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 Preston (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 Preston. 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 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.
Preston is located in Grant County.
To see how the shape of Wisconsin's counties 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 Preston. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Preston:
- Grant County (The home county of Preston)
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Annaton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annaton
- Annaton is located in Grant County
- Montfort
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montfort
- Montfort is located in Grant County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 675 people
- Stitzer
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stitzer
- Stitzer is located in Grant County
- Fennimore
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fennimore
- Fennimore is located in Grant County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,469 people
- Livingston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Livingston have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livingston
- Livingston is located in Grant County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 632 people
- Mount Ida
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west) - Lancaster
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest) - Boscobel
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest) - Blue River
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Blue River have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue River
- Blue River is located in Grant County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 418 people
- Woodman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest) - Muscoda
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north) - Mount Hope
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mount Hope have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Mount Hope is located in Grant County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 216 people
- Platteville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Platteville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Platteville
- Platteville is located in Grant County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 11,650 people
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Boydtown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boydtown
- Boydtown is located in Crawford County
- Wauzeka
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest) - Steuben
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steuben
- Steuben is located in Crawford County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
- Bell Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bell Center have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Center
- Bell Center is located in Crawford County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 114 people
- Petersburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
- Petersburg is located in Crawford County
- Bridgeport
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
- Bridgeport is located in Crawford County
- Eastman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest) - Gays Mills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gays Mills have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays Mills
- Gays Mills is located in Crawford County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 504 people
- Soldiers Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Soldiers Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soldiers Grove
- Soldiers Grove is located in Crawford County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 535 people
- Mount Sterling
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mount Sterling have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sterling
- Mount Sterling is located in Crawford County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 196 people
- Prairie du Chien
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie du Chien
- Prairie du Chien is located in Crawford County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,531 people
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Centreville ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Centreville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Centreville is located in Iowa County
- Former names for Centreville:
- Dry Bone Post Office
- Dry Bone
- Highland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast) - Cobb
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east) - Rewey
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rewey
- Rewey is located in Iowa County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 283 people
- Edmund
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmund
- Edmund is located in Iowa County
- Linden
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east) - Avoca
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast) - Mineral Point
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Point
- Mineral Point is located in Iowa County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,454 people
- Dodgeville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dodgeville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodgeville
- Dodgeville is located in Iowa County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,677 people
- Pleasant Ridge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Ridge
- Pleasant Ridge is located in Iowa County
- Ridgeway
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east) - Hyde
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hyde
- Hyde is located in Iowa County
- Helena
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
- Helena is located in Iowa County
- Lafayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Belmont
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Belmont is located in Lafayette County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 974 people
- Elk Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south) - Calamine
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calamine
- Calamine is located in Lafayette County
- Benton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south) - Darlington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Darlington have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington
- Darlington is located in Lafayette County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,317 people
- Etna
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Richland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Westport
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north) - Balmoral
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north) - Lone Rock
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast) - Boaz
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north) - Richland Center
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland Center
- Richland Center is located in Richland County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,949 people
- Aubrey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aubrey
- Aubrey is located in Richland County
- Neptune
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neptune
- Neptune is located in Richland County
- Sauk County
- Spring Green
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Spring Green have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Green
- Spring Green is located in Sauk County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,630 people
- Spring Green
- Clayton County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- North Buena Vista
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Buena Vista have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Buena Vista
- North Buena Vista is located in Clayton County (IA)
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Guttenberg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guttenberg
- Guttenberg is located in Clayton County (IA)
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,783 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Guttenberg <2>
- Clayton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
- Clayton is located in Clayton County (IA)
- Population from the 2020 Census: 39 people
- Dubuque County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Waupeton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waupeton
- Waupeton is located in Dubuque County (IA)
- Balltown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest) - Old Balltown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Balltown
- Old Balltown is located in Dubuque County (IA)
- Sherrill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherrill
- Sherrill is located in Dubuque County (IA)
- Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sherrill <2>
- Durango
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Durango have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durango
- Durango is located in Dubuque County (IA)
- Population from the 2020 Census: 19 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Durango <2>
- Sageville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Preston, see our County-by-County Page for Preston.
Newspapers Published in Preston ...
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 161 newspapers that have been published in the area around Preston.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Preston, 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 Preston.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Preston:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Website for the //www.wisconsinhistory.org/
- Pages specific to Grant County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Crawford County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Iowa County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Lafayette County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Richland County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Sauk County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Clayton County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Dubuque County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Crawford County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Wisconsin
- Cemetery Junction: Cemeteries of Wisconsin
- Cyndi's List
- Cemeteries of Wisconsin
- Cemeteries of Grant County
- FamilySearch.org: Cemeteries of Wisconsin
- Find-A-Grave: Home Page
- Interment.net
- Cemeteries of Wisconsin
- Cemeteries of Grant County
Cemeteries Near Preston ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Preston.
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.
If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Preston covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ebenezer Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ebenezer Cemetery
- Switzer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Switzer Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Switzer Cemetery
- German Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the German Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the German Cemetery
- Rock Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)- The Rock Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Old Rock Church Cemetery
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Rock Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #88835 <4>
- St. Johns Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Johns Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Johns Cemetery
- Prairie Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Prairie Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #88775 <4>
- St. Marys Catholic Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Marys Catholic Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2129747 <4>
- Fairview Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Fairview Cemetery
- Bethel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bethel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bethel Cemetery
- Oak Ridge Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Oak Ridge Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Oak Ridge Cemetery
- Zion Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Zion Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Zion Cemetery
- Buckwheat Ridge Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Buckwheat Ridge Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Buckwheat Ridge Cemetery
- Continue List (197 more) ...
- Pipal Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pipal Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pipal Cemetery
- Crown Hill Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Crown Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Crown Hill Cemetery
- Borah Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Borah Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Borah Cemetery
- Pipal Cemetery
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.<5>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Preston had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Lancaster Junction
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lancaster Junction have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lancaster Junction
- Lancaster Junction is located in Grant County
- Annaton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annaton
- Annaton is located in Grant County
- Stitzer
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stitzer
- Stitzer is located in Grant County
- Montfort
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montfort
- Montfort is located in Grant County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 675 people
- Fennimore
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fennimore
- Fennimore is located in Grant County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,469 people
- Centreville ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Centreville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Centreville is located in Iowa County
- Former names for Centreville:
- Dry Bone Post Office
- Dry Bone
- Livingston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Livingston have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livingston
- Livingston is located in Grant County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 632 people
- Homer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest) - Highland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast) - Arthur
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast) - Cobb
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east) - Mount Ida
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west) - Continue List (14 more) ...
- Lancaster
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest) - Rewey
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rewey
- Rewey is located in Iowa County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 283 people
- Werley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lancaster
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Preston. See our List of 1890's Communities around Preston.
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Preston. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for Grant County: www.grantcounty.org/
The official website for State of Wisconsin: https://www.wisconsin.gov/
Footnotes ...
| <1> | The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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 from Point A (ie- Preston) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Preston. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.9754, Longitude: -90.5467 In this case, the coordinates for Preston have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). |
| <4> | 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. |
| <5> | 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 Preston, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |