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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 Esmond (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 Esmond. 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 and hospitals 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.

Esmond is located in DeKalb 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 DeKalb County: Boone, Kane, Kendall, La Salle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle & Winnebago.

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

  • DeKalb County     (The home county of Esmond)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Esmond, with the one closest to Esmond listed first.
    • Fairdale
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Fairdale is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
    • Clare
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Kirkland
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Malta
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Brush Point ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Brush Point is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Point
    • Kingston
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Coltonville ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Coltonville is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coltonville
    • De Kalb
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Genoa
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Sycamore
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Sycamore is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,317 people
    • Elva
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Elva is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elva
    • Charter Grove
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Charter Grove is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charter Grove
  • Boone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Esmond, with the one closest to Esmond listed first.
    • Irene
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Irene is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
    • Herbert
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Herbert is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
    • Belvidere
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Garden Prairie
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Russellville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Russellville is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
    • Timberlane
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Timberlane is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlane
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 934 people
    • Caledonia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Poplar Grove
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Capron
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Kane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Esmond, with the one closest to Esmond listed first.
    • Burlington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Maple Park
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Virgil
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Hampshire
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Lily Lake
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Lily Lake is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lily Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,019 people
    • North Plato
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • North Plato is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Plato
    • Starks
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Starks is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starks
    • Elburn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Plato Center
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Kaneville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Bowes Bend
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Bowes Bend is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowes Bend
    • Pingree Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
  • Kendall County
    • Little Rock
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Little Rock is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
  • La Salle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Esmond, with the one closest to Esmond listed first.
    • Leland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Earlville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Esmond, with the one closest to Esmond listed first.
    • Steward
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Lee
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Ashton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Franklin Grove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • East Paw Paw
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • East Paw Paw is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Paw Paw
    • Paw Paw
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • The Burg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • The Burg is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Burg
    • Compton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Inlet
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Inlet is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
    • West Brooklyn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Lee Center
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Nachusa
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • McHenry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Esmond, with the one closest to Esmond listed first.
    • Marengo
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Union
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Huntley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Ogle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Esmond, with the one closest to Esmond listed first.
    • Monroe Center
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Lindenwood
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Creston
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Hillcrest
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Hillcrest is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,216 people
    • Holcomb
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Davis Junction
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Rochelle
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Flagg Center
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Flagg Center is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg Center
    • Stillman Valley
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Flagg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Flagg is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg
    • Chana
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Byron
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
  • Stephenson County
    • German Valley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Winnebago County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Esmond, with the one closest to Esmond listed first.
    • New Millford
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • New Millford is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Millford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
    • North Park
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • North Park is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Park
    • Cherry Valley
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Indian Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Indian Village is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
    • Rockford
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Loves Park
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Alworth
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Alworth is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alworth
    • Argyle
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Argyle is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
    • Machesney Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Winnebago
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Sturbridge Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Sturbridge Village is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge Village
    • Seward
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Esmond ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Esmond.

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

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

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

  • Greenview Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Porter Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • South Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Hicks Mill Cronktown Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Roseland Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Woodlawn Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Monroe Center Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Lindenwood Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Ault Road Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Maple Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Pine Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Bethel Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (239 more) ...
    • Malta Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Trinity Memorial Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Mayfield Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)

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, Esmond had railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Clare
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Kirkland
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Monroe Center
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Lindenwood
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Creston
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Kings
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Kings is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings
  • Malta
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Holcomb
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Irene
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Irene is located in Boone County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
  • Davis Junction
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Rochelle
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Kingston
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Colvin Park
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Colvin Park is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colvin Park
    • White Rock
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • White Rock is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
    • Flagg Center
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Flagg Center is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg Center

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

Newspapers Published in Esmond ...

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 117 newspapers that have been published in the area around Esmond.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Esmond, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Esmond.

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 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 Esmond:

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