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Manning
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Manning. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manning
      • Manning is located in Scott County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Manning
      • From Elkader to Manning
    • Scott City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Scott City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott City
      • Scott City is located in Scott County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,736 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Scott City <2>
    • Modoc
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
  • Thomas County
    • Spica
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Spica. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spica
      • Spica is located in Thomas County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Spica
      • From Elkader to Spica
  • Wichita County
    • Marienthal
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Marienthal have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marienthal
      • Marienthal is located in Wichita County

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

Cemeteries Near Elkader ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Elkader.

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 Elkader covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • Keystone Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Keystone Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Keystone Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Pyramid View Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pyramid View Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pyramid View Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • White Womans Grave
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the White Womans Grave
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the White Womans Grave have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Scott Mennonite Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Swedish Lutheran Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Swedish Lutheran Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Swedish Lutheran Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Pence Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Gaeland Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Zion Norwegian Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Zion Norwegian Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Zion Norwegian Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Russell Springs Cemetery
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Russell Springs Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Russell Springs Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Gove Cemetery
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Gove Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Gove Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Modoc Cemetery
    (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Modoc Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Modoc Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Scott County Cemetery
    (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Scott County Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Scott County Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Monument Cemetery
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Monument Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Monument Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Oakley Cemetery
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Oakley Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Oakley Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • St. Joseph Cemetery
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Joseph Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Joseph Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Elkader had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Pence
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Manning
    (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Manning. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manning
    • Manning is located in Scott County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Manning
    • From Elkader to Manning
  • Healy
    (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Healy have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healy
    • Healy is located in Lane County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Healy <2>
  • Russell Springs
    (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Russell Springs have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell Springs
    • Russell Springs is located in Logan County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 24 people
  • Scott City
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Scott City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott City
    • Scott City is located in Scott County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,736 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Scott City <2>
  • Monument
    (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
  • Gove City
    (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
  • Oakley
    (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
  • Modoc
    (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (6 more) ...
    • Shields
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shields have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
      • Shields is located in Lane County
    • Grinnell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Page City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Winona
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Winona have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winona
      • Winona is located in Logan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 155 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Winona <2>
    • Spica
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Spica. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spica
      • Spica is located in Thomas County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Spica
      • From Elkader to Spica

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

Newspapers Published in Elkader ...

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 Elkader.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Elkader, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Elkader.

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 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 Elkader:

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

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

Footnotes ...

<1>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.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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.
<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 Elkader, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Elkader) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Elkader. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 38.7935, Longitude: -100.8598       In this case, the coordinates for Elkader have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025