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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Graf. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Graf to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Graf, please Contact Us.

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 Graf (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 Graf. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Graf is historic, it would have been located within present day Johnson County.

To see how the shape of Nebraska's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Johnson County: Gage, Lancaster, Nemaha, Otoe & Pawnee.

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

  • Johnson County     (The home county of Graf)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Graf, with the one closest to Graf listed first.
    • Tecumseh
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Cook
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cook have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook
      • Cook is located in Johnson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cook <2>
    • Elk Creek
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Saint Mary
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Vesta
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Sterling
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Crab Orchard
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Crab Orchard have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crab Orchard
      • Crab Orchard is located in Johnson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 36 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Crab Orchard <2>
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Graf, with the one closest to Graf listed first.
    • Avoca
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Avoca have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
      • Avoca is located in Cass County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 253 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Avoca <2>
    • Nehawka
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Union
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Gage County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Graf, with the one closest to Graf listed first.
    • Adams
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Adams have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
      • Adams is located in Gage County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 622 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Adams <2>
    • Virginia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Virginia have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia
      • Virginia is located in Gage County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Virginia <2>
    • Filley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Rockford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Liberty
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Lancaster County
  • Nemaha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Graf, with the one closest to Graf listed first.
    • Johnson
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Johnson have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson
      • Johnson is located in Nemaha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 327 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Johnson <2>
    • Rohrs
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Brock
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Auburn
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Auburn have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
      • Auburn is located in Nemaha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,342 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Auburn <2>
    • Julian
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Howe
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Peru
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Nemaha
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Brownville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Saint Deroin ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Saint Deroin. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Deroin
      • Saint Deroin is located in Nemaha County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Saint Deroin
      • From Graf to Saint Deroin
  • Otoe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Graf, with the one closest to Graf listed first.
    • Talmage
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Burr
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Burr have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burr
      • Burr is located in Otoe County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 59 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Burr <2>
    • Lorton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Dunbar
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dunbar have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbar
      • Dunbar is located in Otoe County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 192 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dunbar <2>
    • Syracuse
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Douglas
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Unadilla
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Unadilla have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unadilla
      • Unadilla is located in Otoe County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 320 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Unadilla <2>
    • Otoe
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Otoe have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otoe
      • Otoe is located in Otoe County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Otoe <2>
    • Nebraska City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Wyoming
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Palmyra
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Palmyra have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
      • Palmyra is located in Otoe County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 575 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Palmyra <2>
  • Pawnee County
  • Richardson County
  • Fremont County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Graf, with the one closest to Graf listed first.
    • Payne
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Payne. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Payne
      • Payne is located in Fremont County (IA)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Payne
      • From Graf to Payne
    • Hamburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hamburg. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamburg
      • Hamburg is located in Fremont County (IA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,041 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hamburg <2>
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Hamburg
      • From Graf to Hamburg
    • Percival
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Percival have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percival
      • Percival is located in Fremont County (IA)
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Percival <2>
  • Marshall County (KS)
  • Atchison County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Graf, with the one closest to Graf listed first.
    • Watson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Phelps City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Phelps City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phelps City
      • Phelps City is located in Atchison County (MO)
    • Rock Port
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Graf ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Graf.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

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.

Graf itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Tecumseh
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Johnson
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Johnson have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson
    • Johnson is located in Nemaha County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 327 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Johnson <2>
  • Elk Creek
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Cook
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cook have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook
    • Cook is located in Johnson County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cook <2>
  • Brock
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Talmage
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Glenrock
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Glenrock have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenrock
    • Glenrock is located in Nemaha County
  • Vesta
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Auburn
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Auburn have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
    • Auburn is located in Nemaha County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,342 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Auburn <2>
  • Burr
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Burr have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burr
    • Burr is located in Otoe County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 59 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Burr <2>
  • Steinauer
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Julian
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Graf ...

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 160 newspapers that have been published in the area around Graf.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Graf. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Graf and those printed in the larger area surrounding Graf.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<6> of Graf.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Graf:

The official website for Johnson County: www.co.johnson.ne.us/

The official website for State of Nebraska: https://www.nebraska.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Graf, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<4>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<5>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.
<6>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- Graf) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Graf. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 40.4010, Longitude: -96.1042       In this case, the coordinates for Graf have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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In closing, please keep in mind that we can not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information on this website, so use with care. We encourage you to double-check the information that is critical to you.

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025