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 Mattoon (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 Mattoon. 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 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.
Mattoon is located in Shawano 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 Shawano County: Brown, Langlade, Marathon, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Portage & Waupaca.
Below are the counties that are near Mattoon. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Mattoon:
- Shawano County (The home county of Mattoon)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mattoon, with the one closest to Mattoon listed first.
- Almon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Almon is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almon
- Regina
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Regina is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Regina
- Aniwa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Aniwa is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aniwa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
- Birnamwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Birnamwood is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birnamwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 772 people
- Bowler
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Bowler is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 286 people
- Eland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Eland is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 205 people
- Wittenberg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wittenberg is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wittenberg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 986 people
- Middle Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Middle Village is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middle Village
- Gresham
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gresham is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 563 people
- Tigerton
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Tigerton is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tigerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 702 people
- Leopolis
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Leopolis is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leopolis
- Split Rock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Split Rock is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Split Rock
- Langlade County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mattoon, with the one closest to Mattoon listed first.
- Phlox
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Phlox is located in Langlade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phlox
- Antigo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Antigo is located in Langlade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antigo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,719 people
- Bryant
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Bryant is located in Langlade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
- Neva Corners
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Neva Corners is located in Langlade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neva Corners
- Deerbrook
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Deerbrook is located in Langlade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerbrook
- White Lake
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- White Lake is located in Langlade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
- Langlade
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Langlade is located in Langlade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langlade
- Kempster
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Kempster is located in Langlade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kempster
- Lily
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lily is located in Langlade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lily
- Freeman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Freeman is located in Langlade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
- Elcho
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Elcho is located in Langlade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elcho
- Post Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Post Lake is located in Langlade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Post Lake
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mattoon, with the one closest to Mattoon listed first.
- Dutch Corners ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dutch Corners is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutch Corners
- Dudley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dudley is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
- Gleason
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gleason is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gleason
- Marathon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mattoon, with the one closest to Mattoon listed first.
- Norrie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Norrie is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norrie
- Hatley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hatley is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 603 people
- Elderon
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Elderon is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elderon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 213 people
- Pike Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Pike Lake is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pike Lake
- Glandon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Glandon is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glandon
- Ringle
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ringle is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ringle
- Sunset
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Sunset is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset
- Galloway
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Galloway is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galloway
- Nutterville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Nutterville is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutterville
- Weston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Weston is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,165 people
- Schofield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Schofield is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schofield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,153 people
- Brokaw
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Brokaw is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
- Estimated population in 2018: 245 people
- Menominee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mattoon, with the one closest to Mattoon listed first.
- Zoar
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Zoar is located in Menominee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zoar
- Neopit
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Neopit is located in Menominee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neopit
- Keshena
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Keshena is located in Menominee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keshena
- Legend Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Legend Lake is located in Menominee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Legend Lake
- Oconto County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mattoon, with the one closest to Mattoon listed first.
- Breed
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Breed is located in Oconto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breed
- Mountain
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain is located in Oconto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
- Portage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mattoon, with the one closest to Mattoon listed first.
- Alban
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Alban is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alban
- Rosholt
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Rosholt is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosholt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 481 people
- Waupaca County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mattoon, with the one closest to Mattoon listed first.
- Marion
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Marion is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,167 people
- Granite City ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Granite City is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granite City
- Big Falls
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Big Falls is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Embarrass
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Embarrass is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Embarrass
- Population from the 2020 Census: 375 people
- Clintonville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Clintonville is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clintonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,353 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Mattoon, see our County-by-County Page for Mattoon.
Cemeteries Near Mattoon ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mattoon.
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 Mattoon - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Mattoon covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Mattoon, with the one closest to Mattoon listed first.
- Holy Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Norwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Leiskau Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- St. Pauls Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Pauls Lutheran Cemetery
- The St. Pauls Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
- Old St. Paulus Cemetery
- St. Pauls Cemetery
- Riverside Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside Cemetery
- The Riverside Cemetery has also been known as:
- Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
- Town Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hall Pioneer Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rolling Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- St. Boniface Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Highland Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Cemetery
- The Highland Cemetery has also been known as:
- Bartelme Town Cemetery
- Bowler Community Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2180760 <1>
- Forest Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (88 more) ...
- St. Anthonys Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Elmwood Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- St. Philomene Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 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.<2>
While we didn't find Mattoon in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Mattoon.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Mattoon, with the one closest to Mattoon listed first.
- Phlox
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Phlox is located in Langlade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phlox
- Regina
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Regina is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Regina
- Elmhurst
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Elmhurst is located in Langlade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmhurst
- Aniwa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Aniwa is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aniwa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
- Birnamwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Birnamwood is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birnamwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 772 people
- Antigo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Antigo is located in Langlade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antigo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,719 people
- Eland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Eland is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 205 people
- Hogarty
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Hogarty is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hogarty
- Norrie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Norrie is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norrie
- Wittenberg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wittenberg is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wittenberg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 986 people
- Elton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Elton is located in Langlade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elton
- Bryant
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Bryant is located in Langlade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Whitcomb
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Whitcomb is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitcomb
- Hatley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hatley is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 603 people
- Deerbrook
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Deerbrook is located in Langlade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerbrook
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Mattoon. See our List of 1890's Communities around Mattoon.
Newspapers Published in Mattoon ...
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 80 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mattoon.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Mattoon, 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 Mattoon.
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 Mattoon:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Shawano County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Langlade County
- Lincoln County
- Marathon County
- Menominee County
- Oconto County
- Portage County
- Waupaca 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 Mattoon, 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- Mattoon) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |