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 Amherst (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 Amherst. 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 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.
Amherst is located in Fillmore County.
To see how the shape of Minnesota's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Fillmore County: Howard (IA), Winneshiek (IA), Houston, Mower, Olmsted & Winona.
Below are the counties that are near Amherst. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Amherst:
- Fillmore County (The home county of Amherst)
- The following are listed by their distance from Amherst, with the one closest to Amherst listed first.
- Newburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Newburg is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Canton
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Harmony
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Whalan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Lanesboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Mabel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bratsberg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bratsberg is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bratsberg
- Preston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Peterson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Carimona
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Carimona is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carimona
- Rushford Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Rushford Village is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushford Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
- South Rushford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- South Rushford is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Rushford
- Granger
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Granger is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- Houston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Amherst, with the one closest to Amherst listed first.
- Riceford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Riceford is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceford
- Yucatan
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Yucatan is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yucatan
- Spring Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Willington Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Willington Grove is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willington Grove
- Bee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bee is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee
- Wilmington
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Wilmington is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
- Caledonia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Houston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Money Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Money Creek is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Money Creek
- Eitzen
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Eitzen is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eitzen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 248 people
- Hokah
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Reno
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Reno is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
- Olmsted County
- Dover
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Winona County
- The following are listed by their distance from Amherst, with the one closest to Amherst listed first.
- Clyde
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Clyde is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Troy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Troy is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Saratoga
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Saratoga is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
- Wyattville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Wyattville is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyattville
- Lewiston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Utica
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Saint Charles
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Wilson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Wilson is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Stockton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Stockton is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 773 people
- Nodine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Nodine is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nodine
- Allamakee County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Amherst, with the one closest to Amherst listed first.
- Quandahl
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Quandahl is located in Allamakee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quandahl
- Dorchester
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lycurgus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lycurgus is located in Allamakee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lycurgus
- Howard County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Amherst, with the one closest to Amherst listed first.
- Florenceville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Florenceville is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florenceville
- Cresco
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Forest City ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Forest City is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Vernon Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Vernon Springs is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon Springs
- Lime Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Chester
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Davis Corners
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Davis Corners is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Corners
- Protivin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Winneshiek County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Amherst, with the one closest to Amherst listed first.
- Burr Oak
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Hesper
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hesper is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesper
- Kendallville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Kendallville is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendallville
- Bluffton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Bluffton is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluffton
- Highlandville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Highlandville is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highlandville
- Decorah
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Ridgeway
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Spillville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Calmar
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Amherst, see our County-by-County Page for Amherst.
Cemeteries Near Amherst ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Amherst.
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 Amherst - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Amherst covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Amherst, with the one closest to Amherst listed first.
- Henrytown Lutheran Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Henry Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lenora Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Wisel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Amish Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Newburg Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Highland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Calvary Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- North Sheie Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Choice Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- North Highland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Prosper Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (301 more) ...
- Holt Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Garness Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Big Spring Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
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 Amherst had a population of 76 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Amherst, with the one closest to Amherst listed first.
- Henrytown
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Henrytown is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrytown
- Lenora
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Lenora is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenora
- Newburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Newburg is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Canton
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Highland
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Highland is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Harmony
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Choice
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Choice is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choice
- Prosper
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Prosper is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prosper
- Whalan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Mabel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Riceford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Riceford is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceford
- Lanesboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Burr Oak
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Hesper
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hesper is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesper
- Bratsberg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bratsberg is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bratsberg
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Amherst. See our List of 1890's Communities around Amherst.
Newspapers Published in Amherst ...
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 110 newspapers that have been published in the area around Amherst.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Amherst, 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 Amherst.
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 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 Amherst:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Fillmore County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Houston County
- Olmsted County
- Winona County
- Allamakee County
- Howard County
- Winneshiek County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Minnesota
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 Amherst, 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- Amherst) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |