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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 Leeds (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 Leeds. 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 doctors and 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.

Leeds is located in Columbia 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 Columbia County: Adams, Dane, Dodge, Green Lake, Juneau, Marquette & Sauk.

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

  • Columbia County     (The home county of Leeds)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leeds, with the one closest to Leeds listed first.
    • North Leeds
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • North Leeds is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Leeds
    • Keyeser
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Keyeser is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyeser
    • Arlington
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Arlington is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 818 people
    • Poynette
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Poynette is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poynette
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,508 people
    • Otsego
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Otsego is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otsego
    • Rio
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Rio is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rio
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,047 people
    • Lodi
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Lodi is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,109 people
    • Doylestown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Doylestown is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doylestown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
    • Harmony Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Harmony Grove is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony Grove
    • Wyocena
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Wyocena is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyocena
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 727 people
      • Former names for Wyocena:
      • Duck Creek
      • Wiocena
    • Lake Wisconsin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Lake Wisconsin is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Wisconsin
    • Okee
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Okee is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okee
  • Dane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leeds, with the one closest to Leeds listed first.
    • Morrisonville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Morrisonville is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisonville
    • DeForest
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • DeForest is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeForest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,915 people
    • Windsor
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Windsor is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
    • North Bristol
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • North Bristol is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bristol
    • East Bristol
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • East Bristol is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bristol
    • Sun Prairie
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Sun Prairie is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun Prairie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35,119 people
    • Dane
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Dane is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dane
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,134 people
    • Waunakee
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Waunakee is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waunakee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,188 people
    • Burke
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Burke is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burke
    • Darwin ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Darwin is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darwin
    • Mendota
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Mendota is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendota
    • Maple Bluff
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Maple Bluff is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Bluff
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,307 people
  • Dodge County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leeds, with the one closest to Leeds listed first.
    • Astico
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Astico is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astico
    • Randolph
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Randolph is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,738 people
    • Reeseville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Reeseville is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeseville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 673 people
    • Lowell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Lowell is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 322 people
    • Beaver Dam
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Beaver Dam is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Dam
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,303 people
    • Fox Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Fox Lake is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,440 people
    • Clyman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Clyman is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
  • Green Lake County
    • Kingston
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Kingston is located in Green Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 319 people
  • Iowa County
    • Cassell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Cassell is located in Iowa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassell
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leeds, with the one closest to Leeds listed first.
    • Waterloo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Waterloo is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,322 people
    • Lake Mills
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake Mills is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Mills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,014 people
    • Lake Ripley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake Ripley is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Ripley
    • Milford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Milford is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford
    • Grellton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Grellton is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grellton
  • Marquette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leeds, with the one closest to Leeds listed first.
    • Endeavor
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Endeavor is located in Marquette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Endeavor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 464 people
    • Glen Oak
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Glen Oak is located in Marquette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Oak
    • Douglas Center
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Douglas Center is located in Marquette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas Center
  • Sauk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leeds, with the one closest to Leeds listed first.
    • Merrimac
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Merrimac is located in Sauk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrimac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 441 people
    • Moon Valley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Moon Valley is located in Sauk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moon Valley
    • Prairie du Sac village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Prairie du Sac village is located in Sauk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie du Sac village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,426 people
    • Sauk City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Sauk City is located in Sauk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sauk City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,498 people
    • Baraboo
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Baraboo is located in Sauk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baraboo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,121 people
    • West Baraboo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • West Baraboo is located in Sauk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Baraboo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,416 people
    • Denzer
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Denzer is located in Sauk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denzer
    • North Freedom
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • North Freedom is located in Sauk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Freedom
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 690 people
    • Witwen
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Witwen is located in Sauk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witwen
    • Lake Delton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Lake Delton is located in Sauk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Delton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,986 people

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

Cemeteries Near Leeds ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Leeds.

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 Leeds - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Leeds had a population of 79 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • North Leeds
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • North Leeds is located in Columbia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Leeds
  • Morrisonville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Morrisonville is located in Dane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisonville
  • Keyeser
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Keyeser is located in Columbia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyeser
  • Arlington
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Arlington is located in Columbia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 818 people
  • DeForest
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • DeForest is located in Dane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeForest
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,915 people
  • Lowville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Lowville is located in Columbia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowville
  • Norway Grove
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Norway Grove is located in Dane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norway Grove
  • Windsor
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Windsor is located in Dane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
  • North Bristol
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • North Bristol is located in Dane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bristol
  • Poynette
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Poynette is located in Columbia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poynette
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,508 people
  • Dane
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Dane is located in Dane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dane
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,134 people
  • Sun Prairie
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Sun Prairie is located in Dane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun Prairie
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 35,119 people
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • East Bristol
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • East Bristol is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bristol
    • Waunakee
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Waunakee is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waunakee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,188 people
    • Otsego
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Otsego is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otsego

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

Newspapers Published in Leeds ...

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 221 newspapers that have been published in the area around Leeds.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Leeds, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Leeds.

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 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 Leeds:

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 Leeds, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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- Leeds) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.