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 Excelsior (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 Excelsior. 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 and hospitals 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.
Excelsior is located in Richland 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 Richland County: Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Sauk & Vernon.
Below are the counties that are near Excelsior. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Excelsior:
- Richland County (The home county of Excelsior)
- The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
- Westport
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Westport is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westport
- Boaz
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Boaz is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boaz
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Balmoral
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Balmoral is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balmoral
- Sabin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Sabin is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sabin
- Richland Center
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Richland Center is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,949 people
- Gillingham
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Gillingham is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillingham
- Aubrey
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Aubrey is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aubrey
- Sextonville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Sextonville is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sextonville
- Viola
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Viola is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 665 people
- Ithaca
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Ithaca is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ithaca
- Bloom City
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Bloom City is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloom City
- Woodstock
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Woodstock is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
- Bell Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Bell Center is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 114 people
- Petersburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Petersburg is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
- Soldiers Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Soldiers Grove is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soldiers Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 535 people
- Steuben
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Steuben is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steuben
- Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
- Gays Mills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Gays Mills is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays Mills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 504 people
- Boydtown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Boydtown is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boydtown
- Mount Sterling
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Mount Sterling is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sterling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 196 people
- Towerville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Towerville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Towerville
- Wauzeka
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wauzeka is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauzeka
- Population from the 2020 Census: 733 people
- Rising Sun
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rising Sun is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
- Eastman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Eastman is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 404 people
- Ferryville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Ferryville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferryville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
- Grant County
- The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
- Blue River
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Blue River is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 418 people
- Boscobel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Boscobel is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boscobel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,134 people
- Muscoda
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Muscoda is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muscoda
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
- Woodman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Woodman is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Werley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Werley is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Werley
- Fennimore
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Fennimore is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fennimore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,469 people
- Preston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Preston is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Preston
- Mount Ida
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Mount Ida is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Ida
- Montfort
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Montfort is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montfort
- Population from the 2020 Census: 675 people
- Millville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Millville is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millville
- Stitzer
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Stitzer is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stitzer
- Mount Hope
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Hope is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Population from the 2020 Census: 216 people
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
- Avoca
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Avoca is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 620 people
- Highland
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Highland is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 826 people
- Centreville ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Centreville is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Former name for Centreville:
- Dry Bone
- Cobb
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Cobb is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb
- Population from the 2020 Census: 455 people
- Edmund
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Edmund is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmund
- Linden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Linden is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 523 people
- Rewey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rewey is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rewey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 283 people
- Sauk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
- Sandusky
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sandusky is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Spring Green
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Spring Green is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Green
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,630 people
- Lime Ridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lime Ridge is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime Ridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
- Plain
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Plain is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 765 people
- Vernon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
- Readstown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Readstown is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Readstown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 414 people
- Liberty
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Liberty is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Fargo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Fargo is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fargo
- Liberty Pole
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty Pole is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Pole
- La Farge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- La Farge is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Farge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 763 people
- Viroqua
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Viroqua is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viroqua
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,394 people
- West Prairie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- West Prairie is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Prairie
- White City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- White City is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Retreat
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Retreat is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Retreat
- Purdy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Purdy is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purdy
- Westby
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Westby is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,254 people
- Allamakee County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
- Harpers Ferry
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Waukon Junction
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Waukon Junction is located in Allamakee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waukon Junction
- Lansing
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Excelsior, see our County-by-County Page for Excelsior.
Cemeteries Near Excelsior ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Excelsior.
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 Excelsior - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Excelsior covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
- Haskins Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- West Fork Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<2> to the southwest of Boaz.
- The Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
- Maple Ridge Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2350091 <3>
- Tavera Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- St. Patrick Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Sand Prairie Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Coumbe Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Methodist Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Steele Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Blue River Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Five Points Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (216 more) ...
- Union Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Wayne Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Basswood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
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 Excelsior had a population of 167 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
- Westport
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Westport is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westport
- Byrds Creek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Byrds Creek is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byrds Creek
- Five Points
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Five Points is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Blue River
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Blue River is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 418 people
- Basswood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Basswood is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Basswood
- Boaz
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Boaz is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boaz
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Boscobel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Boscobel is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boscobel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,134 people
- Balmoral
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Balmoral is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balmoral
- North Clayton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- North Clayton is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Clayton
- Muscoda
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Muscoda is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muscoda
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
- Orion
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Orion is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orion
- Mill Creek ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mill Creek is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Creek
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Bell Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Bell Center is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 114 people
- Sylvan
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Sylvan is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
- Homer
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Homer is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Excelsior. See our List of 1890's Communities around Excelsior.
Newspapers Published in Excelsior ...
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 149 newspapers that have been published in the area around Excelsior.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Excelsior, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Excelsior.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Excelsior:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Richland County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Crawford County
- Grant County
- Iowa County
- Sauk County
- Vernon County
- Allamakee 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> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Excelsior) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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 Excelsior, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |