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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 Johnsdale (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 Johnsdale. 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 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.

Johnsdale is located in Mille Lacs 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 Mille Lacs County: Aitkin, Benton, Crow Wing, Isanti, Kanabec, Morrison & Sherburne.

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

  • Mille Lacs County     (The home county of Johnsdale)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Johnsdale, with the one closest to Johnsdale listed first.
    • Onamia
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Vineland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Vineland is located in Mille Lacs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineland
    • Wahkon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Isle
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Isle is located in Mille Lacs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 790 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Isle <1>
    • Foreston
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Foreston is located in Mille Lacs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foreston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 527 people
    • Milaca
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Milaca is located in Mille Lacs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milaca
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,899 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Milaca <1>
    • Bock
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Bock is located in Mille Lacs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bock
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 108 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bock <1>
    • Pease
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Pease is located in Mille Lacs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pease
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
    • Estes Brook
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Estes Brook is located in Mille Lacs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estes Brook
  • Aitkin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Johnsdale, with the one closest to Johnsdale listed first.
    • Nichols
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Nichols is located in Aitkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
    • Wealthwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Wealthwood is located in Aitkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wealthwood
    • Malmo
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Malmo is located in Aitkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malmo
    • McGrath
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Benton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Johnsdale, with the one closest to Johnsdale listed first.
    • Gilman
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Oak Park
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Oak Park is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Park
    • Ronneby
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Ronneby is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ronneby
    • Foley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Rice
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Rice is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,401 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rice <1>
  • Crow Wing County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Johnsdale, with the one closest to Johnsdale listed first.
    • Garrison
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Bay Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Bay Lake is located in Crow Wing County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay Lake
    • Fort Ripley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Brainerd
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Deerwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Kanabec County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Johnsdale, with the one closest to Johnsdale listed first.
    • Ogilvie
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Mora
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Mora is located in Kanabec County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mora
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,583 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mora <1>
    • Quamba
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Quamba is located in Kanabec County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quamba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
    • Coin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Coin is located in Kanabec County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coin
  • Morrison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Johnsdale, with the one closest to Johnsdale listed first.
    • Hillman
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Harding
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Harding is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harding
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
    • Lastrup
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Morrill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Morrill is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrill
    • Ramey
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Ramey is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramey
    • Pierz
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Pierz is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierz
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,364 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pierz <1>
    • Genola
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Genola is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 66 people
    • Buckman
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Buckman is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
    • Belle Prairie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Belle Prairie is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie
    • Royalton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Little Falls
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Johnsdale ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Johnsdale.

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

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

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

  • St. Rita Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Holy Cross Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Holy Cross Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Crosier Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Lakeview Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Pine Tree Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Holy Family Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Foster Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Lakewood Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • St. John Nepomucene Catholic Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (95 more) ...

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

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

  • Vineland
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Vineland is located in Mille Lacs County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineland
  • Morrill
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Morrill is located in Morrison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrill
  • Buckman
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Buckman is located in Morrison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckman
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
  • Garrison
    (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
  • Foreston
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Foreston is located in Mille Lacs County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foreston
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 527 people
  • Milaca
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Milaca is located in Mille Lacs County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milaca
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,899 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Milaca <1>
  • Opstead
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Opstead is located in Mille Lacs County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Opstead
  • Nichols
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Nichols is located in Aitkin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
  • Gilman
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
  • Oak Park
    (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Oak Park is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Park
  • Malmo
    (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Malmo is located in Aitkin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malmo
  • Saint Mathias
    (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint Mathias is located in Crow Wing County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Mathias
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Foley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Estes Brook
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Estes Brook is located in Mille Lacs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estes Brook
    • Mora
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Mora is located in Kanabec County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mora
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,583 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mora <1>

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

Newspapers Published in Johnsdale ...

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 65 newspapers that have been published in the area around Johnsdale.

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

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Johnsdale:

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 Johnsdale, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Johnsdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.