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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 Echols (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 Echols. 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 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 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.

Echols is located in Watonwan 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 Watonwan County: Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Jackson & Martin.

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

  • Watonwan County     (The home county of Echols)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Echols, with the one closest to Echols listed first.
    • Saint James
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Odin
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Odin is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
    • Butterfield
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Butterfield is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butterfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 582 people
    • Grogan
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Grogan is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grogan
    • Lewisville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Lewisville is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 244 people
    • La Salle
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • La Salle is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Salle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
    • Godahl
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Godahl is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godahl
    • Darfur
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Darfur is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darfur
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
    • Madelia
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Blue Earth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Echols, with the one closest to Echols listed first.
    • Willow Creek
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Willow Creek is located in Blue Earth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
    • Amboy
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Amboy is located in Blue Earth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amboy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 505 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Amboy <1>
    • Vernon Center
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Vernon Center is located in Blue Earth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon Center
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 313 people
    • Lake Crystal
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Garden City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Garden City is located in Blue Earth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
    • Good Thunder
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Judson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Judson is located in Blue Earth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
  • Brown County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Echols, with the one closest to Echols listed first.
    • Hanska
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Comfrey
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Iberia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Iberia is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iberia
    • Leavenworth
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Leavenworth is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leavenworth
    • Searles
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Searles is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searles
    • Sleepy Eye
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Cobden
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Cobden is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35 people
    • Springfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Essig
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • New Ulm
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Evan
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Evan is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
  • Cottonwood County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Echols, with the one closest to Echols listed first.
    • Mountain Lake
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Bingham Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Windom
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • 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>
    • Jeffers
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Jeffers is located in Cottonwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffers
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
  • Faribault County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Echols, with the one closest to Echols listed first.
    • Huntley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Huntley is located in Faribault County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntley
    • Winnebago
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Jackson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Echols, with the one closest to Echols listed first.
    • Alpha
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Alpha is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
    • Jackson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Wilder
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Wilder is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilder
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
    • Lakefield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Petersburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Petersburg is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
  • Martin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Echols, with the one closest to Echols listed first.
    • Ormsby
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Ormsby is located in Martin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ormsby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
    • Trimont
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Truman
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Truman is located in Martin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,028 people
    • Northrop
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Sherburn
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Welcome
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Fairmont
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Granada
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Dunnell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Dunnell is located in Martin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
    • Ceylon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Nicollet County
    • Courtland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Redwood County
    • Sanborn
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Echols ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Echols.

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

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

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

  • Kansas Lake Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Long Lake Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Mt. Hope Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Sell - Lamb Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Zion Lutheran Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Butterfield Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • St. Olaf Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Mennonite Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Waverly Lutheran Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • East Sveadahl Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • First Mennonite Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Cedar Lake Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (154 more) ...
    • Rosendale Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Haseman Post Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Cedar Lutheran Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)

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 Echols in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Echols.

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

  • Saint James
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Odin
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Odin is located in Watonwan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
  • South Branch
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • South Branch is located in Watonwan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Branch
  • Butterfield
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Butterfield is located in Watonwan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butterfield
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 582 people
  • Grogan
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Grogan is located in Watonwan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grogan
  • Mountain Lake
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Madelia
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Hanska
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Comfrey
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Sherburn
    (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
  • Welcome
    (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
  • Bingham Lake
    (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Nashville Center
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Nashville Center is located in Martin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nashville Center
    • Willow Creek
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Willow Creek is located in Blue Earth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
    • Leavenworth
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Leavenworth is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leavenworth

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

Newspapers Published in Echols ...

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 118 newspapers that have been published in the area around Echols.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Echols, 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 Echols.

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 helpful 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 Echols:

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 Echols, 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- Echols) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.