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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 Tolstoy (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 Tolstoy. 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 hospitals and 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.

Tolstoy is located in Potter County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Potter County: Dewey, Edmunds, Faulk, Hyde, Sully & Walworth.

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

  • Potter County     (The home county of Tolstoy)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tolstoy, with the one closest to Tolstoy listed first.
    • Hoven
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Lebanon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lebanon have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lebanon
      • Lebanon is located in Potter County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 43 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lebanon <1>
    • Gettysburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Edmunds County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tolstoy, with the one closest to Tolstoy listed first.
    • Bowdle
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Loyalton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Loyalton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyalton
      • Loyalton is located in Edmunds County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Loyalton
      • From Tolstoy to Loyalton
    • Gretna
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gretna have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gretna
      • Gretna is located in Edmunds County
      • Estimated population in 2014: 52 people
    • Roscoe
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Roscoe have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
      • Roscoe is located in Edmunds County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 285 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roscoe <1>
    • Hosmer
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Beebe
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Powell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Faulk County
  • Walworth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tolstoy, with the one closest to Tolstoy listed first.
    • Lowry
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lowry have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowry
      • Lowry is located in Walworth County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6 people
    • Java
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Akaska
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Selby
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Selby have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selby
      • Selby is located in Walworth County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 612 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Selby <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Tolstoy ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Tolstoy.

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

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

  • Zion Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Zion Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Zion Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Lutheran Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lutheran Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lutheran Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Seventh-day Adventist Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Seventh-day Adventist Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Seventh-day Adventist Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Advent Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Advent Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Advent Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #96748 <4>
  • Spring Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Spring Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Spring Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Springs Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Jacobs Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Jacobs Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Jacobs Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Seventh-day Adventist Church Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Congregational Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Congregational Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Congregational Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Boniface Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Boniface Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Boniface Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (48 more) ...
    • Oakland Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Oakland Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Oakland Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Lebanon Protestant Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lebanon Protestant Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lebanon Protestant Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Cloyd Valley Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)

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.<6>

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

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

  • Hoven
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Seneca
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Lebanon
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lebanon have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lebanon
    • Lebanon is located in Potter County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 43 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lebanon <1>
  • Bowdle
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
  • Loyalton
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Loyalton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyalton
    • Loyalton is located in Edmunds County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Loyalton
    • From Tolstoy to Loyalton
  • Burkmere
    (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Burkmere have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkmere
    • Burkmere is located in Faulk County
  • Millard
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Millard. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millard
    • Millard is located in Faulk County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Millard
    • From Tolstoy to Millard
  • Gettysburg
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Roscoe
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Roscoe have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
    • Roscoe is located in Edmunds County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 285 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roscoe <1>
  • Faulkton
    (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Hosmer
    (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
  • Powell
    (28 miles [45.1 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 Tolstoy. See our List of 1890's Communities around Tolstoy.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Tolstoy ...

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 23 newspapers that have been published in the area around Tolstoy.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Tolstoy. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Tolstoy and those printed in the larger area surrounding Tolstoy.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<5> of Tolstoy.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Tolstoy:

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

The official website for State of South Dakota: https://www.sd.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>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.
<3>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.
<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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Tolstoy) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Tolstoy. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 45.2082, Longitude: -99.6142    
<6>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 Tolstoy, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025