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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 Dunnell (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 Dunnell. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Dunnell is located in Martin 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 Martin County: Emmet (IA), Kossuth (IA), Blue Earth, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson & Watonwan.

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

  • Martin County     (The home county of Dunnell)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dunnell, with the one closest to Dunnell listed first.
    • Sherburn
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Ceylon
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Welcome
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Trimont
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Fairmont
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Ormsby
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Ormsby is located in Martin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ormsby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
    • Northrop
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Granada
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Truman
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Truman is located in Martin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,028 people
  • Cottonwood County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dunnell, with the one closest to Dunnell listed first.
    • Mountain Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Bingham Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Windom
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Windom is located in Cottonwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windom
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,403 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Windom <1>
  • Faribault County
    • Huntley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Huntley is located in Faribault County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntley
  • Jackson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dunnell, with the one closest to Dunnell listed first.
    • Alpha
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Alpha is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
    • Petersburg
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Petersburg is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
    • Jackson
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Lakefield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Sioux Valley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Sioux Valley is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sioux Valley
    • Wilder
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Wilder is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilder
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
    • Okabena
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Okabena is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okabena
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
  • Watonwan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dunnell, with the one closest to Dunnell listed first.
    • Odin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Odin is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
    • Butterfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Butterfield is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butterfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 582 people
    • Saint James
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Lewisville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Lewisville is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 244 people
  • Clay County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dunnell, with the one closest to Dunnell listed first.
    • Langdon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Langdon is located in Clay County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langdon
    • Fostoria
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Fostoria is located in Clay County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 219 people
  • Dickinson County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dunnell, with the one closest to Dunnell listed first.
    • Superior
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Superior is located in Dickinson County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Superior
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 124 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Superior <1>
    • Orleans
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Orleans is located in Dickinson County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 591 people
    • Spirit Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Terril
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Terril is located in Dickinson County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terril
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
    • Arnolds Park
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Okoboji
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Okoboji is located in Dickinson County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okoboji
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 803 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Okoboji <1>
    • Wahpeton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Wahpeton is located in Dickinson County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahpeton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
    • Milford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Milford is located in Dickinson County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,043 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Milford <1>
    • West Okoboji
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • West Okoboji is located in Dickinson County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Okoboji
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
    • Old Town
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Old Town is located in Dickinson County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
    • Lake Park
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Lake Park is located in Dickinson County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,132 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lake Park <1>
  • Emmet County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dunnell, with the one closest to Dunnell listed first.
    • Dolliver
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Estherville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Gruver
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Gruver is located in Emmet County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gruver
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
    • Wallingford
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Wallingford is located in Emmet County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
    • Armstrong
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Armstrong is located in Emmet County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 841 people
    • Hoprig
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Hoprig is located in Emmet County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoprig
    • Ringsted
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Kossuth County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dunnell, with the one closest to Dunnell listed first.
    • Seneca
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Seneca is located in Kossuth County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca
    • Swea City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Fenton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Fenton is located in Kossuth County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
  • Palo Alto County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dunnell, with the one closest to Dunnell listed first.
    • Graettinger
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Ruthven
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Ruthven is located in Palo Alto County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruthven
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 678 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ruthven <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Dunnell ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dunnell.

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

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

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

  • Lake Fremont Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Ellsworth Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Lone Cedar Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Lake Belt Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Sherburne City Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Petersburg Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • St. Lukes Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Union State Line Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Prosser Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Palestine Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Estherville Lutheran Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (121 more) ...
    • Norwegian Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Tenhassen Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Welcome Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Dunnell had a population of 12 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Dunnell had a population of 145 people.

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

  • Sherburn
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Petersburg
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Petersburg is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
  • Dolliver
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Estherville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Welcome
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Jackson
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Superior
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Superior is located in Dickinson County (IA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Superior
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 124 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Superior <1>
  • Maple Hill
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Maple Hill is located in Emmet County (IA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Hill
  • Wallingford
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Wallingford is located in Emmet County (IA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
  • Fairmont
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
  • Spirit Lake
    (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
  • Armstrong
    (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Armstrong is located in Emmet County (IA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 841 people
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Arnolds Park
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Hoprig
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Hoprig is located in Emmet County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoprig
    • Odin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Odin is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Dunnell ...

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 103 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dunnell.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Dunnell. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Dunnell and those printed in the larger area surrounding Dunnell.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Dunnell.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Dunnell:

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 Dunnell, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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 from Point A (ie- Dunnell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.