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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 Gardeau (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 Gardeau. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.

Gardeau 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 Gardeau. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Gardeau:

  • McKean County     (The home county of Gardeau)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gardeau, with the one closest to Gardeau listed first.
    • Crosby
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Port Allegany
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Clermont
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Clermont. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clermont
      • Clermont is located in McKean County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Clermont
      • From Gardeau to Clermont
    • Smethport
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Smethport have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smethport
      • Smethport is located in McKean County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,518 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Smethport <1>
    • Hutchins
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hutchins. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutchins
      • Hutchins is located in McKean County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Hutchins
      • From Gardeau to Hutchins
    • Wrights Corners
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Freeman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Freeman. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
      • Freeman is located in McKean County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Freeman
      • From Gardeau to Freeman
    • Mount Jewett
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Eldred
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Myrtle
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Myrtle. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
      • Myrtle is located in McKean County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Myrtle
      • From Gardeau to Myrtle
    • Aiken
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • 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.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aiken
      • Aiken is located in McKean County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Aiken
      • From Gardeau to Aiken
    • Allen
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • 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
  • Cameron County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gardeau, with the one closest to Gardeau listed first.
    • Emporium
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Emporium have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emporium
      • Emporium is located in Cameron County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,770 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Emporium <1>
    • Weber City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Weber City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber City
      • Weber City is located in Cameron County
    • Cameron
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Beechwood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Beechwood. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood
      • Beechwood is located in Cameron County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Beechwood
      • From Gardeau to Beechwood
    • Huntley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Driftwood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Wyside
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Wyside. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyside
      • Wyside is located in Cameron County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Wyside
      • From Gardeau to Wyside
  • Clearfield County
    • Tyler
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Tyler. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyler
      • Tyler is located in Clearfield County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Tyler
      • From Gardeau to Tyler
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gardeau, with the one closest to Gardeau listed first.
    • Hammersley Fork
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Bitumen
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Cooks Run
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Cooks Run. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Run
      • Cooks Run is located in Clinton County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Cooks Run
      • From Gardeau to Cooks Run
    • Keating
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Keating. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keating
      • Keating is located in Clinton County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Keating
      • From Gardeau to Keating
    • Westport
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Elk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gardeau, with the one closest to Gardeau listed first.
    • Instanter
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • 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
    • Dents Run
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Dents Run. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dents Run
      • Dents Run is located in Elk County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Dents Run
      • From Gardeau to Dents Run
    • Grant
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Grant. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
      • Grant is located in Elk County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Grant
      • From Gardeau to Grant
    • Streights
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Streights. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Streights
      • Streights is located in Elk County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Streights
      • From Gardeau to Streights
    • Saint Marys
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Saint Marys have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys
      • Saint Marys is located in Elk County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,157 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Saint Marys <1>
    • Benezette
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Johnsonburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Wilcox
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Caledonia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Caledonia. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
      • Caledonia is located in Elk County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Caledonia
      • From Gardeau to Caledonia
    • Byrnedale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Dagus Mines
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Whistletown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Potter County
  • Allegany County (NY)
  • Cattaraugus County (NY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gardeau, with the one closest to Gardeau listed first.
    • Portville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • 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 <1>
    • Four Mile
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • 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.<2>
      • 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 Gardeau to Four Mile
    • Rock City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • 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)

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

Cemeteries Near Gardeau ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gardeau.

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

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

  • Rich Valley Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Newton Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Newton Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Newton Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Forksville Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Forksville Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Forksville Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Marks Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Marks Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Marks Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Costello Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Costello Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Costello Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Joseph Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Joseph Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Joseph Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Rees Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Rees Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Rees Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Hill Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hill Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Moores Run Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Moores Run Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Moores Run Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Lyman Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lyman Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lyman Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Card Creek Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Card Creek Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Card Creek Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Norwich Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Norwich Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Norwich Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (73 more) ...
    • Wharton Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Wharton Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Wharton Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • St. Eulalias Catholic Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Fairview Cemetery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Fairview Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Fairview Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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 in 1895, Gardeau had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Sizerville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sizerville have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sizerville
    • Sizerville is located in Cameron County
  • Austin
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Emporium
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Emporium have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emporium
    • Emporium is located in Cameron County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,770 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Emporium <1>
  • Costello
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Costello have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Costello
    • Costello is located in Potter County
  • Odin
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Odin have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
    • Odin is located in Potter County
  • Wrights
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wrights have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrights
    • Wrights is located in McKean County
  • Norwich
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Norwich have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwich
    • Norwich is located in McKean County
  • Cameron
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Mina
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mina have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mina
    • Mina is located in Potter County
  • Knowlton
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Knowlton have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowlton
    • Knowlton is located in Potter County
  • Roulette
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Burtville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Burtville have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burtville
    • Burtville is located in McKean County
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Colegrove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Colegrove have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colegrove
      • Colegrove is located in McKean County
    • Beechwood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Beechwood. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood
      • Beechwood is located in Cameron County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Beechwood
      • From Gardeau to Beechwood
    • Truman
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Truman have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truman
      • Truman is located in Cameron County

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

Newspapers Published in Gardeau ...

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 78 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gardeau.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gardeau, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Gardeau.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Gardeau:

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

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

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>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.
<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 Gardeau, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Gardeau) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Gardeau. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 41.6212, Longitude: -78.2243    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025