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 Mount Alton (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 Mount Alton. 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 Mount Alton ...
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 occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Mount Alton: Mt. Alton
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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals 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.
Mount Alton is located in McKean 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 McKean County: Allegany (NY), Cattaraugus (NY), Cameron, Elk, Forest, Potter & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Mount Alton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Mount Alton:
- McKean County (The home county of Mount Alton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Alton, with the one closest to Mount Alton listed first.
- Simpson
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Simpson is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Big Shanty
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Big Shanty is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Shanty
- Timbuck
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Timbuck is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timbuck
- Mount Jewett
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Lewis Run
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Tallyho
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Tallyho is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallyho
- Aiken
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Aiken is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aiken
- Allen
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Allen is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Custer City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Freeman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Freeman is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
- Westline
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Degolia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Degolia is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Degolia
- Cameron County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Alton, with the one closest to Mount Alton listed first.
- Beechwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Beechwood is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood
- Emporium
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Weber City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Weber City is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber City
- Elk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Alton, with the one closest to Mount Alton listed first.
- Instanter
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Instanter is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Instanter
- Streights
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Streights is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Streights
- Wilcox
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- James City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- McKinley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- McKinley is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinley
- Windy City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Windy City is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windy City
- Johnsonburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Johnsonburg is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,264 people
- Russell City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Russell City is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell City
- Whistletown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Whistletown is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whistletown
- Saint Marys
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Ridgway
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Dagus Mines
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Dagus Mines is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dagus Mines
- Forest County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Alton, with the one closest to Mount Alton listed first.
- Sheffield Junction
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Sheffield Junction is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield Junction
- Iron City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Iron City is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Potter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Alton, with the one closest to Mount Alton listed first.
- Williston
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Williston is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williston
- Roulette
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Shinglehouse
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Millport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Millport is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millport
- East Sharon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- East Sharon is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sharon
- Honeoye
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Honeoye is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honeoye
- Austin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Coneville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Coneville is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coneville
- Hebron
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Hebron is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Alton, with the one closest to Mount Alton listed first.
- Sugar Run ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sugar Run is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Run
- Kinzua ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Kinzua is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinzua
- Big Bend
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Big Bend is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Bend
- Roystone
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Roystone is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roystone
- Donaldson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Donaldson is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donaldson
- Sheffield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Hoover
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hoover is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoover
- Barnes
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Barnes is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes
- Hemlock
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Hemlock is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemlock
- Saybrook
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Saybrook is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saybrook
- Henrys Mills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Henrys Mills is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrys Mills
- Clarendon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Allegany County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Alton, with the one closest to Mount Alton listed first.
- Bowler
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bowler is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowler
- Little Genesee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bolivar
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- West Clarksville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- West Clarksville is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Clarksville
- Cattaraugus County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Alton, with the one closest to Mount Alton listed first.
- Harrisburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Harrisburg is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
- Limestone
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- New Ireland ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- New Ireland is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Ireland
- New Ireland has also been known as:
- Irish Town
- Little Ireland
- Four Mile
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Four Mile is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Mile
- Rock City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rock City is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Chipmunk
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Chipmunk is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chipmunk
- Allegany
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Carrollton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Carrollton is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
- Saint Bonaventure
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Elko ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Elko is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko
- Elko has also been known as:
- Wolf Run
- Olean
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Olean is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olean
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,371 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olean <1>
- Portville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Chautauqua County (NY)
- Ivory
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ivory is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivory
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Mount Alton, see our County-by-County Page for Mount Alton.
Cemeteries Near Mount Alton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mount Alton.
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 Mount Alton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Mount Alton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Mount Alton, with the one closest to Mount Alton listed first.
- McKean Memorial Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Bridge View Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Clermont Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- St. Elizabeths Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Smith Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- St. Bernards Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Greendale Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Willow Dale Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Moody Hollow Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (85 more) ...
- Rixford Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Forest Lawn Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Tabor Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Mount Alton had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Mount Alton, with the one closest to Mount Alton listed first.
- Lafayette
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Lafayette is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette
- Kushequa
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Kushequa is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kushequa
- Big Shanty
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Big Shanty is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Shanty
- Cyclone
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cyclone is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cyclone
- Simpson
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Simpson is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Guffey
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Guffey is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guffey
- Mount Jewett
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Ormsby
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ormsby is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ormsby
- Gifford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Gifford is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gifford
- Tallyho
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Tallyho is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallyho
- Lewis Run
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Kasson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Kasson is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kasson
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Aiken
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Aiken is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aiken
- Freeman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Freeman is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
- Marshburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Marshburg is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshburg
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Mount Alton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Mount Alton.
Newspapers Published in Mount Alton ...
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 61 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mount Alton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Mount Alton, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Mount Alton.
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 either 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 Mount Alton:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to McKean County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cameron County
- Elk County
- Forest County
- Potter County
- Warren County
- Allegany County
- Cattaraugus County
- Chautauqua County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Pennsylvania
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> | 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 Mount Alton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Mount Alton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |