RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Washington >> Clark County >> Saint John >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Saint John (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 Saint John. 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 Saint John ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Saint John: St. John

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Saint John. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Saint John.

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 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.

Saint John is located in Clark County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Clark County: Columbia (OR), Multnomah (OR), Cowlitz & Skamania.

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

  • Clark County     (The home county of Saint John)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint John, with the one closest to Saint John listed first.
    • Barberton
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Barberton is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barberton
    • Homan
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Homan is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homan
    • Five Corners
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Five Corners is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Corners
    • Union
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Union is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Mount Vista
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Mount Vista is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vista
    • Salmon Creek
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Salmon Creek is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salmon Creek
    • Walnut Grove
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Walnut Grove is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove
    • Orchards
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Hazel Dell
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Minnehaha
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Minnehaha is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnehaha
    • Lake Shore
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Lake Shore is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shore
    • Brush Prairie
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Felida
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Felida is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felida
  • Cowlitz County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint John, with the one closest to Saint John listed first.
    • Ariel
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Kalama
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Cougar
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Carrolls
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Rose Valley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Rose Valley is located in Cowlitz County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Valley
  • Skamania County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint John, with the one closest to Saint John listed first.
    • Cruzatt
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Cruzatt is located in Skamania County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruzatt
    • Skamania
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Skamania is located in Skamania County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skamania
  • Clackamas County (OR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint John, with the one closest to Saint John listed first.
    • Happy Valley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Oak Grove
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Oatfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Oatfield is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oatfield
    • Sunnyside
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Sunnyside is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnyside
    • Christie ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Christie is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christie
    • Clackamas
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Johnson City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Johnson City is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 627 people
    • Lake Oswego
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Marylhurst
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Damascus
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Damascus is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damascus
      • Estimated population in 2017: 11,155 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Damascus <1>
    • Carver
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Gladstone
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Gladstone is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladstone
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,418 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gladstone <1>
    • Boring
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Columbia County (OR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint John, with the one closest to Saint John listed first.
    • Scappoose
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Saint Helens
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Warren
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Columbia City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Deer Island
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Goble
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Goble is located in Columbia County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goble
    • Reuben
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Reuben is located in Columbia County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reuben
    • Prescott
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Prescott is located in Columbia County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescott
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 63 people
    • Beaver Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Beaver Springs is located in Columbia County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Springs
    • Pittsburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Pittsburg is located in Columbia County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg
    • Vernonia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Vernonia is located in Columbia County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernonia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,295 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vernonia <1>
  • Multnomah County (OR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint John, with the one closest to Saint John listed first.
    • Vanport City ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Vanport City is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanport City
    • Albina
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Albina is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albina
    • Maywood Park
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Laurelhurst
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Laurelhurst is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelhurst
    • Burlington
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Burlington is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
    • Montavilla
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Montavilla is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montavilla
    • Portland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Portland is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 656,751 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Portland <1>
    • Russellville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Russellville is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
    • Hazelwood
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Hazelwood is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
    • Fairview
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Fairview is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,450 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fairview <1>
    • Rockwood
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Rockwood is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
    • Woodstock
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Woodstock is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
    • Wood Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Washington County (OR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint John, with the one closest to Saint John listed first.
    • Bethany
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Bethany is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany
    • Cedar Hills
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Cedar Mill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Marlene Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Marlene Village is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlene Village
    • Oak Hills
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Oak Hills is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hills
    • West Slope
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • West Slope is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Slope
    • Raleigh Hills
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Raleigh Hills is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raleigh Hills
    • Rockcreek
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Rockcreek is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockcreek
    • West Union
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • West Union is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union
    • Beaverton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Beaverton is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaverton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 98,957 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Beaverton <1>
    • Metzger
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Metzger is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metzger
    • Aloha
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Progress
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Progress is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress

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

Cemeteries Near Saint John ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Saint John.

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 Saint John - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Wilson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Salmon Creek Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Brush Prairie Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • St. James Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Park Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Elim Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Bethel Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Evergreen Memorial Gardens
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Finn Hill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Bethel Evangelical Methodist Church Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Historic Columbian Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (177 more) ...
    • Gravel Point Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Dublin Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Lewisville Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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.<3>

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

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

  • Vancouver
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Brush Prairie
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Felida
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Felida is located in Clark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felida
  • Proebstel
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Proebstel is located in Clark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proebstel
  • Hockinson
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hockinson is located in Clark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hockinson
  • Battle Ground
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Sara
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Sara is located in Clark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sara
  • Pioneer
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Pioneer is located in Clark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer
  • Lewisville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Lewisville is located in Clark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisville
  • Fisher
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Fisher is located in Clark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher
  • Linnton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Linnton is located in Multnomah County (OR)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linnton
  • Saint Johns
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Saint Johns is located in Multnomah County (OR)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • University Park
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • University Park is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Park
    • Albina
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Albina is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albina
    • Clarnie
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Clarnie is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarnie

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

Newspapers Published in Saint John ...

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 235 newspapers that have been published in the area around Saint John.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Saint John, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Saint John.

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 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 Saint John:

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 Saint John, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Saint John) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.