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 Rathbun (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 Rathbun. 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.
Rathbun is located in Elk 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 Elk County: Cameron, Clearfield, Forest, Jefferson, McKean & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Rathbun. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rathbun:
- Elk County (The home county of Rathbun)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- Saint Marys
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Instanter
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Instanter is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Instanter
- Streights
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Streights is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Streights
- Benezette
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Dents Run
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Dents Run is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dents Run
- Grant
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Grant is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
- Dagus Mines
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dagus Mines is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dagus Mines
- Johnsonburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Johnsonburg is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,264 people
- Byrnedale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Caledonia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Caledonia is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Wilcox
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Whistletown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Whistletown is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whistletown
- Kylers Corners
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Kylers Corners is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kylers Corners
- Cameron County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- Beechwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Beechwood is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood
- Weber City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Weber City is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber City
- Emporium
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Cameron
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Cameron is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Huntley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Huntley is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntley
- Mix Run
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mix Run is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mix Run
- Driftwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Wyside
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wyside is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyside
- Clearfield County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- Tyler
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Tyler is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyler
- Winterburn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Winterburn is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winterburn
- Treasure Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Treasure Lake is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Treasure Lake
- Mount Joy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Mount Joy is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Joy
- Pottersdale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pottersdale is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottersdale
- Plymptonville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Plymptonville is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymptonville
- Rockton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Rockton is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockton
- Keewaydin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Keewaydin is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keewaydin
- DuBois
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Clinton County
- Hammersley Fork
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hammersley Fork is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammersley Fork
- Forest County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- Sheffield Junction
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Sheffield Junction is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield Junction
- Iron City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Iron City is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- Crenshaw
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Crenshaw is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
- Brockway
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Schoffner Corner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Schoffner Corner is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schoffner Corner
- Munderf
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Munderf is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munderf
- Falls Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Red Mill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Red Mill is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Mill
- McKean County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- Clermont
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Clermont is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clermont
- Gardeau
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Gardeau is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardeau
- Hutchins
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hutchins is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutchins
- Freeman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Freeman is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
- Crosby
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Crosby is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crosby
- Coontown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Coontown is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coontown
- Kanesholm
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kanesholm is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanesholm
- Mount Jewett
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Smethport
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Kane
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Port Allegany
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Tallyho
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Tallyho is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallyho
- Simpson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Simpson is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Potter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- Austin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Roulette
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Inez
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Inez is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inez
- Williston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Williston is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williston
- Ayers Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ayers Hill is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayers Hill
- Coudersport
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rathbun, see our County-by-County Page for Rathbun.
Cemeteries Near Rathbun ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rathbun.
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 Rathbun - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rathbun covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- St. Marys Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rich Valley Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- St. Marks Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Newton Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Laurel Hill Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Zion Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mt. Zion Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<3> to the northeast of Byrnedale.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2135193 <2>
- Gray Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Johnson Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Holy Rosary Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holy Rosary Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Holy Rosary Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Johnsonburg.
- The Holy Rosary Cemetery has also been known as:
- Wardvale Catholic Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1968966 <2>
- St. John's Lutheran Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. John's Lutheran Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery is located outside and to the north of Johnsonburg.
- The St. John's Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. John's Cemetery
- Wardvale Lutheran Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2159321 <2>
- Wardvale United Methodist Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wardvale United Methodist Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Wardvale United Methodist Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Johnsonburg.
- The Wardvale United Methodist Cemetery has also been known as:
- Johnsonburg United Methodist Cemetery
- Rolfe United Methodist Cemetery
- Wardville Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2159320 <2>
- Continue List (80 more) ...
- Hicks Run Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Mason Hill Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pine St. Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Rathbun had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rathbun, with the one closest to Rathbun listed first.
- Beechwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Beechwood is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood
- Truman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Truman is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truman
- Saint Marys
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Glen Hazel
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Glen Hazel is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Hazel
- Emporium
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Instanter
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Instanter is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Instanter
- Ketner
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Ketner is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ketner
- Kersey
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Benezette
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Streights
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Streights is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Streights
- Daguscahonda
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Daguscahonda is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daguscahonda
- Dagus Mines
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dagus Mines is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dagus Mines
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Grant
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Grant is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
- Dents Run
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Dents Run is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dents Run
- Norwich
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Norwich is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwich
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rathbun. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rathbun.
Newspapers Published in Rathbun ...
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 80 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rathbun.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rathbun, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rathbun.
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 Rathbun:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Elk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cameron County
- Clearfield County
- Clinton County
- Forest County
- Jefferson County
- McKean County
- Potter 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> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Rathbun) 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 Rathbun, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |