RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Minnesota >> Olmsted County >> Chester >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Chester (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 Chester. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Chester is located in Olmsted 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 Olmsted County: Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Mower, Wabasha & Winona.

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

  • Olmsted County     (The home county of Chester)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
    • Predmore
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Predmore is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Predmore
    • Eyota
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Eyota is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eyota
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,992 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Eyota <1>
    • Viola
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Viola is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
    • Simpson
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Simpson is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
    • Rochester
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Dover
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Potsdam
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Potsdam is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potsdam
    • Stewartville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Genoa
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Genoa is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
    • Oronoco
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Byron
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Byron is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byron
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,691 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Byron <1>
    • Shanty Town
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Shanty Town is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanty Town
    • High Forest
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • High Forest is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Forest
  • Dodge County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
    • Kasson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Mantorville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Dodge Center
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Concord
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Concord is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Hayfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • West Concord
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Fillmore County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
    • Chatfield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Fillmore
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Fillmore is located in Fillmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
    • Wykoff
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Fountain
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Spring Valley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Carimona
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Carimona is located in Fillmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carimona
    • Preston
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Etna
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Etna is located in Fillmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
    • Ostrander
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Lanesboro
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Whalan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Peterson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Rushford Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Rushford Village is located in Fillmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushford Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
  • Goodhue County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
    • Pine Island
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Roscoe
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Roscoe is located in Goodhue County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
    • Zumbrota
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Bellechester
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Bellechester is located in Goodhue County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellechester
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
    • Goodhue
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Wanamingo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Mower County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
    • Racine
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Grand Meadow
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Dexter
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Sargeant
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Sargeant is located in Mower County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sargeant
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
    • Renova ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Renova is located in Mower County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renova
    • Elkton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Elkton is located in Mower County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
    • Waltham
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Wabasha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
    • Elgin
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Elgin is located in Wabasha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,080 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elgin <1>
    • Plainview
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Hammond
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Hammond is located in Wabasha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
    • Jarrett
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Jarrett is located in Wabasha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
    • Millville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Zumbro Falls
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Mazeppa
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Weaver
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Weaver is located in Wabasha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaver
    • Kellogg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Minneiska
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Wabasha
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Reads Landing
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Winona County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
    • Saint Charles
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Saratoga
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Saratoga is located in Winona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
    • Troy
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Troy is located in Winona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
    • Elba
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Elba is located in Winona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
    • Clyde
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Clyde is located in Winona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
    • Utica
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Beaver ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Beaver is located in Winona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
    • Altura
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Lewiston
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Rollingstone
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Wyattville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Wyattville is located in Winona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyattville
    • Stockton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Stockton is located in Winona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 773 people
    • Minnesota City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Buffalo County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
    • Buffalo
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Buffalo is located in Buffalo County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
    • Buffalo City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Buffalo City is located in Buffalo County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 948 people
    • Cochrane
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Cochrane is located in Buffalo County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrane
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 409 people
    • Alma
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Alma is located in Buffalo County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 713 people

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

Cemeteries Near Chester ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Chester.

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

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

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

  • Chester Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Haverhill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Ben Baer Farm Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Walter McConnell Farm Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Randall Fork Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Marion Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Oak Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Holy Redeemer Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Grandview Memorial Gardens
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Rochester State Hospital Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Rosamount Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (215 more) ...
    • Calvary Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Calvary Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Rochester.
      • The Calvary Cemetery has also been known as:
      • St. Johns Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #82040 <2>
    • Oakwood Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Cline Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)

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 Chester had a population of 100 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Marion
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Marion is located in Olmsted County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
  • Eyota
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Eyota is located in Olmsted County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eyota
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,992 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Eyota <1>
  • Viola
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Viola is located in Olmsted County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
  • Simpson
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Simpson is located in Olmsted County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
  • Rochester
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Pleasant Grove
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Pleasant Grove is located in Olmsted County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
  • Elgin
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Elgin is located in Wabasha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,080 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elgin <1>
  • Dover
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Potsdam
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Potsdam is located in Olmsted County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potsdam
  • Stewartville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Chatfield
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Plainview
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Douglas
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Douglas is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas
    • South Troy
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • South Troy is located in Wabasha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Troy
    • Saint Charles
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Chester ...

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 175 newspapers that have been published in the area around Chester.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Chester, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Chester.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 Chester:

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