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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 Danforth (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 Danforth. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.

Danforth is located in Iroquois 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 Iroquois County: Ford, Kankakee, Vermilion, Benton (IN) & Newton (IN).

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

  • Iroquois County     (The home county of Danforth)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danforth, with the one closest to Danforth listed first.
    • Gilman
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Ashkum
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Onarga
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Crescent City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • La Hogue
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • La Hogue is located in Iroquois County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Hogue
    • Clifton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • L'Erable
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • L'Erable is located in Iroquois County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for L'Erable
    • Ridgeville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Ridgeville is located in Iroquois County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeville
    • Del Rey
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Del Rey is located in Iroquois County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Del Rey
    • Chebanse
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Thawville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Watseka
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Ford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danforth, with the one closest to Danforth listed first.
    • Piper City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Kempton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Cabery
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Roberts
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Melvin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Paxton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Sibley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Elliott
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Garber
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Garber is located in Ford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garber
  • Grundy County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danforth, with the one closest to Danforth listed first.
    • Clarke City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Clarke City is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarke City
    • East Brooklyn
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • East Brooklyn is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brooklyn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
    • South Wilmington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • South Wilmington is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wilmington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 637 people
    • Gardner
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Kankakee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danforth, with the one closest to Danforth listed first.
    • Irwin
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Irwin is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irwin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
    • Sammons Point
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Sammons Point is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sammons Point
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 237 people
      • Sammons Point has also been known as:
      • Sammons Point village
    • Herscher
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Otto
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Otto is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otto
    • Buckingham
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Aroma Park
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint Anne
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Goodrich
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Goodrich is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodrich
    • Limestone
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Limestone is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,498 people
    • Kankakee
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Union Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Bonfield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
  • Livingston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danforth, with the one closest to Danforth listed first.
    • Cullom
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Charlotte
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Charlotte is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlotte
    • Chatsworth
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Griswold
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Griswold is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
    • Campus
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Cardiff
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Cardiff is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
    • Emington
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Saunemin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Wing
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Wing is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wing
    • Forrest
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Strawn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Eylar
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Eylar is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eylar
  • McLean County
  • Vermilion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danforth, with the one closest to Danforth listed first.
    • Rankin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • East Lynn
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Hoopeston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Will County
    • Custer Park
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Custer Park is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer Park
  • Benton County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danforth, with the one closest to Danforth listed first.
    • Raub
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Raub is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raub
    • Freeland Park
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Freeland Park is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeland Park
    • Earl Park
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Earl Park is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earl Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 342 people
  • Newton County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danforth, with the one closest to Danforth listed first.
    • Kentland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Morocco
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Morocco is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morocco
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,086 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Morocco <1>
    • Beaver City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Beaver City is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver City

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

Cemeteries Near Danforth ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Danforth.

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

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

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

  • Wenger Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • St. Mary's Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Mary's Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Mary's Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southeast of Gilman.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1032338 <2>
  • Gilman Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilman Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Gilman Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southeast of Gilman.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1027535 <2>
  • Bardon Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Kirby Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Flesher Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Onarga Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onarga Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Onarga Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northeast of Onarga.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1926812 <2>
  • Wilson Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • L'Erable Catholic Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Del Rey Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Pierce Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (171 more) ...
    • Thawville Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lyman Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Old Burg Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)

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, Danforth had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Danforth had a population of 542 people.

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

  • Gilman
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Ashkum
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • La Hogue
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • La Hogue is located in Iroquois County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Hogue
  • Onarga
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Crescent City
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Ridgeville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Ridgeville is located in Iroquois County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeville
  • L'Erable
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • L'Erable is located in Iroquois County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for L'Erable
  • Clifton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Del Rey
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Del Rey is located in Iroquois County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Del Rey
  • Piper City
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Thawville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Chebanse
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Woodworth
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Woodworth is located in Iroquois County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodworth
    • Watseka
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Schwer
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Schwer is located in Iroquois County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schwer

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

Newspapers Published in Danforth ...

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 186 newspapers that have been published in the area around Danforth.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Danforth, 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 Danforth.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Danforth:

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 Danforth, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Danforth) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.