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 Hamilton (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 Hamilton. 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 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 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.
Hamilton 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 Hamilton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Hamilton:
- Fillmore County (The home county of Hamilton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hamilton, with the one closest to Hamilton listed first.
- Spring Valley
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Fillmore
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Fillmore is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
- Wykoff
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Ostrander
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Etna
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Etna is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Chatfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fountain
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Carimona
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Carimona is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carimona
- York
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- York is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Preston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Lanesboro
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Granger
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Granger is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- Harmony
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Dodge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hamilton, with the one closest to Hamilton listed first.
- Hayfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Kasson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mantorville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dodge Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Westfield Center ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Westfield Center is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westfield Center
- Mower County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hamilton, with the one closest to Hamilton listed first.
- Racine
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Grand Meadow
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dexter
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Elkton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Elkton is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Renova ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Renova is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renova
- Le Roy
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Taopi
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Taopi is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taopi
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Sargeant
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Sargeant is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sargeant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
- Adams
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Rose Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Brownsdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Waltham
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Johnsburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Johnsburg is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsburg
- Olmsted County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hamilton, with the one closest to Hamilton listed first.
- Stewartville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- High Forest
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- High Forest is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Forest
- Simpson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Simpson is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Predmore
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Predmore is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Predmore
- Rock Dell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rock Dell is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Dell
- Rochester
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Shanty Town
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Shanty Town is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanty Town
- Eyota
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Dover
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Byron
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Viola
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Viola is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Post Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Post Town is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Post Town
- Genoa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Genoa is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
- Wabasha County
- Elgin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Winona County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hamilton, with the one closest to Hamilton listed first.
- Saratoga
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Saratoga is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
- Troy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Troy is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Saint Charles
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Clyde
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Clyde is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Utica
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Elba
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Elba is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Howard County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hamilton, with the one closest to Hamilton listed first.
- Chester
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Forest City ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Forest City is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Lime Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Florenceville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Florenceville is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florenceville
- Riceville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Davis Corners
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Davis Corners is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Corners
- Mitchell County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hamilton, with the one closest to Hamilton listed first.
- McIntire
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- McIntire is located in Mitchell County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntire
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Meyer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Meyer is located in Mitchell County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
- Stacyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Stacyville is located in Mitchell County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stacyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 466 people
- Little Cedar
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Little Cedar is located in Mitchell County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Cedar
- Winneshiek County (IA)
- Kendallville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kendallville is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendallville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Hamilton, see our County-by-County Page for Hamilton.
Cemeteries Near Hamilton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hamilton.
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 Hamilton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Hamilton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Hamilton, with the one closest to Hamilton listed first.
- Hamilton Congregational Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Millet Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Racine Salem Evangelical Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Salem Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Frankford Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Sevar Temanson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Norwegian Methodist Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Bear Creek Luthern Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Washington Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Spring Valley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sumner Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (210 more) ...
- St. Johns Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Johns Cemetery
- The St. Johns Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. John's Evangelistic Cemetery
- St. Finbarrs Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Grand Meadow Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Hamilton had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Hamilton, with the one closest to Hamilton listed first.
- Racine
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Valley
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Washington
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Washington is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington
- Stewartville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Grand Meadow
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- High Forest
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- High Forest is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Forest
- Pleasant Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Grove is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
- Wykoff
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Fillmore
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Fillmore is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
- Ostrander
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Simpson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Simpson is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Dexter
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Etna
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Etna is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Marion
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Marion is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
- Elkton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Elkton is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Hamilton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Hamilton.
Newspapers Published in Hamilton ...
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 115 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hamilton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hamilton, 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 Hamilton.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Hamilton:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Fillmore County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dodge County
- Mower County
- Olmsted County
- Wabasha County
- Winona 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 Hamilton, 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- Hamilton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |