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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 Mateer (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 Mateer. 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.

Mateer is located in Armstrong County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Armstrong County: Allegheny, Butler, Clarion, Indiana, Jefferson & Westmoreland.

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

  • Armstrong County     (The home county of Mateer)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mateer, with the one closest to Mateer listed first.
    • Cochrans Mills
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Cochrans Mills is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrans Mills
    • Spring Church
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • North Apollo
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Orchard Hills
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Orchard Hills is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Hills
    • Tunnelville ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Tunnelville is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnelville
    • Olivet
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Olivet is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
    • Neale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Neale is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neale
    • Apollo
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Apollo is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apollo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,507 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Apollo <1>
    • Leechburg
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Elderton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Ford Cliff
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Ford Cliff is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford Cliff
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 347 people
    • Edmon
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Edmon is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmon
  • Allegheny County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mateer, with the one closest to Mateer listed first.
    • Sligo
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Sligo is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sligo
    • Karns
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Karns is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Karns
    • Natrona
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Natrona is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
    • Brackenridge
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Tarentum
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Leechburg
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Leechburg is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leechburg
    • New Texas
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • New Texas is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Texas
    • Plum
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Plum is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 26,993 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Plum <1>
    • Springdale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Cheswick
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Harwick
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Harwick is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harwick
    • Culmerville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Culmerville is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culmerville
  • Butler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mateer, with the one closest to Mateer listed first.
    • Monroe
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Monroe is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
    • Leasureville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Leasureville is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leasureville
    • Dennys Mills
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Dennys Mills is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennys Mills
    • Ekastown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Ekastown is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekastown
    • Saxonburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Fenelton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Great Belt
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Great Belt is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Great Belt
    • Frazier Mill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Frazier Mill is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frazier Mill
    • Herman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint Joe
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Saint Joe is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joe
    • Glade Mills
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Glade Mills is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glade Mills
    • Chicora
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Clarion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mateer, with the one closest to Mateer listed first.
    • Phillipston
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Phillipston is located in Clarion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipston
    • East Brady
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Lawsonham
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Lawsonham is located in Clarion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsonham
    • Catfish
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Catfish is located in Clarion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catfish
    • Fairmont City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • New Bethlehem
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Leatherwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Leatherwood is located in Clarion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherwood
    • Rimersburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Bela
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Bela is located in Clarion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bela
    • Hawthorn
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Piolett
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Piolett is located in Clarion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piolett
    • Brinkerton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Brinkerton is located in Clarion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinkerton
  • Indiana County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mateer, with the one closest to Mateer listed first.
    • West Lebanon
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • West Lebanon is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lebanon
    • Clarksburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Saltsburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Parkwood
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Parkwood is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
    • Shelocta
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • White
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • White is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
    • Aultman
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Aultman is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aultman
    • Jacksonville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Jacksonville is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
    • Bow
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Bow is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow
    • Shado-Wood Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Shado-Wood Village is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shado-Wood Village
    • Creekside
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Creekside is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creekside
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 288 people
    • Smathers
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Smathers is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smathers
  • Jefferson County
    • Valier
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Valier is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valier
  • Westmoreland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mateer, with the one closest to Mateer listed first.
    • East Vandergrift
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • East Vandergrift is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Vandergrift
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 631 people
    • Oklahoma
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Oklahoma is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oklahoma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 739 people
    • Vandergrift
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Hyde Park
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Avonmore
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • West Leechburg
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • West Leechburg is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Leechburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,211 people
    • Salina
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Weinel Crossroads
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Weinel Crossroads is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weinel Crossroads
    • North Washington
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • North Washington is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Washington
    • Bagdad
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Bagdad is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagdad
    • Slickville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Slickville is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slickville
    • Lower Burrell
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Mateer ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mateer.

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 Mateer - one of the links might be able to help.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Mateer, with the one closest to Mateer 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.<4>

While we didn't find Mateer in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Mateer.

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

  • Spring Church
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Shady Plain
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Shady Plain is located in Armstrong County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Plain
  • Cochrans Mills
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Cochrans Mills is located in Armstrong County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrans Mills
  • Girty
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Girty is located in Armstrong County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girty
  • Brick Church
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Brick Church is located in Armstrong County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brick Church
  • Dime
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Dime is located in Armstrong County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dime
  • Top
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Top is located in Armstrong County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Top
  • Tunnelville ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Tunnelville is located in Armstrong County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnelville
  • Elders Ridge
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Elders Ridge is located in Indiana County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elders Ridge
  • Olivet
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Olivet is located in Armstrong County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
  • South Bend
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • South Bend is located in Armstrong County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bend
  • Vandergrift
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Apollo
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Apollo is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apollo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,507 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Apollo <1>
    • Neale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Neale is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neale
    • Leechburg
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Mateer ...

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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mateer.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Mateer, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Mateer.

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 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 Mateer:

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>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.
<3>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Mateer) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Mateer, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.