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 Finley (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 Finley. 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 and doctors 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.
Finley is located in Juneau 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 Juneau County: Adams, Columbia, Jackson, Monroe, Sauk, Vernon & Wood.
Below are the counties that are near Finley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Finley:
- Juneau County (The home county of Finley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
- Sprague
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Sprague is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprague
- New Miner
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- New Miner is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Miner
- Mather
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mather is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mather
- Necedah
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Necedah is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Necedah
- Population from the 2020 Census: 923 people
- Camp Douglas
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Camp Douglas is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Douglas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 625 people
- Hustler
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Hustler is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hustler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 190 people
- New Lisbon
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- New Lisbon is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lisbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,547 people
- Mauston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Mauston is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mauston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,358 people
- Lemonweir
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lemonweir is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lemonweir
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
- New Rome ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- New Rome is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Rome
- Strongs Prairie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Strongs Prairie is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strongs Prairie
- Arkdale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Arkdale is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkdale
- Big Flats
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Big Flats is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Flats
- Friendship
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Friendship is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Population from the 2020 Census: 676 people
- Leola
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Leola is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leola
- Adams
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Adams is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,905 people
- Quincy ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Quincy is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
- Easton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Easton is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easton
- Pilot Knob ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pilot Knob is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Knob
- Clark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
- Chili
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Chili is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chili
- Granton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Granton is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 343 people
- Crawford County
- Lynxville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Lynxville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynxville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 125 people
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
- City Point
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- City Point is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for City Point
- Lapham Junction
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Lapham Junction is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapham Junction
- Pray
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Pray is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pray
- Millston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Millston is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 162 people
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
- Shennington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Shennington is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shennington
- Valley Junction
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Valley Junction is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Junction
- Wyeville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wyeville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyeville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Warrens
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Warrens is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrens
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Oakdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oakdale is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 290 people
- Tomah
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Tomah is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tomah
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,363 people
- Clifton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Clifton is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Tunnel City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Tunnel City is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnel City
- Waushara County
- Hancock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Hancock is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 402 people
- Wood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
- Nekoosa
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Nekoosa is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nekoosa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,391 people
- Pittsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Pittsville is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 820 people
- Port Edwards
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Port Edwards is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Edwards
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,752 people
- Wisconsin Rapids
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Wisconsin Rapids is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wisconsin Rapids
- Population from the 2020 Census: 17,555 people
- Eight Corners
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Eight Corners is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eight Corners
- Vesper
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Vesper is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vesper
- Population from the 2020 Census: 539 people
- Grand Rapids
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Grand Rapids is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Rapids
- Lake Wazeecha
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Wazeecha is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Wazeecha
- Arpin
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Arpin is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arpin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
- Biron
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Biron is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
- Lindsey
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Lindsey is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindsey
- Rudolph
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rudolph is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudolph
- Population from the 2020 Census: 411 people
- Sherry
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Sherry is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherry
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Finley, see our County-by-County Page for Finley.
Cemeteries Near Finley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Finley.
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 Finley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Finley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
- Meadow Valley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Zion Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Searles Prairie Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Novotny Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Babcock Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Hillcrest Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Monroe Center Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Strongs Prairie Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (115 more) ...
- Bayview Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayview Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Bayview Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Necedah.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #342321 <1>
- Green Hill Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- City Point Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Finley in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Finley.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
- Sprague
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Sprague is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprague
- Meadow Valley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Meadow Valley is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow Valley
- Babcock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Babcock is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babcock
- Mather
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mather is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mather
- Norway Ridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Norway Ridge is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norway Ridge
- Monroe Center
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Monroe Center is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe Center
- Cloverdale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Cloverdale is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Strongs Prairie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Strongs Prairie is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strongs Prairie
- New Rome ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- New Rome is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Rome
- City Point
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- City Point is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for City Point
- Veedum
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Veedum is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Veedum
- Walker
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Walker is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Pittsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Pittsville is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 820 people
- Port Edwards
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Port Edwards is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Edwards
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,752 people
- Spaulding
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Spaulding is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Finley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Finley.
Newspapers Published in Finley ...
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 49 newspapers that have been published in the area around Finley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Finley, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Finley.
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 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 Finley:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Juneau County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Clark County
- Crawford County
- Jackson County
- Monroe County
- Waushara County
- Wood County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Wisconsin
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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. |
| <2> | 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 Finley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Finley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |