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 Plainfield (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 Plainfield. 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 southwest 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 south.
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 south 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.
Plainfield is located in Waushara 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 Waushara County: Adams, Green Lake, Marquette, Portage, Waupaca & Winnebago.
Below are the counties that are near Plainfield. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Plainfield:
- Waushara County (The home county of Plainfield)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Hancock
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Hancock is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 402 people
- Wild Rose
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Wild Rose is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wild Rose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 651 people
- Coloma
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Coloma is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coloma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 444 people
- Wautoma
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wautoma is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wautoma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,114 people
- Mount Morris
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Morris is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Morris
- Silver Lake
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Silver Lake is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
- Saxeville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Saxeville is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxeville
- Pine River
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Pine River is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine River
- Lohrville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lohrville is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lohrville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 389 people
- Redgranite
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Redgranite is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redgranite
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,111 people
- Rodney ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Rodney is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodney
- Poy Sippi
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Poy Sippi is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poy Sippi
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Leola
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Leola is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leola
- Pilot Knob ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Pilot Knob is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Knob
- Big Flats
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Big Flats is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Flats
- New Rome ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- New Rome is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Rome
- Adams
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Adams is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,905 people
- Arkdale
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Arkdale is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkdale
- Friendship
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Friendship is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Population from the 2020 Census: 676 people
- Strongs Prairie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Strongs Prairie is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strongs Prairie
- Easton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Easton is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easton
- Juneau County
- New Miner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- New Miner is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Miner
- Marquette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Westfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Westfield is located in Marquette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,268 people
- Neshkoro
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Neshkoro is located in Marquette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neshkoro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 425 people
- Germania
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Germania is located in Marquette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germania
- Montello
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Montello is located in Marquette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,454 people
- Oxford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Oxford is located in Marquette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 604 people
- Portage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Almond
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Almond is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
- Blaine
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Blaine is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blaine
- Arnott
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Arnott is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnott
- Plover
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Plover is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,252 people
- Whiting
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Whiting is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiting
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,704 people
- Amherst Junction
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Amherst Junction is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst Junction
- Population from the 2020 Census: 392 people
- Amherst
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Amherst is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,082 people
- Lake Emily ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Emily is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Emily
- Custer
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Custer is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer
- Park Ridge
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Park Ridge is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Ridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 496 people
- Stevens Point
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Stevens Point is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stevens Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 25,949 people
- Nelsonville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Nelsonville is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 151 people
- Waupaca County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Cobb Town
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cobb Town is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb Town
- Rural
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Rural is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rural
- King
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- King is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King
- Sheridan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sheridan is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Waupaca
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Waupaca is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waupaca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,857 people
- Scandinavia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Scandinavia is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scandinavia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 349 people
- Iola
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Iola is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,190 people
- Weyauwega
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Weyauwega is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weyauwega
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,745 people
- Baldwins Mill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Baldwins Mill is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwins Mill
- Ogdensburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ogdensburg is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogdensburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
- Gills Landing
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Gills Landing is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gills Landing
- Wood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Lake Wazeecha
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Wazeecha is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Wazeecha
- Grand Rapids
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Grand Rapids is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Rapids
- Biron
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Biron is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
- Wisconsin Rapids
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Wisconsin Rapids is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wisconsin Rapids
- Population from the 2020 Census: 17,555 people
- Port Edwards
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Port Edwards is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Edwards
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,752 people
- Nekoosa
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Nekoosa is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nekoosa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,391 people
- Rudolph
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Rudolph is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudolph
- Population from the 2020 Census: 411 people
- Eight Corners
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Eight Corners is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eight Corners
- Vesper
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Vesper is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vesper
- Population from the 2020 Census: 539 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Plainfield, see our County-by-County Page for Plainfield.
Cemeteries Near Plainfield ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Plainfield.
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 Plainfield - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Plainfield covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Hillside Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Ray Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Plainfield Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Guardian Angel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Spiritland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- North Deerfield Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Oasis Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Fish Lake Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lord Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- East German Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (159 more) ...
- St. Johns Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lone Pine Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Coloma - Leola Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Plainfield had a population of 459 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Plainfield had a population of 832 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Hancock
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Hancock is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 402 people
- Almond
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Almond is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
- Bancroft
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Bancroft is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bancroft
- Keene
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Keene is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keene
- Blaine
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Blaine is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blaine
- Coloma
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Coloma is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coloma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 444 people
- Wild Rose
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Wild Rose is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wild Rose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 651 people
- Richford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Richford is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richford
- Pilot Knob ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Pilot Knob is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Knob
- Dakota
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dakota is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dakota
- Mount Morris
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Morris is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Morris
- Arnott
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Arnott is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnott
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Meehan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Meehan is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meehan
- Saxeville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Saxeville is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxeville
- Rural
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Rural is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rural
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Plainfield. See our List of 1890's Communities around Plainfield.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Plainfield ...
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 90 newspapers that have been published in the area around Plainfield.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Plainfield. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Plainfield and those printed in the larger area surrounding Plainfield.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Plainfield.
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 Plainfield:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Waushara County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Juneau County
- Marquette County
- Portage County
- Waupaca 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 Plainfield, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Plainfield) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |