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 Welcome (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 Welcome. 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 doctors 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.
Welcome is located in Martin 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 Martin County: Emmet (IA), Kossuth (IA), Blue Earth, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson & Watonwan.
Below are the counties that are near Welcome. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Welcome:
- Martin County (The home county of Welcome)
- The following are listed by their distance from Welcome, with the one closest to Welcome listed first.
- Sherburn
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fairmont
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Trimont
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Northrop
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ceylon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Dunnell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dunnell is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Granada
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Ormsby
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Ormsby is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ormsby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
- Truman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Truman is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,028 people
- Blue Earth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Welcome, with the one closest to Welcome listed first.
- Willow Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Willow Creek is located in Blue Earth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
- Amboy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Vernon Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Vernon Center is located in Blue Earth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 313 people
- Cottonwood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Welcome, with the one closest to Welcome listed first.
- Mountain Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bingham Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Windom
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Faribault County
- The following are listed by their distance from Welcome, with the one closest to Welcome listed first.
- Huntley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Huntley is located in Faribault County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntley
- Winnebago
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Blue Earth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Blue Earth is located in Faribault County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Earth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,098 people
- Former name for Blue Earth:
- Blue Earth City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Blue Earth <1>
- Elmore
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Elmore is located in Faribault County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 613 people
- Delavan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Delavan is located in Faribault County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delavan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 166 people
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Welcome, with the one closest to Welcome listed first.
- Alpha
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Alpha is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Petersburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Petersburg is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
- Jackson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Lakefield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Watonwan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Welcome, with the one closest to Welcome listed first.
- Odin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Odin is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Lewisville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lewisville is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 244 people
- Saint James
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Butterfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Butterfield is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butterfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 582 people
- Grogan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Grogan is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grogan
- Madelia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- La Salle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- La Salle is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Salle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
- Darfur
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Darfur is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darfur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
- Godahl
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Godahl is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godahl
- Dickinson County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Welcome, with the one closest to Welcome listed first.
- Superior
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Orleans
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Orleans is located in Dickinson County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
- Population from the 2020 Census: 591 people
- Spirit Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Terril
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Terril is located in Dickinson County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terril
- Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
- Emmet County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Welcome, with the one closest to Welcome listed first.
- Dolliver
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Armstrong
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Armstrong is located in Emmet County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
- Population from the 2020 Census: 841 people
- Gruver
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Gruver is located in Emmet County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gruver
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Estherville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Wallingford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Wallingford is located in Emmet County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
- Ringsted
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Hoprig
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Hoprig is located in Emmet County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoprig
- Kossuth County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Welcome, with the one closest to Welcome listed first.
- Swea City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Seneca
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Seneca is located in Kossuth County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca
- Gerled
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Gerled is located in Kossuth County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gerled
- Ledyard
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Palo Alto County (IA)
- Graettinger
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Welcome, see our County-by-County Page for Welcome.
Cemeteries Near Welcome ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Welcome.
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 Welcome - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Welcome covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Welcome, with the one closest to Welcome listed first.
- Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- St. Paul's Evangelical Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Welcome Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Emmanuel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Zion Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- St. Lukes Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Sherburne City Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Lone Cedar Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Half Moon Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lakeside Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Fairview Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Immanuel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (149 more) ...
- North Star Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Calvary Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Elm Creek 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Welcome had a population of 140 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Welcome had a population of 645 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Welcome, with the one closest to Welcome listed first.
- Sherburn
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fairmont
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Dunnell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dunnell is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Dolliver
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Odin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Odin is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- South Branch
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- South Branch is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Branch
- Petersburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Petersburg is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
- Maple Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Maple Hill is located in Emmet County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Hill
- Nashville Center
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Nashville Center is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nashville Center
- Armstrong
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Armstrong is located in Emmet County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
- Population from the 2020 Census: 841 people
- Huntley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Huntley is located in Faribault County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntley
- Jackson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Swea ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Swea is located in Kossuth County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swea
- Estherville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pilot Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pilot Grove is located in Faribault County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Grove
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Welcome. See our List of 1890's Communities around Welcome.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Welcome ...
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 131 newspapers that have been published in the area around Welcome.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Welcome. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Welcome and those printed in the larger area surrounding Welcome.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Welcome.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Welcome:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Martin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blue Earth County
- Cottonwood County
- Faribault County
- Jackson County
- Watonwan County
- Dickinson County
- Emmet County
- Kossuth County
- Palo Alto 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 Welcome, 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- Welcome) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |