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 Lake Summerset (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 Lake Summerset. 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 Lake Summerset ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Lake Summerset: Lk. Summerset
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 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.
Lake Summerset is primarily located in Winnebago County. A portion of Lake Summerset extends into 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 Winnebago County: Boone, DeKalb, Ogle, Stephenson, Green (WI) & Rock (WI).
Below are the counties that are near Lake Summerset. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Lake Summerset:
- Winnebago County (The home county of Lake Summerset)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Summerset, with the one closest to Lake Summerset listed first.
- Durand
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Shirland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Pecatonica
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Wempletown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
- Seward
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Winnebago
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rockton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Alworth
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Alworth is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alworth
- Sturbridge Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sturbridge Village is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge Village
- South Beloit
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Machesney Park
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Roscoe
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Rockford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Summerset, with the one closest to Lake Summerset listed first.
- Caledonia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Timberlane
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Timberlane is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlane
- Population from the 2020 Census: 934 people
- Poplar Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Belvidere
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Summerset, with the one closest to Lake Summerset listed first.
- Shannon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Zier Cors
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Zier Cors is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zier Cors
- Jo Daviess County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Summerset, with the one closest to Lake Summerset listed first.
- Nora
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Warren
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Ogle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Summerset, with the one closest to Lake Summerset listed first.
- Egan
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Egan is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
- Baileyville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Adeline
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Adeline is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adeline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Leaf River
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Byron
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Forreston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Harper
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Harper is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Stillman Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Haldane
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Haldane is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haldane
- Maryland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Maryland is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maryland
- Mount Morris
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Davis Junction
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Holcomb
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Stephenson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Summerset, with the one closest to Lake Summerset listed first.
- Davis
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rock City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rock City is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 279 people
- Rock Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Rock Grove is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Grove
- Dakota
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Afolkey
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Afolkey is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afolkey
- Ridott
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Cedarville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Orangeville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Buena Vista
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Buena Vista is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Oneco
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Oneco is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oneco
- Red Oak
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Red Oak is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
- Freeport
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- German Valley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Dane County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Summerset, with the one closest to Lake Summerset listed first.
- Brooklyn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Brooklyn is located in Dane County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,484 people
- Belleville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Belleville is located in Dane County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,514 people
- Stone
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Stone is located in Dane County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone
- Dunkirk
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Dunkirk is located in Dane County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkirk
- Green County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Summerset, with the one closest to Lake Summerset listed first.
- Twin Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Twin Grove is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
- Brodhead
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Brodhead is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brodhead
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,204 people
- Monroe
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Monroe is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,426 people
- Albany
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Albany is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
- Population from the 2020 Census: 977 people
- Mineral Point
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Mineral Point is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Point
- Cadiz
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Cadiz is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadiz
- Attica
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Attica is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Monticello
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Monticello is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,185 people
- Browntown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Browntown is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browntown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Dayton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Dayton is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- New Glarus
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- 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 Lake Summerset, with the one closest to Lake Summerset listed first.
- South Wayne
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- South Wayne is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wayne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Woodford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Woodford is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
- Argyle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Argyle is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 809 people
- Rock County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Summerset, with the one closest to Lake Summerset listed first.
- Avon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Avon is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Newark
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Newark is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Orfordville
(13 miles [20.9 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
- Footville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Footville is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Footville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 822 people
- Hanover
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hanover is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
- Beloit
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Beloit is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36,637 people
- Magnolia
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Magnolia is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Garden Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Garden Village is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Evansville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Evansville is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,556 people
- Shopiere
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Shopiere is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shopiere
- Janesville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Janesville is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 64,664 people
- Tiffany
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Tiffany is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiffany
- Union
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Union is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Lake Summerset, see our County-by-County Page for Lake Summerset.
Cemeteries Near Lake Summerset ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lake Summerset.
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 Lake Summerset - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Lake Summerset covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Lake Summerset, with the one closest to Lake Summerset listed first.
- Rock Run Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Halvorson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Davis Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Durand Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Felts Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- St. Paul Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Paul Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- State Line Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- State Line Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Laona Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (261 more) ...
- Howard Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Oakland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rock City Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Lake Summerset in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Lake Summerset.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Lake Summerset, with the one closest to Lake Summerset listed first.
- Davis
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Durand
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Rock City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rock City is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 279 people
- Avon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Avon is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Oakley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oakley is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
- Rock Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Rock Grove is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Grove
- Dakota
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Shirland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Twin Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Twin Grove is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
- Afolkey
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Afolkey is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afolkey
- Pecatonica
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Harrison
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Harrison is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Newark
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Newark is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Ridott
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Juda
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Juda is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juda
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Lake Summerset. See our List of 1890's Communities around Lake Summerset.
Newspapers Published in Lake Summerset ...
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 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lake Summerset.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lake Summerset, 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 Lake Summerset.
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 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 Lake Summerset:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Winnebago County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Carroll County
- Jo Daviess County
- Ogle County
- Stephenson County
- Dane County
- Green County
- Lafayette County
- Rock County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Illinois
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> | 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 Lake Summerset, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Lake Summerset) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |