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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 Potosi (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 Potosi. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.

Potosi is located in Grant 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 Grant County: Clayton (IA), Dubuque (IA), Jo Daviess (IL), Crawford, Iowa, Lafayette & Richland.

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

  • Grant County     (The home county of Potosi)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Potosi, with the one closest to Potosi listed first.
    • Tennyson
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Tennyson is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tennyson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 339 people
    • Dickeyville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Dickeyville is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickeyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,020 people
    • Sinnipee ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Lancaster
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Jamestown
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Rutledge
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Beetown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Platteville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Platteville is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Platteville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,650 people
    • Cassville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Cuba City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Cuba City is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,047 people
    • North Andover
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Stitzer
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
  • Crawford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Potosi, with the one closest to Potosi listed first.
    • Wauzeka
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Wauzeka is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauzeka
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 733 people
    • Bridgeport
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Boydtown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Iowa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Potosi, with the one closest to Potosi listed first.
    • Rewey
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Centreville ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Cobb
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Linden
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Linden is located in Iowa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 523 people
    • Edmund
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Highland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Mineral Point
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Lafayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Potosi, with the one closest to Potosi listed first.
    • Elk Grove
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Benton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Benton is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 966 people
    • Belmont
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Etna
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • New Diggings
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • White Oak
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Shullsburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Shullsburg is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shullsburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,192 people
    • Fort Gratiot ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Calamine
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Darlington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Darlington is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,317 people
  • Clayton County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Potosi, with the one closest to Potosi listed first.
    • North Buena Vista
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • North Buena Vista is located in Clayton County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Buena Vista
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
    • Turkey River
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Millville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Guttenberg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Osterdock
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Clayton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Elkport
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Elkport is located in Clayton County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkport
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 36 people
    • Garber
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Garnavillo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Delaware County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Potosi, with the one closest to Potosi listed first.
    • Colesburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Holy Cross
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Holy Cross is located in Delaware County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holy Cross
    • Petersburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Rockville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Dubuque County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Potosi, with the one closest to Potosi listed first.
    • Sherrill
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Balltown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Old Balltown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Waupeton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Durango
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Sageville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Sageville is located in Dubuque County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sageville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
    • Rickardsville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Rickardsville is located in Dubuque County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rickardsville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
    • Asbury
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Asbury is located in Dubuque County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asbury
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,841 people
    • Dubuque
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Rockdale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Graf
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Graf is located in Dubuque County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graf
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
    • Holy Cross
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Holy Cross is located in Dubuque County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holy Cross
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 370 people
  • Jackson County (IA)
  • Jo Daviess County (IL)

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

Cemeteries Near Potosi ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Potosi.

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

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

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

  • Van Buren Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • St. Thomas Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Osceola Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • British Hollow Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Hampton Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Boice Creek Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Boice Prairie Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Sherrill Methodist Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Kinney Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Harrison Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Hurricane Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • IOOF Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (252 more) ...

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 Potosi had a population of 512 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Potosi had a population of 668 people.

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

  • British Hollow
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • British Hollow is located in Grant County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for British Hollow
  • Rockville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Rockville is located in Grant County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
  • Burton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Burton is located in Grant County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton
  • Sherrill
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Cameron
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Cameron is located in Dubuque County (IA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
  • Dickeyville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Dickeyville is located in Grant County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickeyville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,020 people
  • Hurricane
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Hurricane is located in Grant County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurricane
  • McCartney
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • McCartney is located in Grant County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCartney
  • Balltown
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Ellenboro
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Ellenboro is located in Grant County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellenboro
  • Waupeton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Durango
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Sageville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Sageville is located in Dubuque County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sageville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
    • Kieler
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Kieler is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kieler
    • Rutledge
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Potosi ...

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 63 newspapers that have been published in the area around Potosi.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Potosi. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Potosi and those printed in the larger area surrounding Potosi.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3> of Potosi.

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 Potosi:

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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 Potosi, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Potosi) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.