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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 Lesterville (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 Lesterville. 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 and hospitals 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.

Lesterville is located in Yankton County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Yankton County: Cedar (NE), Knox (NE), Bon Homme, Clay, Hutchinson & Turner.

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

  • Yankton County     (The home county of Lesterville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lesterville, with the one closest to Lesterville listed first.
    • Jamesville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Jamesville is located in Yankton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamesville
      • Estimated population in 2014: 232 people
    • Utica
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Midway
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Midway is located in Yankton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Fairview Heights
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Fairview Heights is located in Yankton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Heights
      • Estimated population in 2014: 77 people
    • Oak Hills Addition
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Oak Hills Addition is located in Yankton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hills Addition
      • Estimated population in 2014: 23 people
    • Mayfield
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Mayfield is located in Yankton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
      • Estimated population in 2014: 208 people
    • Yankton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Valleyview
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Valleyview is located in Yankton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valleyview
    • Mission Hill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Volin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Gayville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
  • Bon Homme County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lesterville, with the one closest to Lesterville listed first.
    • Tabor
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Tabor is located in Bon Homme County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 398 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tabor <1>
    • Scotland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Tyndall
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Kingsburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Kingsburg is located in Bon Homme County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsburg
      • Estimated population in 2014: 697 people
    • Springfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Avon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Avon is located in Bon Homme County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 584 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Avon <1>
    • Perkins
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Perkins is located in Bon Homme County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perkins
  • Charles Mix County
    • Dante
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Dante is located in Charles Mix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dante
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dante <1>
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lesterville, with the one closest to Lesterville listed first.
    • Wakonda
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Westreville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Westreville is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westreville
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 208 people
    • Meckling
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Lodi
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Lodi is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
      • Estimated population in 2014: 82 people
  • Hutchinson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lesterville, with the one closest to Lesterville listed first.
    • Menno
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Menno is located in Hutchinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menno
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 615 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Menno <1>
    • Olivet
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Kaylor
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Wolf Creek
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Wolf Creek is located in Hutchinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Creek
      • Estimated population in 2014: 195 people
    • Tripp
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Tripp is located in Hutchinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tripp
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 614 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tripp <1>
    • Freeman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Tschetter Colony
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Tschetter Colony is located in Hutchinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tschetter Colony
      • Estimated population in 2014: 80 people
    • Milltown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Milltown is located in Hutchinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milltown
      • Estimated population in 2014: 115 people
  • Turner County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lesterville, with the one closest to Lesterville listed first.
    • Spring Valley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Spring Valley is located in Turner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
    • Irene
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Viborg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Hooker
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Hooker is located in Turner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
    • Hurley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Cedar County (NE)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lesterville, with the one closest to Lesterville listed first.
    • Aten
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Aten is located in Cedar County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aten
    • Saint Helena
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Constance
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Constance is located in Cedar County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Constance
    • Fordyce
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Bow Valley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Bow Valley is located in Cedar County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow Valley
    • Wynot
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Wynot is located in Cedar County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynot
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 185 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wynot <1>
  • Knox County (NE)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lesterville, with the one closest to Lesterville listed first.
    • Santee
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Santee is located in Knox County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
    • Tewsville ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Tewsville is located in Knox County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tewsville
    • Crofton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Lindy
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Lindy is located in Knox County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindy
    • Niobrara
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bloomfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Lesterville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lesterville.

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

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

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

  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Civil Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Beadleston Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Polish Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Klasi Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Reform Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Mueller Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Petersburg Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Gall Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Odessa Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Nikodym Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Wenceslaus Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (132 more) ...
    • Reform Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Hvezda Zapadu Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Nedved Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)

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 Lesterville had a population of 324 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Lesterville had a population of 130 people.

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

  • Utica
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Jamesville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jamesville is located in Yankton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamesville
    • Estimated population in 2014: 232 people
  • Tabor
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Tabor is located in Bon Homme County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 398 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tabor <1>
  • Lakeport
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Lakeport is located in Yankton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeport
  • Scotland
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Menno
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Menno is located in Hutchinson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menno
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 615 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Menno <1>
  • Tyndall
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Olivet
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Yankton
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Mayfield
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Mayfield is located in Yankton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
    • Estimated population in 2014: 208 people
  • Aten
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Aten is located in Cedar County (NE)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aten
  • Springfield
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Spring Valley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Spring Valley is located in Turner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
    • Menominee
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Menominee is located in Cedar County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menominee
    • Volin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Lesterville ...

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 93 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lesterville.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Lesterville. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Lesterville and those printed in the larger area surrounding Lesterville.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Lesterville.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Lesterville:

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