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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Freedom Centre. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Freedom Centre to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Freedom Centre, please Contact Us.

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 Freedom Centre (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 Freedom Centre. 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 Freedom Centre ...

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 Freedom Centre: Freedom Ctre.

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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Freedom Centre is historic, it would have been located within present day La Salle 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 La Salle County: Bureau, DeKalb, Grundy, Kendall, Lee, Livingston, Marshall, Putnam & Woodford.

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

  • La Salle County     (The home county of Freedom Centre)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Freedom Centre, with the one closest to Freedom Centre listed first.
    • Prairie Center
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Prairie Center is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Center
    • Blakes
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Blakes is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakes
    • Baker
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Baker is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
    • Wedron
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Serena
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Earlville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Waltham
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Waltham is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waltham
    • Triumph
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Dayton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Dayton is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
    • Ottawa
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Ottawa is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottawa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,097 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ottawa <2>
    • Leland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Naplate
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Naplate is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naplate
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 465 people
  • Bureau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Freedom Centre, with the one closest to Freedom Centre listed first.
    • Dalzell
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Cherry
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Ladd
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Ladd is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladd
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,184 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ladd <2>
    • Spring Valley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Arlington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • La Moille
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Ottville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Ottville is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottville
    • Seatonville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Hollowayville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Hollowayville is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollowayville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 85 people
    • Zearing
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Zearing is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zearing
    • De Pue
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • De Pue is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Pue
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,665 people
    • Van Orin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
  • DeKalb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Freedom Centre, with the one closest to Freedom Centre listed first.
    • Somonauk
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Shabbona Grove
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
    • Sandwich
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Franks
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Franks is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
    • Shabbona
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Waterman
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Hinckley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Elva
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Elva is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elva
    • Malta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Grundy County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Freedom Centre, with the one closest to Freedom Centre listed first.
    • Nettle Creek
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Nettle Creek is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettle Creek
    • Wauponsee
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Wauponsee is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauponsee
    • Morris
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Kinsman
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Gaslight Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Gaslight Village is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaslight Village
    • Verona
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Claypool
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Claypool is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool
    • Sand Ridge
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Sand Ridge is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Ridge
    • Highland Town ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Highland Town is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Town
    • Mazon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Kane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Freedom Centre, with the one closest to Freedom Centre listed first.
    • Big Rock
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Sugar Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Kaneville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Kendall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Freedom Centre, with the one closest to Freedom Centre listed first.
    • Newark
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Millbrook
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Lisbon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Lisbon is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
    • Little Rock
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Little Rock is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
    • Plano
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Plano is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plano
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,879 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Plano <2>
    • Plattville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Plattville is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plattville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
    • Yorkville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Bristol
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Oswego
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Freedom Centre, with the one closest to Freedom Centre listed first.
    • Radley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Radley is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
    • East Paw Paw
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • East Paw Paw is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Paw Paw
    • Paw Paw
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Compton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • The Burg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • The Burg is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Burg
    • West Brooklyn
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Lee
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Sublette
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Inlet
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Inlet is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
    • Steward
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Lee Center
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Amboy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Livingston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Freedom Centre, with the one closest to Freedom Centre listed first.
    • Munster
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Munster is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munster
    • Vermilion City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Vermilion City is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermilion City
    • Coalville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Coalville is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
    • Missal
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Missal is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missal
    • Blackstone
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Budd
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Budd is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Budd
    • Ancona
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Adams ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Adams is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
  • Putnam County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Freedom Centre, with the one closest to Freedom Centre listed first.
    • Standard
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Granville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Mark
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Mount Palatine
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Mount Palatine is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Palatine
    • Hennepin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • McNabb
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Magnolia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Freedom Centre ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Freedom Centre.

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 Freedom Centre - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Gouldtown Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Freedom Lutheran Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • West Serena Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Davis Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Baker Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Earl Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • St. Theresa Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Debolt Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Carter Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Calvary Catholic Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Oakwood Memorial Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (250 more) ...
    • St. Columba Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Pierce Family Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Wisner Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)

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.

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

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

  • Prairie Center
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Prairie Center is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Center
  • Wedron
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Blakes
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Blakes is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakes
  • Baker
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Baker is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
  • Earlville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Serena
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Triumph
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Dayton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Dayton is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
  • Ottawa
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Ottawa is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottawa
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,097 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ottawa <2>
  • Meriden
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Meriden is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meriden
  • South Ottawa ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • South Ottawa is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ottawa
  • Danway
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Danway is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danway
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Sheridan
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Northville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Northville is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northville
    • Leland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Freedom Centre ...

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 135 newspapers that have been published in the area around Freedom Centre.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Freedom Centre, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Freedom Centre.

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 Freedom Centre:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Freedom Centre, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<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- Freedom Centre) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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.