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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 Foster Brook (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 Foster Brook. 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.

Name Variations for Foster Brook ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might have occurred.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Foster Brook: Foster Brk.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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.

Foster Brook is located in McKean County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of McKean County: Allegany (NY), Cattaraugus (NY), Cameron, Elk, Forest, Potter & Warren.

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

  • McKean County     (The home county of Foster Brook)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster Brook, with the one closest to Foster Brook listed first.
    • Tuna
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Tuna. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuna
      • Tuna is located in McKean County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Tuna
      • From Foster Brook to Tuna
    • Derrick City
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Sawyer City
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sawyer City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer City
      • Sawyer City is located in McKean County
    • Bradford
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Degolia
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Dallas City
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Summit
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Custer City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Custer City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer City
      • Custer City is located in McKean County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Custer City <2>
    • Allen
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Allen have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
      • Allen is located in McKean County
    • Rew
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Duke Center
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Aiken
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Aiken. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aiken
      • Aiken is located in McKean County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Aiken
      • From Foster Brook to Aiken
    • Lewis Run
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lewis Run have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewis Run
      • Lewis Run is located in McKean County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 564 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lewis Run <2>
  • Elk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster Brook, with the one closest to Foster Brook listed first.
    • Instanter
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Instanter have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Instanter
      • Instanter is located in Elk County
    • James City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for James City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James City
      • James City is located in Elk County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for James City <2>
    • Streights
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Wilcox
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Windy City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Windy City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windy City
      • Windy City is located in Elk County
  • Potter County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster Brook, with the one closest to Foster Brook listed first.
    • Shinglehouse
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • East Sharon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Honeoye
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Honeoye. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honeoye
      • Honeoye is located in Potter County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Honeoye
      • From Foster Brook to Honeoye
    • Williston
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Williston. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williston
      • Williston is located in Potter County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Williston
      • From Foster Brook to Williston
    • Millport
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Roulette
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Coneville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Coneville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coneville
      • Coneville is located in Potter County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Coneville
      • From Foster Brook to Coneville
    • Chrystal
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Chrystal. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chrystal
      • Chrystal is located in Potter County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Chrystal
      • From Foster Brook to Chrystal
    • Hebron
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hebron. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
      • Hebron is located in Potter County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Hebron
      • From Foster Brook to Hebron
  • Warren County
  • Allegany County (NY)
  • Cattaraugus County (NY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster Brook, with the one closest to Foster Brook listed first.
    • Limestone
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Chipmunk
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Chipmunk. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chipmunk
      • Chipmunk is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Chipmunk
      • From Foster Brook to Chipmunk
    • New Ireland ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for New Ireland. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Ireland
      • New Ireland is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
      • New Ireland has also been known as:
      • Irish Town
      • Little Ireland
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to New Ireland
      • From Foster Brook to New Ireland
    • Rock City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rock City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
      • Rock City is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
    • Four Mile
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Four Mile. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Mile
      • Four Mile is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Four Mile
      • From Foster Brook to Four Mile
    • Carrollton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Carrollton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
      • Carrollton is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Carrollton
      • From Foster Brook to Carrollton
    • Allegany
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Allegany have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allegany
      • Allegany is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,685 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Allegany <2>
    • Saint Bonaventure
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Saint Bonaventure have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Bonaventure
      • Saint Bonaventure is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Saint Bonaventure <2>
    • Olean
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Kill Buck
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Salamanca
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Portville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Portville have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portville
      • Portville is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 941 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Portville <2>
    • Elko ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Elko. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko
      • Elko is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
      • Elko has also been known as:
      • Wolf Run
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Elko
      • From Foster Brook to Elko
  • Chautauqua County (NY)

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

Cemeteries Near Foster Brook ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Foster Brook.

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 Foster Brook covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Foster Brook, with the one closest to Foster Brook 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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Foster Brook had a population of 354 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Tuna
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Tuna. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuna
    • Tuna is located in McKean County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Tuna
    • From Foster Brook to Tuna
  • Bradford
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Sawyer City
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sawyer City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer City
    • Sawyer City is located in McKean County
  • Derrick City
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Gilmore
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gilmore have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Gilmore is located in McKean County
  • Limestone
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Red Rock
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Red Rock have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Rock
    • Red Rock is located in McKean County
  • Bells Camp
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bells Camp have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bells Camp
    • Bells Camp is located in McKean County
  • Degolia
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Dallas City
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Summit
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Custer City
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Custer City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer City
    • Custer City is located in McKean County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Custer City <2>
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Chipmunk
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Chipmunk. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chipmunk
      • Chipmunk is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Chipmunk
      • From Foster Brook to Chipmunk
    • Rew
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Irvine Mills
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Irvine Mills have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvine Mills
      • Irvine Mills is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)

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

Newspapers Published in Foster Brook ...

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 100 newspapers that have been published in the area around Foster Brook.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Foster Brook, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Foster Brook.

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 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 Foster Brook:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Foster Brook. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: https://www.pa.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>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.
<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>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.
<5>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 Foster Brook, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Foster Brook) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Foster Brook. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 41.9772, Longitude: -78.6171       In this case, the coordinates for Foster Brook have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025