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 Fountain (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 Fountain. 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 and hospitals 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.
Fountain 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 Fountain. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Fountain:
- Fillmore County (The home county of Fountain)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fountain, with the one closest to Fountain listed first.
- Carimona
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Carimona is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carimona
- Preston
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Fillmore
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fillmore is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
- Wykoff
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Chatfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Lanesboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Whalan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Spring Valley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Harmony
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Etna
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Etna is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Peterson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- York
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- York is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Granger
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Granger is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- Houston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fountain, with the one closest to Fountain listed first.
- Yucatan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Yucatan is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yucatan
- Riceford
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Riceford is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceford
- Money Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Money Creek is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Money Creek
- Spring Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Houston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Willington Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Willington Grove is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willington Grove
- Mower County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fountain, with the one closest to Fountain listed first.
- Racine
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Grand Meadow
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Le Roy
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Taopi
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Taopi is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taopi
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Dexter
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Elkton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Elkton is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Olmsted County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fountain, with the one closest to Fountain listed first.
- Dover
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Predmore
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Predmore is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Predmore
- Eyota
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Simpson
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Simpson is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Stewartville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- High Forest
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- High Forest is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Forest
- Viola
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Viola is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Rochester
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rock Dell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rock Dell is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Dell
- Shanty Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Shanty Town is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanty Town
- Wabasha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fountain, with the one closest to Fountain listed first.
- Elgin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Plainview
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Winona County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fountain, with the one closest to Fountain listed first.
- Troy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Troy is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Saratoga
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Saratoga is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
- Clyde
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Clyde is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Saint Charles
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Utica
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Lewiston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Wyattville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Wyattville is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyattville
- Altura
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Elba
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Elba is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Stockton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Stockton is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 773 people
- Wilson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Wilson is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Beaver ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Beaver is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Rollingstone
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Howard County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fountain, with the one closest to Fountain listed first.
- Florenceville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Florenceville is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florenceville
- Forest City ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Forest City is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Chester
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lime Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Cresco
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Davis Corners
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Davis Corners is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Corners
- Vernon Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Vernon Springs is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon Springs
- Winneshiek County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fountain, with the one closest to Fountain listed first.
- Kendallville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Kendallville is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendallville
- Burr Oak
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Bluffton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bluffton is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluffton
- Hesper
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hesper is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesper
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Fountain, see our County-by-County Page for Fountain.
Cemeteries Near Fountain ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fountain.
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 Fountain - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Fountain covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Fountain, with the one closest to Fountain listed first.
- Fountain Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Root Prairie Lutheran Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Winslow Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Watson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Gale Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Carrolton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Carimona Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Crown Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- St. Columbanus Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<2> to the east of Preston.
- The Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery has also been known as:
- Southeast Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2548582 <3>
- Loughrey Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Mary Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (245 more) ...
- St. Marys Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Immanuel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- St. Kilians Catholic Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Fountain had a population of 248 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Fountain had a population of 398 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Fountain, with the one closest to Fountain listed first.
- Isinours
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Isinours is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isinours
- Carimona
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Carimona is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carimona
- Preston
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Wykoff
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fillmore
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fillmore is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
- Forestville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Forestville is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestville
- Chatfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Lanesboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Troy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Troy is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Whalan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Saratoga
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Saratoga is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
- Washington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Washington is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Greenleafton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Greenleafton is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenleafton
- Arendahl
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Arendahl is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arendahl
- Spring Valley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Fountain. See our List of 1890's Communities around Fountain.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Fountain ...
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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fountain.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Fountain. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Fountain and those printed in the larger area surrounding Fountain.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<2> of Fountain.
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 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 Fountain:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Fillmore County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Houston County
- Mower County
- Olmsted County
- Wabasha County
- Winona 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> | 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 from Point A (ie- Fountain) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Fountain, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |