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 Peru (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 Peru. 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 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.
Peru is located in Portage 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 Portage County: Adams, Marathon, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara & Wood.
Below are the counties that are near Peru. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Peru:
- Portage County (The home county of Peru)
- The following are listed by their distance from Peru, with the one closest to Peru listed first.
- Garfield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Garfield is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield
- Alban
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Alban is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alban
- Rosholt
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Rosholt is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosholt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 481 people
- Nelsonville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Nelsonville is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 151 people
- Amherst Junction
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Amherst Junction is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst Junction
- Population from the 2020 Census: 392 people
- Amherst
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Amherst is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,082 people
- Lake Emily ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Emily is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Emily
- Polonia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Polonia is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polonia
- Custer
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Custer is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer
- Ellis
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Ellis is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
- Arnott
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Arnott is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnott
- Torun
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Torun is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torun
- Park Ridge
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Park Ridge is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Ridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 496 people
- Marathon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peru, with the one closest to Peru listed first.
- Galloway
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Galloway is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galloway
- Elderon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Elderon is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elderon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 213 people
- Pike Lake
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Pike Lake is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pike Lake
- Ashley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Ashley is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley
- Norrie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Norrie is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norrie
- Hatley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Hatley is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 603 people
- Ringle
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Ringle is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ringle
- Evergreen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Evergreen is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen
- Kronenwetter
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Kronenwetter is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kronenwetter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,143 people
- Mosinee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mosinee is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mosinee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,195 people
- Weston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Weston is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,165 people
- Rothschild
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rothschild is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rothschild
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,256 people
- Schofield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Schofield is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schofield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,153 people
- Outagamie County
- Bear Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Bear Creek is located in Outagamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 439 people
- Shawano County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peru, with the one closest to Peru listed first.
- Split Rock
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Split Rock is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Split Rock
- Tigerton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Tigerton is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tigerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 702 people
- Wittenberg
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Wittenberg is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wittenberg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 986 people
- Eland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Eland is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 205 people
- Bowler
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Bowler is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 286 people
- Leopolis
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Leopolis is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leopolis
- Pella
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Pella is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pella
- Regina
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Regina is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Regina
- Birnamwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Birnamwood is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birnamwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 772 people
- Almon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Almon is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almon
- Gresham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Gresham is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 563 people
- Belle Plaine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Belle Plaine is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Plaine
- Aniwa
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Aniwa is located in Shawano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aniwa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
- Waupaca County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peru, with the one closest to Peru listed first.
- Iola
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Iola is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,190 people
- Scandinavia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Scandinavia is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scandinavia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 349 people
- Big Falls
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Big Falls is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Sheridan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Sheridan is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Granite City ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Granite City is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granite City
- Cobb Town
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Cobb Town is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb Town
- Ogdensburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ogdensburg is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogdensburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
- King
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- King is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King
- Manawa
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Manawa is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manawa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,269 people
- Waupaca
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Waupaca is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waupaca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,857 people
- Marion
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Marion is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,167 people
- Rural
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Rural is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rural
- Baldwins Mill
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Baldwins Mill is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwins Mill
- Waushara County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peru, with the one closest to Peru listed first.
- Saxeville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Saxeville is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxeville
- Wild Rose
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Wild Rose is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wild Rose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 651 people
- West Bloomfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- West Bloomfield is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bloomfield
- Plainfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Plainfield is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 832 people
- Pine River
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Pine River is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine River
- Wood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peru, with the one closest to Peru listed first.
- Biron
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Biron is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
- Rudolph
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Rudolph is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudolph
- Population from the 2020 Census: 411 people
- Lake Wazeecha
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Wazeecha is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Wazeecha
- Grand Rapids
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Grand Rapids is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Rapids
- Milladore
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Milladore is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milladore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Peru, see our County-by-County Page for Peru.
Cemeteries Near Peru ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Peru.
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 Peru - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Peru covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Peru, with the one closest to Peru listed first.
- Northland Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Nelsonville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hitterdahl Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- St. Adalbert Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Scandinavia Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Iola Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lola Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bickel Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Amherst Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lower Amherst Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Continue List (163 more) ...
- Big Falls Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Kimball Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Farmington Lutheran Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
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 in 1895, Peru had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Peru, with the one closest to Peru listed first.
- Garfield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Garfield is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield
- Northland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Northland is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northland
- New Hope
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- New Hope is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Alban
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Alban is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alban
- Nelsonville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Nelsonville is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 151 people
- Amherst Junction
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Amherst Junction is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst Junction
- Population from the 2020 Census: 392 people
- Iola
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Iola is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,190 people
- Lake Emily ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Emily is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Emily
- Amherst
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Amherst is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,082 people
- Scandinavia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Scandinavia is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scandinavia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 349 people
- Polonia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Polonia is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polonia
- Custer
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Custer is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Ellis
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Ellis is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
- Fancher
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Fancher is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher
- Stockton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Stockton is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Peru. See our List of 1890's Communities around Peru.
Newspapers Published in Peru ...
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 93 newspapers that have been published in the area around Peru.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Peru, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Peru.
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 Peru:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Portage County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Marathon County
- Outagamie County
- Shawano County
- Waupaca 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 Peru, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Peru) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |