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 Spencer Brook (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 Spencer Brook. 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 Spencer Brook ...
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 Spencer Brook: Spencer Brk.
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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and 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.
Spencer Brook is located in Isanti 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 Isanti County: Anoka, Chisago, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Pine & Sherburne.
Below are the counties that are near Spencer Brook. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Spencer Brook:
- Isanti County (The home county of Spencer Brook)
- The following are listed by their distance from Spencer Brook, with the one closest to Spencer Brook listed first.
- Bradford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Bradford is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Crown
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Crown is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
- Isanti
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Dalbo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Cambridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Minnesota Boys Town
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Minnesota Boys Town is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnesota Boys Town
- Elm Park
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Elm Park is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Park
- Grandy
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Weber
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Weber is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber
- Stanchfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Braham
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Anoka County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spencer Brook, with the one closest to Spencer Brook listed first.
- Saint Francis
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Nowthen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Nowthen is located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nowthen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,732 people
- Bethel
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Coopers Corner
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Coopers Corner is located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coopers Corner
- Oak Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- East Bethel
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ramsey
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Andover
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Linwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Linwood is located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
- Ham Lake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Anoka
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- City of Columbus
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- City of Columbus is located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for City of Columbus
- Estimated population in 2015: 4,007 people
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spencer Brook, with the one closest to Spencer Brook listed first.
- Oak Park
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Park is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Park
- Ronneby
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Ronneby is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ronneby
- Foley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Duelm
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Duelm is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duelm
- Gilman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Chisago County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spencer Brook, with the one closest to Spencer Brook listed first.
- Harris
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Branch
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Branch is located in Chisago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branch
- North Branch
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Stacy
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Wyoming
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Rush City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Chisago City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Lindstrom
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Hennepin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spencer Brook, with the one closest to Spencer Brook listed first.
- Dayton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Champlin
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Rogers
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Osseo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Brooklyn Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Maple Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Corcoran
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Kanabec County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spencer Brook, with the one closest to Spencer Brook listed first.
- Coin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Coin is located in Kanabec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coin
- Ogilvie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Grasston
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Mora
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Quamba
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Quamba is located in Kanabec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quamba
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Mille Lacs County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spencer Brook, with the one closest to Spencer Brook listed first.
- Princeton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Estes Brook
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Estes Brook is located in Mille Lacs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estes Brook
- Pease
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pease is located in Mille Lacs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pease
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- Bock
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Foreston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Foreston is located in Mille Lacs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foreston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 527 people
- Milaca
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Pine County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spencer Brook, with the one closest to Spencer Brook listed first.
- Henriette
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Henriette is located in Pine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henriette
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Pine City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ramsey County
- Mounds View
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Sherburne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spencer Brook, with the one closest to Spencer Brook listed first.
- Zimmerman
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Zimmerman is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zimmerman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,135 people
- Zimmerman has also been known as:
- Lake Fremont
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Zimmerman <1>
- Elk River
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Orrock
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Orrock is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrock
- Santiago
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Santiago is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiago
- Big Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Salida
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Salida is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salida
- Becker
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Clear Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Cable
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Cable is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cable
- Washington County
- Forest Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wright County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spencer Brook, with the one closest to Spencer Brook listed first.
- Otsego
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Albertville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Monticello
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Michael
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hanover
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hasty
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Hasty is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hasty
- Silver Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Silver Creek is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Creek
- Clearwater
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Spencer Brook, see our County-by-County Page for Spencer Brook.
Cemeteries Near Spencer Brook ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Spencer Brook.
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 Spencer Brook - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Spencer Brook covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Spencer Brook, with the one closest to Spencer Brook listed first.
- Spencer Brook Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- King Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Clough Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Lakeside Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Old Wyanett Free Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Long Lake Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wyanett Free Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Baldwin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Berry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Kienitz Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Sandy Lake Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (198 more) ...
- Oak Knoll Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Stanford Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Strike Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Spencer Brook had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Spencer Brook, with the one closest to Spencer Brook listed first.
- Bradford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Bradford is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Crown
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Crown is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
- Princeton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Zimmerman
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Zimmerman is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zimmerman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,135 people
- Zimmerman has also been known as:
- Lake Fremont
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Zimmerman <1>
- Saint Francis
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Isanti
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Springvale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Springvale is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springvale
- Dalbo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Bethel
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cambridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Elk River
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Blomford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Blomford is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blomford
- Orrock
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Orrock is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrock
- Stanchfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Spencer Brook. See our List of 1890's Communities around Spencer Brook.
Newspapers Published in Spencer Brook ...
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 123 newspapers that have been published in the area around Spencer Brook.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Spencer Brook, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Spencer Brook.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Spencer Brook:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Isanti County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anoka County
- Benton County
- Chisago County
- Hennepin County
- Kanabec County
- Mille Lacs County
- Pine County
- Ramsey County
- Sherburne County
- Washington County
- Wright 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 Spencer Brook, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Spencer Brook) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |