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 Sheldon (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 Sheldon. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.
Sheldon is located in Houston 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 Houston County: Allamakee (IA), Winneshiek (IA), Fillmore, Winona, La Crosse (WI) & Vernon (WI).
Below are the counties that are near Sheldon. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sheldon:
- Houston County (The home county of Sheldon)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- Yucatan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Yucatan is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yucatan
- Houston
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Caledonia
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Willington Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Willington Grove is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willington Grove
- Spring Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Money Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Money Creek is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Money Creek
- Wilmington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Wilmington is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
- Riceford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Riceford is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceford
- Bee
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Bee is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee
- Hokah
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Eitzen
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Eitzen is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eitzen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 248 people
- Brownsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Brownsville is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 505 people
- Reno
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Reno is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
- Fillmore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- Bratsberg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bratsberg is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bratsberg
- South Rushford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- South Rushford is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Rushford
- Rushford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rushford Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rushford Village is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushford Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
- Mabel
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Newburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Newburg is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Peterson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Whalan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Canton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Lanesboro
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Harmony
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Preston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Fountain
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Winona County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- Nodine
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Nodine is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nodine
- Wilson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Wilson is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Dakota
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Dakota is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dakota
- Population from the 2020 Census: 307 people
- Wyattville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wyattville is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyattville
- Homer
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Homer is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer
- Lamoille
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Lamoille is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamoille
- Clyde
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Clyde is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Stockton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Stockton is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 773 people
- Winona
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Lewiston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Goodview
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Goodview is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,127 people
- Troy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Troy is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Utica
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Allamakee County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- Dorchester
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Quandahl
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Quandahl is located in Allamakee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quandahl
- New Albin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Lycurgus
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lycurgus is located in Allamakee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lycurgus
- Waukon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Waukon is located in Allamakee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waukon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,600 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Waukon <1>
- Lansing
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Howard County (IA)
- Florenceville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Florenceville is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florenceville
- Winneshiek County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- Hesper
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hesper is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesper
- Highlandville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Highlandville is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highlandville
- Burr Oak
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bluffton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bluffton is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluffton
- Decorah
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Kendallville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Kendallville is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendallville
- Buffalo County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- Bluff Siding
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bluff Siding is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Siding
- Marshland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Marshland is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshland
- Crawford County (WI)
- De Soto
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- De Soto is located in Crawford County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Soto
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- La Crosse County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- La Crosse
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- La Crosse is located in La Crosse County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Crosse
- Population from the 2020 Census: 51,163 people
- French Island
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- French Island is located in La Crosse County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for French Island
- North La Crosse
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- North La Crosse is located in La Crosse County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North La Crosse
- Grand Crossing
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Grand Crossing is located in La Crosse County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Crossing
- Shelby
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Shelby is located in La Crosse County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby
- Brice Prairie
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Brice Prairie is located in La Crosse County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brice Prairie
- Onalaska
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Onalaska is located in La Crosse County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onalaska
- Population from the 2020 Census: 19,108 people
- Midway
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Midway is located in La Crosse County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Holmen
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Holmen is located in La Crosse County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,368 people
- Barre Mills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Barre Mills is located in La Crosse County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barre Mills
- Saint Joseph
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Saint Joseph is located in La Crosse County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joseph
- West Salem
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- West Salem is located in La Crosse County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,013 people
- Trempealeau County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- Trempealeau
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Trempealeau is located in Trempealeau County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trempealeau
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,663 people
- Wrights Corners
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Wrights Corners is located in Trempealeau County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrights Corners
- Galesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Galesville is located in Trempealeau County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,602 people
- Vernon County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- Stoddard
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Stoddard is located in Vernon County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoddard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 831 people
- Genoa
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Genoa is located in Vernon County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Chaseburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Chaseburg is located in Vernon County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chaseburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Newton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Newton is located in Vernon County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Coon Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Coon Valley is located in Vernon County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coon Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 782 people
- Purdy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Purdy is located in Vernon County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purdy
- Retreat
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Retreat is located in Vernon County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Retreat
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sheldon, see our County-by-County Page for Sheldon.
Cemeteries Near Sheldon ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sheldon.
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 Sheldon - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sheldon covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- Old Sheldon Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Messeral Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Sheldon Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- First Yucatan Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Old Black Hammer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Yucatan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Black Hammer Lutheran Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Houston County Poor Farm Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- St. John's German Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Old Caledonia Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (276 more) ...
- Swede Bottom Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Swenson & Anderson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- First Swedish Baptist Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
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, Sheldon had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- Yucatan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Yucatan is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yucatan
- Black Hammer
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Black Hammer is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Hammer
- Caledonia
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Houston
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Willington Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Willington Grove is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willington Grove
- Spring Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Riceford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Riceford is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceford
- Wilmington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Wilmington is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
- Money Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Money Creek is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Money Creek
- Bratsberg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bratsberg is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bratsberg
- Choice
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Choice is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choice
- Newhouse
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Newhouse is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newhouse
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Bee
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Bee is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee
- Freeburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Freeburg is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeburg
- Rushford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sheldon. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sheldon.
Newspapers Published in Sheldon ...
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 121 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sheldon.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sheldon, 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 Sheldon.
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 Sheldon:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Houston County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Fillmore County
- Winona County
- Allamakee County
- Howard County
- Winneshiek County
- Buffalo County
- Crawford County
- La Crosse County
- Trempealeau County
- Vernon 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 Sheldon, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Sheldon) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |