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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 Wegdahl (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 Wegdahl. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Wegdahl is located in Chippewa 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 Chippewa County: Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Renville, Swift & Yellow Medicine.

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

  • Chippewa County     (The home county of Wegdahl)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wegdahl, with the one closest to Wegdahl listed first.
    • Montevideo
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Maynard
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Watson
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Clara City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Big Bend City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Big Bend City is located in Chippewa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Bend City
    • Milan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Kandiyohi County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wegdahl, with the one closest to Wegdahl listed first.
    • Raymond
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Prinsburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Prinsburg is located in Kandiyohi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prinsburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 497 people
    • Roseland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Roseland is located in Kandiyohi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseland
    • Pennock
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Pennock is located in Kandiyohi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennock
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 509 people
    • Blomkest
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Blomkest is located in Kandiyohi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blomkest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
  • Lac qui Parle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wegdahl, with the one closest to Wegdahl listed first.
    • Boyd
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Boyd is located in Lac qui Parle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyd
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Boyd <1>
    • Dawson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Dawson is located in Lac qui Parle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,378 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dawson <1>
    • Providence
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Providence is located in Lac qui Parle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
    • Madison
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Madison is located in Lac qui Parle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,376 people
  • Lyon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wegdahl, with the one closest to Wegdahl listed first.
    • Cottonwood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Ghent
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Minneota
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Taunton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Redwood County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wegdahl, with the one closest to Wegdahl listed first.
    • Belview
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Belview is located in Redwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
    • Vesta
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Vesta is located in Redwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vesta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 295 people
    • Delhi
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Delhi is located in Redwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 63 people
  • Renville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wegdahl, with the one closest to Wegdahl listed first.
    • Sacred Heart
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Renville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Danube
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Swift County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wegdahl, with the one closest to Wegdahl listed first.
    • De Graff
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • De Graff is located in Swift County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Graff
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
    • Kerkhoven
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Murdock
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Murdock is located in Swift County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murdock
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
    • Danvers
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Danvers is located in Swift County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danvers
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
    • Holloway
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Holloway is located in Swift County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holloway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 85 people
    • Appleton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Benson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Yellow Medicine County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wegdahl, with the one closest to Wegdahl listed first.
    • Granite Falls
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Hazel Run
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Hazel Run is located in Yellow Medicine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazel Run
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
    • Clarkfield
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Hanley Falls
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Hanley Falls is located in Yellow Medicine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanley Falls
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
    • Wood Lake
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Wood Lake is located in Yellow Medicine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 395 people
    • Echo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Echo is located in Yellow Medicine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Echo <1>
    • Saint Leo
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Saint Leo is located in Yellow Medicine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Leo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 90 people
    • Porter
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Porter is located in Yellow Medicine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people

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

Cemeteries Near Wegdahl ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wegdahl.

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

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

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

  • Strombeck Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Swensson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Saron Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Black Oak Lake Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Palmer Creek Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Bergen Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Camp Release Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Stony Run Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Dueland Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Joseph Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • St. John's Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • St. Pauls Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (153 more) ...
    • Leenthrop Memorial Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Sunset Memorial Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Terrace Lawn Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Wegdahl had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Montevideo
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Granite Falls
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Maynard
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Clarkfield
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Hazel Run
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Hazel Run is located in Yellow Medicine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazel Run
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
  • Watson
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Boyd
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Boyd is located in Lac qui Parle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyd
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Boyd <1>
  • Hanley Falls
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Hanley Falls is located in Yellow Medicine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanley Falls
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
  • Clara City
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
  • Lac qui Parle
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Lac qui Parle is located in Lac qui Parle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lac qui Parle
  • Sacred Heart
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Louriston
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Louriston is located in Chippewa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louriston
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Wood Lake
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Wood Lake is located in Yellow Medicine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 395 people
    • Hagan
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Hagan is located in Chippewa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagan
    • Cottonwood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Wegdahl ...

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 101 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wegdahl.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wegdahl, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wegdahl.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Wegdahl:

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>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- Wegdahl) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Wegdahl, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.