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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 Lightsville (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 Lightsville. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.

Lightsville is located in Ogle 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 Ogle County: Carroll, DeKalb, Lee, Stephenson, Whiteside & Winnebago.

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

  • Ogle County     (The home county of Lightsville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lightsville, with the one closest to Lightsville listed first.
    • Leaf River
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Egan
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Egan is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
    • Adeline
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Adeline is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adeline
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
    • Mount Morris
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Byron
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Oregon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Maryland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Maryland is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maryland
    • Forreston
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Haldane
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Haldane is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haldane
    • Baileyville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Stillman Valley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Honey Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Honey Creek is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
    • Harper
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Harper is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
  • Boone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lightsville, with the one closest to Lightsville listed first.
    • Irene
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Irene is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
    • Belvidere
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Caledonia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Timberlane
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Timberlane is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlane
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 934 people
  • Carroll County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lightsville, with the one closest to Lightsville listed first.
    • Shannon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Elkhorn Grove
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Elkhorn Grove is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn Grove
    • Hazelhurst
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Hazelhurst is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelhurst
    • Hitt
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Hitt is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitt
    • South Elkhorn
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • South Elkhorn is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elkhorn
    • Georgetown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Georgetown is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
    • Zier Cors
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Zier Cors is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zier Cors
    • Milledgeville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Lanark
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Chadwick
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Mount Carroll
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Fair Haven
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Fair Haven is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Haven
    • Daggett ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Daggett is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daggett
  • DeKalb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lightsville, with the one closest to Lightsville listed first.
    • Fairdale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Fairdale is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
    • Esmond
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Kirkland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Clare
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lightsville, with the one closest to Lightsville listed first.
    • Dixon
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Franklin Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Nachusa
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Ashton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Prairieville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Prairieville is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
    • Eldena
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Nelson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Amboy
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Lee Center
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Steward
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Inlet
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Inlet is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
    • Harmon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Stephenson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lightsville, with the one closest to Lightsville listed first.
    • German Valley
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Ridott
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Florence
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Florence is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
    • Freeport
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Dakota
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Bolton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Bolton is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton
    • Davis
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Davis is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 616 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Davis <1>
    • Rock City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Rock City is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 279 people
    • Cedarville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Afolkey
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Afolkey is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afolkey
    • Red Oak
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Red Oak is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
    • Rock Grove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Rock Grove is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Grove
    • Eleroy
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Whiteside County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lightsville, with the one closest to Lightsville listed first.
    • Penrose
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Penrose is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penrose
    • Coleta
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Sterling
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Rock Falls
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Galt
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • White Pigeon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • White Pigeon is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Pigeon
  • Winnebago County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lightsville, with the one closest to Lightsville listed first.
    • Seward
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Alworth
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Alworth is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alworth
    • Pecatonica
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Winnebago
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Indian Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Indian Village is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
    • Wempletown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
    • New Millford
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • New Millford is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Millford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
    • Rockford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • North Park
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • North Park is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Park
    • Durand
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • 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>
    • Lake Summerset
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Lake Summerset is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Summerset
    • Sturbridge Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Sturbridge Village is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge Village
    • Cherry Valley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
  • Green County (WI)
    • Twin Grove
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Twin Grove is located in Green County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
  • Rock County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lightsville, with the one closest to Lightsville listed first.
    • Avon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Avon is located in Rock County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
    • Newark
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Newark is located in Rock County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark

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

Cemeteries Near Lightsville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lightsville.

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

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

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

  • Lightsville Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • North Grove Evangelical Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Egan Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • North Grove Christian Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Silver Creek Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Camlin Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Adeline Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Ridott Christian Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Ridott Christian Reformed Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Mary's Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Silver Creek Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Silver Creek Reformed Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (277 more) ...
    • Coffman Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • West Grove Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Oakwood Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)

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.<4>

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

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

  • Leaf River
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Egan
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Egan is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
  • Myrtle
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Myrtle is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
  • Adeline
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Adeline is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adeline
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
  • Mount Morris
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Seward
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • German Valley
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Byron
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Maryland
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Maryland is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maryland
  • Oregon
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Forreston
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Haldane
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Haldane is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haldane
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • South Freeport
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • South Freeport is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Freeport
    • Baileyville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Stratford
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Stratford is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stratford

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

Newspapers Published in Lightsville ...

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 38 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lightsville.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lightsville, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lightsville.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Lightsville:

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