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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 Machesney Park (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 Machesney Park. 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 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.

Machesney Park is located in Winnebago County.

To see how the shape of Illinois' counties 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 Machesney Park. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Machesney Park:

  • Winnebago County     (The home county of Machesney Park)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Machesney Park, with the one closest to Machesney Park listed first.
    • Loves Park
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Loves Park have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loves Park
      • Loves Park is located in Winnebago County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 23,382 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Loves Park <2>
    • Sturbridge Village
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sturbridge Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge Village
      • Sturbridge Village is located in Winnebago County
    • Argyle
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Argyle have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
      • Argyle is located in Winnebago County
    • Roscoe
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Rockford
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Rockton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Cherry Valley
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Wempletown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • South Beloit
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Beloit have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Beloit
      • South Beloit is located in Winnebago County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,540 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for South Beloit <2>
    • North Park
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Indian Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Indian Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
      • Indian Village is located in Winnebago County
    • Shirland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shirland have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shirland
      • Shirland is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Shirland <2>
  • Boone County
  • DeKalb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Machesney Park, with the one closest to Machesney Park listed first.
    • Fairdale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fairdale have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
      • Fairdale is located in DeKalb County
    • Kirkland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Kirkland have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkland
      • Kirkland is located in DeKalb County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,717 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kirkland <2>
    • Kingston
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Kingston have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
      • Kingston is located in DeKalb County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,160 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kingston <2>
    • Esmond
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Esmond have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esmond
      • Esmond is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Esmond <2>
    • Genoa
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Genoa have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
      • Genoa is located in DeKalb County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,251 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Genoa <2>
    • Clare
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Brush Point ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • New Lebanon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Charter Grove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Coltonville ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Malta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Sycamore
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sycamore have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
      • Sycamore is located in DeKalb County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,317 people
  • McHenry County
  • Ogle County
  • Stephenson County
  • Green County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Machesney Park, with the one closest to Machesney Park listed first.
    • Brodhead
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brodhead have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brodhead
      • Brodhead is located in Green County (WI)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,204 people
    • Twin Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Rock County (WI)
  • Walworth County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Machesney Park, with the one closest to Machesney Park listed first.
    • Sharon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sharon have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
      • Sharon is located in Walworth County (WI)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,546 people
    • Allens Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Big Foot Prairie
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Darien
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Delavan Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Delavan Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delavan Lake
      • Delavan Lake is located in Walworth County (WI)
    • Walworth
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Walworth have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walworth
      • Walworth is located in Walworth County (WI)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,827 people
    • Delavan
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Fontana-on-Geneva Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fontana-on-Geneva Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontana-on-Geneva Lake
      • Fontana-on-Geneva Lake is located in Walworth County (WI)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,743 people
    • Richmond
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Williams Bay
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Zenda
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Machesney Park ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Machesney Park.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Harlem Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Sunset Memorial Gardens
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Marsh Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Marsh Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Marsh Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Guilford Union Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Guilford Union Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Guilford Union Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Greenwood Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Greenwood Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Mt. Auburn Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Auburn Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. Auburn Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. James & St. Marys Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. James & St. Marys Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. James & St. Marys Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Scotch Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Scotch Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Scotch Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Cedar Bluff Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Cedar Bluff Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Cedar Bluff Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Scandinavian Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Guilford Turner Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Guilford Turner Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Guilford Turner Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Roscoe Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Roscoe Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Roscoe Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (241 more) ...
    • Owen Center Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Davis Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Davis Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Davis Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Starkey Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Starkey Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Starkey Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.<5>

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

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

  • Harlem
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Harlem have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlem
    • Harlem is located in Winnebago County
  • Jonesville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jonesville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesville
    • Jonesville is located in Winnebago County
  • Genet
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Genet have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genet
    • Genet is located in Winnebago County
  • Ruby
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ruby have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruby
    • Ruby is located in Winnebago County
  • Argyle
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Argyle have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
    • Argyle is located in Winnebago County
  • Roscoe
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Rockford
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Rockton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Caledonia
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Greendale
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Greendale have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greendale
    • Greendale is located in Winnebago County
  • Cherry Valley
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Wempletown
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Perryville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Perryville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perryville
      • Perryville is located in Winnebago County
    • Hunter
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hunter have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
      • Hunter is located in Boone County
    • Harrison
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Harrison have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
      • Harrison is located in Winnebago County

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

Newspapers Published in Machesney Park ...

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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Machesney Park.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Machesney Park, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Machesney Park.

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 either 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 Machesney Park:

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<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.
<5>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 Machesney Park, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Machesney Park) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Machesney Park. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.3473, Longitude: -89.0289