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 Mercer (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 Mercer. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Mercer is located in Mercer 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 Mercer County: Adams (IN), Jay (IN), Auglaize, Darke, Shelby & Van Wert.
Below are the counties that are near Mercer. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Mercer:
- Mercer County (The home county of Mercer)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
- Tama
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Tama is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tama
- Mendon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Earley ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Earley is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earley
- Rockford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Celina
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Scudder
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Scudder is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scudder
- Montezuma
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Montezuma is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montezuma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 158 people
- Skeels Crossroads
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Skeels Crossroads is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skeels Crossroads
- Wabash
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wabash is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wabash
- Coldwater
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Macedon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Macedon is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedon
- Chickasaw
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Saint Henry
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Allen County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
- Spencerville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Landeck
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Landeck is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landeck
- Southworth
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Southworth is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southworth
- Conant
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Conant is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conant
- Delphos
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Scotts Crossing
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Scotts Crossing is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts Crossing
- Elida
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Elida is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elida
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,810 people
- Fort Shawnee
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Fort Shawnee is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Shawnee
- Estimated population in 2012: 3,643 people
- Gomer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lima
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Cairo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cairo is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 520 people
- West Cairo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- West Cairo is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Cairo
- Auglaize County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
- Saint Marys
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Moulton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Moulton is located in Auglaize County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moulton
- Buckland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Buckland is located in Auglaize County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 221 people
- New Knoxville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- New Knoxville is located in Auglaize County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Knoxville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 862 people
- New Bremen
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Pusheta Town ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Pusheta Town is located in Auglaize County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pusheta Town
- Wapakoneta
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Minster
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cridersville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Fryburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Fryburg is located in Auglaize County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fryburg
- Uniopolis
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Uniopolis is located in Auglaize County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniopolis
- Estimated population in 2016: 220 people
- Saint Johns
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Saint Johns is located in Auglaize County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Darke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
- New Weston
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- North Star
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Osgood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Yorkshire
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Brock
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Brock is located in Darke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brock
- Lightsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Lightsville is located in Darke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lightsville
- Rossburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Frenchtown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Frenchtown is located in Darke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchtown
- Ansonia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Ansonia is located in Darke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ansonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,120 people
- Dawn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Dawn is located in Darke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawn
- Versailles
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Paulding County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
- Grover Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Grover Hill is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grover Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 377 people
- Haviland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Haviland is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haviland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 202 people
- Tipton ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Tipton is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tipton
- Batson ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Batson is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batson
- Folmer ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Folmer is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folmer
- McGill ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- McGill is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGill
- Mandale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mandale is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mandale
- Dague ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Dague is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dague
- Latty
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Latty is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latty
- Population from the 2020 Census: 180 people
- Murat ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Murat is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murat
- Former names for Murat:
- Hipp's Lock
- Timberville
- Worstville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Worstville is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worstville
- Broughton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Broughton is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broughton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 115 people
- Hedges
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Hedges is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedges
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
- Fort Jennings
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ottoville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Rimer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rimer is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rimer
- Jones City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jones City is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones City
- Muntanna
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Muntanna is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muntanna
- Cloverdale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cloverdale is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
- Kalida
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
- Kettlersville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Filburns Island
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Filburns Island is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Filburns Island
- Lehmkuhl Landing
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Lehmkuhl Landing is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lehmkuhl Landing
- Botkins
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Fort Laramie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Anna
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Montra
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Montra is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montra
- Russia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Dawson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Dawson is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawson
- Van Wert County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
- Monticello
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Monticello is located in Van Wert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Ohio City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Elgin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Elgin is located in Van Wert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Abanaka
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Abanaka is located in Van Wert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abanaka
- Schumm
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Schumm is located in Van Wert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schumm
- Converse Station
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Converse Station is located in Van Wert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Converse Station
- Converse
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Converse is located in Van Wert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Converse
- Glenmore
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Glenmore is located in Van Wert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenmore
- Venedocia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Venedocia is located in Van Wert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venedocia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 118 people
- Willshire
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Van Wert
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Wren
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Middle Point
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Adams County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
- Pleasant Mills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Berne
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Geneva
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Monroe
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Coppess Corner
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Coppess Corner is located in Adams County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coppess Corner
- Decatur
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Linn Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Linn Grove is located in Adams County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linn Grove
- Honduras
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Honduras is located in Adams County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honduras
- Preble
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Magley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Magley is located in Adams County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magley
- Allen County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
- Dixon
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Dixon is located in Allen County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon
- Monroeville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hoagland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jay County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
- Jay City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Jay City is located in Jay County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jay City
- Trinity
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Trinity is located in Jay County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
- Bryant
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bloomfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bloomfield is located in Jay County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield
- Antiville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Antiville is located in Jay County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antiville
- Salamonia
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Salamonia is located in Jay County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salamonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 158 people
- Portland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Boundary City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Boundary City is located in Jay County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boundary City
- Bluff Point
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bluff Point is located in Jay County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Point
- Collett
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Collett is located in Jay County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collett
- Blaine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Blaine is located in Jay County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blaine
- Pony
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pony is located in Jay County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pony
- Fiat
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Fiat is located in Jay County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiat
- Randolph County (IN)
- New Pittsburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- New Pittsburg is located in Randolph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Pittsburg
- Wells County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
- Vera Cruz
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Vera Cruz is located in Wells County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vera Cruz
- Population from the 2020 Census: 85 people
- Craigville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Craigville is located in Wells County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craigville
- Phenix
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Phenix is located in Wells County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
- Tocsin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Tocsin is located in Wells County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tocsin
- Petroleum
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Petroleum is located in Wells County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petroleum
- Reiffsburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Reiffsburg is located in Wells County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reiffsburg
- Nottingham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Nottingham is located in Wells County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nottingham
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Mercer, see our County-by-County Page for Mercer.
Cemeteries Near Mercer ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mercer.
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 Mercer - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Mercer covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
- Mercer Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Palmer Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Roebuck Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hamilton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Roebuck Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Otterbein Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Friends Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Union Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Roberts Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fairview Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Coil Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (413 more) ...
- Coil Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shindeldecker Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Buck Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Mercer had a population of 148 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
- Tama
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Tama is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tama
- Earley ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Earley is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earley
- Mendon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Rockford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Neptune
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Neptune is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neptune
- Hinton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hinton is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinton
- Celina
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Brehm ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Brehm is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brehm
- Ohio City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Monticello
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Monticello is located in Van Wert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Dull
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Dull is located in Van Wert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dull
- Elgin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Elgin is located in Van Wert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Jonestown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Jonestown is located in Van Wert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonestown
- Shasta ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Shasta is located in Van Wert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shasta
- Abanaka
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Abanaka is located in Van Wert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abanaka
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Mercer. See our List of 1890's Communities around Mercer.
Newspapers Published in Mercer ...
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 148 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mercer.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Mercer, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Mercer.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Mercer:
- Websites specific to Ohio
- Pages specific to Mercer County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allen County
- Auglaize County
- Darke County
- Paulding County
- Putnam County
- Shelby County
- Van Wert County
- Adams County
- Allen County
- Jay County
- Randolph County
- Wells 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 Mercer, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- Mercer) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |