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 Maple Island (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 Maple Island. 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.
Name Variations for Maple Island ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Maple Island: Maple Is. (in Canada, 'Isld.' is the more common abbreviation.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Maple Island. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Maple Island.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 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.
Maple Island is located in Freeborn 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 Freeborn County: Winnebago (IA), Worth (IA), Faribault, Mower, Steele & Waseca.
Below are the counties that are near Maple Island. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Maple Island:
- Freeborn County (The home county of Maple Island)
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Island, with the one closest to Maple Island listed first.
- Hollandale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Geneva
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oakland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Oakland is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Hayward
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Clarks Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Albert Lea
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bath
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Bath is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath
- Myrtle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Myrtle is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Glenville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Manchester
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Manchester is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manchester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Hartland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Hartland is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 307 people
- London
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- London is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for London
- Twin Lakes
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Twin Lakes is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Dodge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Island, with the one closest to Maple Island listed first.
- Westfield Center ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Westfield Center is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westfield Center
- Hayfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Claremont
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Dodge Center
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Kasson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mantorville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- West Concord
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Faribault County
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Island, with the one closest to Maple Island listed first.
- Walters
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Walters is located in Faribault County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walters
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Wells
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Mower County
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Island, with the one closest to Maple Island listed first.
- Lansing
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Lansing is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lansing
- Mapleview
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mapleview is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
- Austin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Brownsdale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Waltham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Varco
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Varco is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varco
- Sargeant
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Sargeant is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sargeant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
- Renova ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Renova is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renova
- Rose Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Lyle
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Dexter
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Elkton
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Elkton is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Adams
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Olmsted County
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Island, with the one closest to Maple Island listed first.
- Rock Dell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Dell is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Dell
- Shanty Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shanty Town is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanty Town
- Rice County
- Moland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Moland is located in Rice County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moland
- Steele County
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Island, with the one closest to Maple Island listed first.
- Union
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Union is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Blooming Prairie
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ellendale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- River Point
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- River Point is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Point
- Hope
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Hope is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hope
- Steele Center
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Steele Center is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steele Center
- Pratt
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Pratt is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
- Havana
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Havana is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havana
- Owatonna
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Rice Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Rice Lake is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice Lake
- Medford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Medford is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,255 people
- Waseca County
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Island, with the one closest to Maple Island listed first.
- New Richland
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Vista
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Vista is located in Waseca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vista
- Wilton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wilton is located in Waseca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
- Waseca
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Waldorf
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Waldorf is located in Waseca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldorf
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- Mitchell County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Island, with the one closest to Maple Island listed first.
- Carpenter
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Carpenter is located in Mitchell County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpenter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 108 people
- Toeterville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Ansgar
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Stacyville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Stacyville is located in Mitchell County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stacyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 466 people
- Winnebago County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Island, with the one closest to Maple Island listed first.
- Lake Mills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Scarville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Worth County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Island, with the one closest to Maple Island listed first.
- Silver Lake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Silver Lake is located in Worth County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
- Northwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Bolan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Bolan is located in Worth County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolan
- Kensett
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Kensett is located in Worth County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kensett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Bristol
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bristol is located in Worth County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Grafton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Maple Island, see our County-by-County Page for Maple Island.
Cemeteries Near Maple Island ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Maple Island.
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 Maple Island - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Maple Island covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Maple Island, with the one closest to Maple Island listed first.
- Hollandale Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Moscow Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Fairview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Old Red Oak Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Oakland Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hillside Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Clark Family Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Summit Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Fairview Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (224 more) ...
- Red Oak Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- East Freeborn Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Geneva Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
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.<3>
While we didn't find Maple Island in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Maple Island.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Maple Island, with the one closest to Maple Island listed first.
- Moscow
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Moscow is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Geneva
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oakland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Oakland is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Hayward
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Clarks Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Lansing
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Lansing is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lansing
- Blooming Prairie
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ramsey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Ramsey is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramsey
- Austin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Albert Lea
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- River Point
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- River Point is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Point
- Bath
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Bath is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Myrtle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Myrtle is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Bixby
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Bixby is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bixby
- Glenville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Maple Island. See our List of 1890's Communities around Maple Island.
Newspapers Published in Maple Island ...
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 141 newspapers that have been published in the area around Maple Island.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Maple Island, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Maple Island.
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 Maple Island:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Freeborn County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dodge County
- Faribault County
- Mower County
- Olmsted County
- Rice County
- Steele County
- Waseca County
- Mitchell County
- Winnebago County
- Worth 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> | 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. |
| <3> | 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 Maple Island, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Maple Island) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |