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 Big Spring (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 Big Spring. 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.
Name Variations for Big Spring ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Big Spring: Big Spg. (or less commonly used: Big Spng. or Big Sprng.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Big Spring. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Big Spring.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 and doctors 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.
Big Spring 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 Big Spring. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Big Spring:
- Fillmore County (The home county of Big Spring)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Spring, with the one closest to Big Spring listed first.
- Harmony
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Canton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Granger
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Granger is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- Preston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Carimona
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Carimona is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carimona
- Newburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Newburg is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Lanesboro
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- York
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- York is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Fountain
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Whalan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Mabel
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Etna
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Etna is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Houston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Spring, with the one closest to Big Spring listed first.
- Riceford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Riceford is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceford
- Yucatan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Yucatan is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yucatan
- Spring Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Willington Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Willington Grove is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willington Grove
- Bee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bee is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee
- Wilmington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Wilmington is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
- Houston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Caledonia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Money Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Money Creek is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Money Creek
- Eitzen
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Eitzen is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eitzen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 248 people
- Mower County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Spring, with the one closest to Big Spring listed first.
- Le Roy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Racine
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Grand Meadow
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Taopi
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Taopi is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taopi
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Olmsted County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Spring, with the one closest to Big Spring listed first.
- Dover
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Predmore
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Predmore is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Predmore
- Stewartville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Eyota
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Simpson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Simpson is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Winona County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Spring, with the one closest to Big Spring listed first.
- Troy
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Troy is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Clyde
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Clyde is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Saratoga
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Saratoga is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
- Saint Charles
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Utica
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Wyattville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wyattville is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyattville
- Lewiston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Allamakee County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Spring, with the one closest to Big Spring listed first.
- Quandahl
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Quandahl is located in Allamakee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quandahl
- Dorchester
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Chickasaw County (IA)
- Jerico
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Jerico is located in Chickasaw County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerico
- Howard County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Spring, with the one closest to Big Spring listed first.
- Florenceville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Florenceville is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florenceville
- Forest City ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Forest City is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Cresco
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Lime Springs
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Vernon Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Vernon Springs is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon Springs
- Chester
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Davis Corners
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Davis Corners is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Corners
- Protivin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Riceville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Elma
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mitchell County (IA)
- McIntire
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- McIntire is located in Mitchell County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntire
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Winneshiek County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Spring, with the one closest to Big Spring listed first.
- Kendallville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Kendallville is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendallville
- Burr Oak
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bluffton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bluffton is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluffton
- Hesper
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Hesper is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesper
- Ridgeway
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Highlandville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Highlandville is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highlandville
- Decorah
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Spillville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Calmar
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Fort Atkinson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Big Spring, see our County-by-County Page for Big Spring.
Cemeteries Near Big Spring ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Big Spring.
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 Big Spring - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Big Spring covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Big Spring, with the one closest to Big Spring listed first.
- Big Spring Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Rice Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Greenfield Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Old Big Spring Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hutton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Bristol Center Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- State Line Methodist Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Amish Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Waukokee Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Richland Prairie Presbyterian Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- St. Mathews Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (287 more) ...
- St. Kierans Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Henry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Fremont Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Big Spring in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Big Spring.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Big Spring, with the one closest to Big Spring listed first.
- Harmony
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Bristol
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bristol is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Granger
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Granger is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- Florenceville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Florenceville is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florenceville
- Canton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Henrytown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Henrytown is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrytown
- Preston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Greenleafton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Greenleafton is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenleafton
- Kendallville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Kendallville is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendallville
- Lenora
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Lenora is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenora
- Amherst
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Amherst is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst
- Carimona
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Carimona is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carimona
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Isinours
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Isinours is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isinours
- Forestville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Forestville is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestville
- Prosper
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Prosper is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prosper
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Big Spring. See our List of 1890's Communities around Big Spring.
Newspapers Published in Big Spring ...
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 116 newspapers that have been published in the area around Big Spring.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Big Spring, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Big Spring.
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 Big Spring:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Fillmore County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Houston County
- Mower County
- Olmsted County
- Winona County
- Allamakee County
- Chickasaw County
- Howard County
- Mitchell 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> | 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 Big Spring, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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 from Point A (ie- Big Spring) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |