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 Downsville (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 Downsville. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Downsville is located in Dunn County.
To see how the shape of Wisconsin's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Dunn County: Barron, Chippewa, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, Polk & Saint Croix.
Below are the counties that are near Downsville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Downsville:
- Dunn County (The home county of Downsville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Downsville, with the one closest to Downsville listed first.
- Dunnville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Dunnville is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnville
- Menomonie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Menomonie is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menomonie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,599 people
- Eau Galle
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Eau Galle is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eau Galle
- Meridean
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Meridean is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridean
- Falls City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Falls City is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls City
- Rock Falls
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Rock Falls is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Falls
- Elk Mound
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Elk Mound is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Mound
- Population from the 2020 Census: 884 people
- Knapp
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Knapp is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knapp
- Population from the 2020 Census: 458 people
- Tainter Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Tainter Lake is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tainter Lake
- Wheeler
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Wheeler is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
- Colfax
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Colfax is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colfax
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,151 people
- Boyceville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Boyceville is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyceville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,124 people
- Buffalo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downsville, with the one closest to Downsville listed first.
- Maxville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Maxville is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 302 people
- Savoy ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Savoy is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savoy
- Springdale ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Springdale is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Mondovi
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Mondovi is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mondovi
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,562 people
- Nelson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Nelson is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 343 people
- Gilmanton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Gilmanton is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmanton
- Lookout
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lookout is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lookout
- Chippewa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downsville, with the one closest to Downsville listed first.
- Albertville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Albertville is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albertville
- Lake Hallie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Lake Hallie is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Hallie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,779 people
- Irvine
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Irvine is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvine
- Chippewa Falls
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Chippewa Falls is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippewa Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14,407 people
- Eau Claire County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downsville, with the one closest to Downsville listed first.
- Lufkin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Lufkin is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lufkin
- Shawtown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Shawtown is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawtown
- Eau Claire
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eau Claire
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69,087 people
- Altoona
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Altoona is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altoona
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,062 people
- Seymour
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Seymour is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
- Allen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Allen is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Pepin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downsville, with the one closest to Downsville listed first.
- Durand
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Durand is located in Pepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durand
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,789 people
- Arkansaw
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Arkansaw is located in Pepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkansaw
- Ella
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Ella is located in Pepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ella
- Barry Corner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Barry Corner is located in Pepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barry Corner
- Lund
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lund is located in Pepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lund
- Lakeport
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lakeport is located in Pepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeport
- Pepin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pepin is located in Pepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pepin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 747 people
- Stockholm
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Stockholm is located in Pepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockholm
- Population from the 2020 Census: 64 people
- Pierce County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downsville, with the one closest to Downsville listed first.
- Elmwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Elmwood is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 790 people
- Olivet
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Olivet is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Spring Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Spring Valley is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,323 people
- Plum City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Plum City is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 603 people
- Waverly
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Waverly is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- El Paso
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- El Paso is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for El Paso
- Maiden Rock
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Maiden Rock is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maiden Rock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Martell
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Martell is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martell
- Ellsworth
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Ellsworth is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellsworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,272 people
- Morton Corner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Morton Corner is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morton Corner
- Bay City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bay City is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
- Beldenville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Beldenville is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beldenville
- Saint Croix County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downsville, with the one closest to Downsville listed first.
- Wilson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wilson is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 185 people
- Hersey
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Hersey is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersey
- Woodville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Woodville is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,351 people
- Glenwood City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Glenwood City is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,214 people
- Baldwin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Baldwin is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,078 people
- Hammond
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hammond is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,890 people
- Trempealeau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downsville, with the one closest to Downsville listed first.
- Eleva
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Eleva is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleva
- Population from the 2020 Census: 661 people
- Strum
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Strum is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strum
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,071 people
- Goodhue County (MN)
- Frontenac
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wabasha County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Downsville, with the one closest to Downsville listed first.
- Reads Landing
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Wabasha
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Lake City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Downsville, see our County-by-County Page for Downsville.
Cemeteries Near Downsville ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Downsville.
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 Downsville - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Downsville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Downsville, with the one closest to Downsville listed first.
- Pownell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Rosehill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Riverview Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Grandview Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Valley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Little Elk Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Froens Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lower Weston Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Peace Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (165 more) ...
- Weber Valley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- St. Henrys Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Henrys Cemetery
- The St. Henrys Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Henrys Catholic Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #88942 <2>
- Clearview Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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 Downsville had a population of 213 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Downsville, with the one closest to Downsville listed first.
- Dunnville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Dunnville is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnville
- Eau Galle
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Eau Galle is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eau Galle
- Menomonie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Menomonie is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menomonie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,599 people
- Meridean
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Meridean is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridean
- North Menomonie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- North Menomonie is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Menomonie
- Menomonie Junction
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Menomonie Junction is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menomonie Junction
- Arkansaw
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Arkansaw is located in Pepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkansaw
- Durand
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Durand is located in Pepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durand
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,789 people
- Rusk
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rusk is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rusk
- Elmwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Elmwood is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 790 people
- Cedar Falls
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Cedar Falls is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Falls
- Hatchville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hatchville is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatchville
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Exile
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Exile is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exile
- Rock Falls
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Rock Falls is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Falls
- Caryville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Caryville is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caryville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Downsville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Downsville.
Newspapers Published in Downsville ...
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 126 newspapers that have been published in the area around Downsville.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Downsville, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Downsville.
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 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 Downsville:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Dunn County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Buffalo County
- Chippewa County
- Eau Claire County
- Pepin County
- Pierce County
- Saint Croix County
- Trempealeau County
- Goodhue County
- Wabasha County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Wisconsin
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 Downsville, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Downsville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |