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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 Byron Hills Estates (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 Byron Hills Estates. 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.

Name Variations for Byron Hills Estates ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Byron Hills Estates: Byron Hills Ests.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 northwest 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 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 west 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.

Byron Hills Estates is located in Ogle County.

To see how the shape of Illinois' counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Ogle County: Carroll, DeKalb, Lee, Stephenson, Whiteside & Winnebago.

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

  • Ogle County     (The home county of Byron Hills Estates)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Byron Hills Estates, with the one closest to Byron Hills Estates listed first.
    • Byron
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Stillman Valley
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Leaf River
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Egan
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Egan is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
    • Davis Junction
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Oregon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Honey Creek
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Honey Creek is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
    • Watertown
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Watertown is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watertown
    • Holcomb
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Mount Morris
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Chana
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Adeline
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Adeline is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adeline
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
    • Lindenwood
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Boone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Byron Hills Estates, with the one closest to Byron Hills Estates listed first.
    • Irene
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Irene is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
    • Belvidere
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Caledonia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Timberlane
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Timberlane is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlane
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 934 people
    • Herbert
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Herbert is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
    • Poplar Grove
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Russellville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Russellville is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
    • Garden Prairie
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Carroll County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Byron Hills Estates, with the one closest to Byron Hills Estates listed first.
    • Hazelhurst
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Hazelhurst is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelhurst
    • Shannon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Hitt
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Hitt is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitt
    • South Elkhorn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • South Elkhorn is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elkhorn
    • Elkhorn Grove
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Elkhorn Grove is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn Grove
    • Milledgeville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Georgetown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Georgetown is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
    • Lanark
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Zier Cors
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Zier Cors is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zier Cors
  • DeKalb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Byron Hills Estates, with the one closest to Byron Hills Estates listed first.
    • Fairdale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Fairdale is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
    • Esmond
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Kirkland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Clare
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Malta
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Kingston
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Brush Point ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Brush Point is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Point
    • Genoa
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Coltonville ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Coltonville is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coltonville
    • De Kalb
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Byron Hills Estates, with the one closest to Byron Hills Estates listed first.
    • Ashton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Franklin Grove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Nachusa
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Steward
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Dixon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Eldena
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Lee Center
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Prairieville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Prairieville is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
    • Amboy
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Inlet
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Inlet is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
    • Lee
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Nelson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Stephenson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Byron Hills Estates, with the one closest to Byron Hills Estates listed first.
    • German Valley
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Ridott
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Davis
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Davis is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 616 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Davis <1>
    • Florence
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Florence is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
    • Dakota
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Freeport
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Rock City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Rock City is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 279 people
    • Cedarville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Bolton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Bolton is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton
    • Afolkey
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Afolkey is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afolkey
    • Rock Grove
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Rock Grove is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Grove
    • Red Oak
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Red Oak is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
    • Buena Vista
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Buena Vista is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
  • Whiteside County
    • Penrose
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Penrose is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penrose
  • Winnebago County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Byron Hills Estates, with the one closest to Byron Hills Estates listed first.
    • Alworth
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Alworth is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alworth
    • Winnebago
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Seward
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • New Millford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • New Millford is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Millford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
    • Indian Village
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Indian Village is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
    • North Park
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • North Park is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Park
    • Pecatonica
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Rockford
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Wempletown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
    • Cherry Valley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Sturbridge Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Sturbridge Village is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge Village
    • Machesney Park
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Loves Park
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Green County (WI)
    • Twin Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Twin Grove is located in Green County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
  • Rock County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Byron Hills Estates, with the one closest to Byron Hills Estates listed first.
    • Avon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Avon is located in Rock County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
    • Newark
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Newark is located in Rock County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
    • Beloit
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Beloit is located in Rock County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 36,637 people

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

Cemeteries Near Byron Hills Estates ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Byron Hills Estates.

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 Byron Hills Estates - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • St. Mary's Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Byron City Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Middle Creek Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Ebenezer Reformed Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Stillman Valley Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Kishwaukee Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Camlin Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Silver Creek Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Winnebago Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Egan Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Lightsville Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Riverview Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (268 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.<4>

While we didn't find Byron Hills Estates in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Byron Hills Estates.

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

  • Byron
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Myrtle
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Myrtle is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
  • Stillman Valley
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Kishwaukee
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Kishwaukee is located in Winnebago County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kishwaukee
  • Leaf River
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Egan
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Egan is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
  • Seward
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Oregon
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Davis Junction
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Mount Morris
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Honey Creek
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Honey Creek is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
  • White Rock
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • White Rock is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Holcomb
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • New Millford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • New Millford is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Millford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
    • Daysville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Daysville is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daysville

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

Newspapers Published in Byron Hills Estates ...

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 39 newspapers that have been published in the area around Byron Hills Estates.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Byron Hills Estates, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Byron Hills Estates.

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 helpful 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 Byron Hills Estates:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Byron Hills Estates) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<4>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 Byron Hills Estates, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.