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 Lester (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 Lester. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.
Lester is located in Medina County.
To see how the shape of Ohio's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Medina County: Ashland, Cuyahoga, Lorain, Summit & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Lester. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Lester:
- Medina County (The home county of Lester)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- Abbeyville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Abbeyville is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbeyville
- Valley City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Valley City Station
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Valley City Station is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley City Station
- Litchfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Medina
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Risley ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Risley is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Risley
- Brunswick
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Briarwood Beach ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Briarwood Beach is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briarwood Beach
- Chippewa Lake
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Chippewa Lake is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippewa Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 749 people
- Former name for Chippewa Lake:
- Chippewa-on-the-Lake
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Chippewa Lake <1>
- Windfall
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Windfall is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windfall
- Gloria Glens Park
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Gloria Glens Park is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gloria Glens Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 449 people
- Poe
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Poe is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poe
- River Corners
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- River Corners is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Corners
- Ashland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- Albion
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Albion is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Nova
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Polk
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Polk is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 331 people
- Redhaw
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Redhaw is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redhaw
- Rowsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Rowsburg is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowsburg
- Ruggles
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ruggles is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruggles
- Savannah
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bailey Lakes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bailey Lakes is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 364 people
- Ashland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jeromesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Champaign County
- Rochester
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Rochester is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester
- Cuyahoga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- Bennetts Corners
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bennetts Corners is located in Cuyahoga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennetts Corners
- Strongsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Binola
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Binola is located in Cuyahoga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Binola
- Olmsted Falls
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Berea
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- North Royalton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Middleburg Heights
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- North Olmsted
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Brook Park
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Parma Heights
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Broadview Heights
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fairview Park
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Brecksville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Erie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- Birmingham
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Florence
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Florence is located in Erie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Berlin Heights
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Huron County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- White Fox
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- White Fox is located in Huron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Fox
- Wakeman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- New London
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- West Clarksfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- West Clarksfield is located in Huron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Clarksfield
- Hartland Station
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Hartland Station is located in Huron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland Station
- Hartland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Hartland is located in Huron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
- Collins
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Collins is located in Huron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- East Townsend
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- East Townsend is located in Huron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Townsend
- Fitchville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Fitchville is located in Huron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitchville
- Lorain County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- Belden
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Belden is located in Lorain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belden
- Grafton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Eaton Estates
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Eaton Estates is located in Lorain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eaton Estates
- Lagrange
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Pheasant Run Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Pheasant Run Village is located in Lorain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pheasant Run Village
- Nickelplate ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Nickelplate is located in Lorain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nickelplate
- Fields
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Fields is located in Lorain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fields
- Wellington
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- North Ridgeville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Elyria
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Huntington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Huntington is located in Lorain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington
- Oberlin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sheffield
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Portage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- Kent
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Sugar Bush Knolls
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Sugar Bush Knolls is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Bush Knolls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Stark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- Canal Fulton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- North Lawrence
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- East Greenville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- East Greenville is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Greenville
- Sippo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sippo is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sippo
- Summit County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- Pigeon Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Pigeon Creek is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon Creek
- Paxton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Paxton is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paxton
- Bath Center
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Bath Center is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath Center
- Bath
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Montrose
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Montrose is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
- Copley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Fairlawn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Richfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Norton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Boston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Boston is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boston
- Boston has also been known as:
- Boston Mill
- Helltown
- Peninsula
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Barberton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Akron
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- Burbank
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Creston
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Aukerman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Aukerman is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aukerman
- Sterling
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Rittman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- West Salem
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Congress
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Congress is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Congress
- Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
- Doylestown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Smithville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Marshallville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lattasburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lattasburg is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lattasburg
- Devil Town
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Devil Town is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devil Town
- Weilersville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Weilersville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weilersville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Lester, see our County-by-County Page for Lester.
Cemeteries Near Lester ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lester.
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 Lester - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Lester covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- York Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Branch Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Abbeyville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Zion Lutheran Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rest Acre Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rest Acre Cemetery
- The Rest Acre Cemetery has also been known as:
- Emanuel Cemetery
- Lester Cemetery
- New Law Cemetery
- Reuter Cemetery
- Greenhoe Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- St. Martin of Tours Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Litchfield Center Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Waltz Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Old Medina Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hamilton Corners Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (481 more) ...
- Spring Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Medina Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Myrtle Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
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>
While we didn't find Lester in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Lester.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- Mallet Creek
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Mallet Creek is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mallet Creek
- Abbeyville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Abbeyville is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbeyville
- Erhart
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Erhart is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erhart
- Litchfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Chamberlain ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Chamberlain is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamberlain
- Medina
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Belden
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Belden is located in Lorain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belden
- Chippewa Lake
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Chippewa Lake is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippewa Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 749 people
- Former name for Chippewa Lake:
- Chippewa-on-the-Lake
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Chippewa Lake <1>
- Weymouth
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Weymouth is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weymouth
- Brunswick
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Beebetown ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Beebetown is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beebetown
- Poe
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Poe is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poe
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Windfall
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Windfall is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windfall
- Grafton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- North Eaton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- North Eaton is located in Lorain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Eaton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Lester. See our List of 1890's Communities around Lester.
Newspapers Published in Lester ...
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 80 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lester.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lester, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lester.
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 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 Lester:
- Websites specific to Ohio
- Pages specific to Medina County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Ashland County
- Champaign County
- Cuyahoga County
- Erie County
- Huron County
- Lorain County
- Portage County
- Stark County
- Summit County
- Wayne County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Ohio
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 Lester, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Lester) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |