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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 Damascus (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 Damascus. 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.

Damascus is located in Stephenson 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 Stephenson County: Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Winnebago, Green (WI) & Lafayette (WI).

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

  • Stephenson County     (The home county of Damascus)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Damascus, with the one closest to Damascus listed first.
    • Red Oak
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Red Oak is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
    • Cedarville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Buena Vista
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Buena Vista is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
    • Eleroy
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • McConnell
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Salem
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Salem is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
    • Lena
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Lena is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lena
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,680 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lena <1>
    • Freeport
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Afolkey
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Afolkey is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afolkey
    • Orangeville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Oneco
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Oneco is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oneco
    • Yellow Creek
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Yellow Creek is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Creek
  • Carroll County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Damascus, with the one closest to Damascus listed first.
    • Shannon
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Zier Cors
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Zier Cors is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zier Cors
    • Georgetown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Georgetown is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
    • Lanark
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Polsgrove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Polsgrove is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polsgrove
    • Mount Carroll
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Elkhorn Grove
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Elkhorn Grove is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn Grove
    • Chadwick
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Hitt
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Hitt is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitt
    • Center Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Center Hill is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Hill
    • Daggett ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Daggett is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daggett
    • Wacker
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Wacker is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wacker
  • Jo Daviess County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Damascus, with the one closest to Damascus listed first.
    • Nora
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Nora is located in Jo Daviess County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nora <1>
    • Stockton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Warren
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Warren is located in Jo Daviess County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,300 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Warren <1>
    • Pleasant Valley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Pleasant Valley is located in Jo Daviess County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
    • Apple River
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Elizabeth
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Scales Mound
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Hanover
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Ogle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Damascus, with the one closest to Damascus listed first.
    • Baileyville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Harper
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Harper is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
    • Forreston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Adeline
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Adeline is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adeline
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
    • Egan
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Egan is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
    • Brookville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Brookville is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookville
    • Haldane
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Haldane is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haldane
    • Maryland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Maryland is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maryland
    • Leaf River
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Mount Morris
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Buffalo Grove
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Buffalo Grove is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Grove
    • Polo
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Winnebago County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Damascus, with the one closest to Damascus listed first.
    • Lake Summerset
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Lake Summerset is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Summerset
    • Pecatonica
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Durand
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Durand is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durand
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,387 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Durand <1>
    • Seward
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Winnebago
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Alworth
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Alworth is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alworth
    • Wempletown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
    • Shirland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
  • Green County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Damascus, with the one closest to Damascus listed first.
    • Cadiz
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Cadiz is located in Green County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadiz
    • Twin Grove
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Twin Grove is located in Green County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
    • Browntown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Browntown is located in Green County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browntown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
    • Monroe
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Monroe is located in Green County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,426 people
    • Brodhead
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Brodhead is located in Green County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brodhead
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,204 people
    • Monticello
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Monticello is located in Green County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,185 people
    • Albany
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Albany is located in Green County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 977 people
    • Mineral Point
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Mineral Point is located in Green County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Point
    • Attica
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Attica is located in Green County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
    • New Glarus
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • New Glarus is located in Green County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Glarus
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,136 people
  • Lafayette County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Damascus, with the one closest to Damascus listed first.
    • South Wayne
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • South Wayne is located in Lafayette County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wayne
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
    • Woodford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Woodford is located in Lafayette County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
    • Gratiot
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Gratiot is located in Lafayette County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gratiot
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
    • Wiota
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Wiota is located in Lafayette County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiota
    • Argyle
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Argyle is located in Lafayette County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 809 people
    • Darlington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Darlington is located in Lafayette County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,317 people
    • Fort Gratiot ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Fort Gratiot is located in Lafayette County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Gratiot
      • Former name for Fort Gratiot:
      • Gratiot Grove
    • Shullsburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Shullsburg is located in Lafayette County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shullsburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,192 people
    • White Oak
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • White Oak is located in Lafayette County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
  • Rock County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Damascus, with the one closest to Damascus listed first.
    • Avon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Avon is located in Rock County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
    • Newark
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Newark is located in Rock County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
    • Orfordville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Orfordville is located in Rock County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orfordville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,486 people

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

Cemeteries Near Damascus ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Damascus.

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

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

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

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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Damascus had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Red Oak
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Red Oak is located in Stephenson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
  • Eleroy
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Cedarville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Buena Vista
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Buena Vista is located in Stephenson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
  • McConnell
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Lena
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Lena is located in Stephenson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lena
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,680 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lena <1>
  • Freeport
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Afolkey
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Afolkey is located in Stephenson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afolkey
  • Orangeville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Yellow Creek
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Yellow Creek is located in Stephenson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Creek
  • Oneco
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Oneco is located in Stephenson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oneco
  • Bolton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Bolton is located in Stephenson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Dakota
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Waddams Grove
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Waddams Grove is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waddams Grove
    • Kent
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Damascus ...

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 247 newspapers that have been published in the area around Damascus.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Damascus, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Damascus.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Damascus:

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>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.
<3>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 Damascus, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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- Damascus) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.