Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Otter. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Otter to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Otter, 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 Otter (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 Otter. 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Otter 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 Otter. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Otter:
- La Salle County (The home county of Otter)
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter, with the one closest to Otter listed first.
- Kernan
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kernan is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kernan
- Grand Ridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Streator
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Kangley
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Kangley is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kangley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- Ransom
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Marseilles
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- South Ottawa ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- South Ottawa is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ottawa
- Hitt
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hitt is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitt
- Leonore
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Naplate
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Naplate is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naplate
- Population from the 2020 Census: 465 people
- Ottawa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Seneca
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Seneca is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,217 people
- Seneca has also been known as:
- Crotty
- Seneca village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Seneca <2>
- Bureau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter, with the one closest to Otter listed first.
- Dalzell
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Ladd
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ottville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ottville is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottville
- Cherry
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Seatonville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- De Pue
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- De Pue is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Pue
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,665 people
- Hollowayville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hollowayville is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollowayville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 85 people
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter, with the one closest to Otter listed first.
- Kinsman
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Highland Town ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Highland Town is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Town
- Verona
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Wauponsee
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wauponsee is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauponsee
- Mazon
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Nettle Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Nettle Creek is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettle Creek
- Morris
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Claypool
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Claypool is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool
- Gaslight Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Gaslight Village is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaslight Village
- Gardner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Centerville ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Centerville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- South Wilmington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- South Wilmington is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wilmington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 637 people
- Kankakee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter, with the one closest to Otter listed first.
- Reddick
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Essex
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Kendall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter, with the one closest to Otter listed first.
- Lisbon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lisbon is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Newark
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter, with the one closest to Otter listed first.
- Missal
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Missal is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missal
- Vermilion City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Vermilion City is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermilion City
- Blackstone
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Coalville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Coalville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
- Munster
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Munster is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munster
- Budd
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Budd is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Budd
- Ancona
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Adams ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Adams is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Cornell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Long Point
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sunbury
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Sunbury is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbury
- Odell
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter, with the one closest to Otter listed first.
- Wenona
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Evans ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Evans is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Toluca
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Varna
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- La Rose
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Henry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- McLean County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter, with the one closest to Otter listed first.
- Meadows
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Meadows is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadows
- Chenoa
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Gridley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Weston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Weston is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter, with the one closest to Otter listed first.
- Mount Palatine
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Mount Palatine is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Palatine
- Standard
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Magnolia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- McNabb
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Granville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Mark
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hennepin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Will County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter, with the one closest to Otter listed first.
- Godley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Godley is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 771 people
- Braidwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Woodford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter, with the one closest to Otter listed first.
- Minonk
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Woodford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Woodford is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
- Benson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Panola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Panola is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Otter, see our County-by-County Page for Otter.
Cemeteries Near Otter ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Otter.
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 Otter - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Otter covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Otter, with the one closest to Otter listed first.
- Wolf Creek Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Emery Green Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Barnhart Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Funk Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Grand Rapids Methodist Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Naramoor Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- St. Casimir Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- St. Stephen Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Mackey Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- River View Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (238 more) ...
- St. Marys Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Old St. Stephen Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Grand Rapids Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
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.
Otter itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Otter, with the one closest to Otter listed first.
- Richards
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Richards is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richards
- Kernan
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kernan is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kernan
- Streator
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Grand Ridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Kangley
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Kangley is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kangley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- Missal
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Missal is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missal
- Smithdale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Smithdale is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithdale
- Ransom
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Coalville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Coalville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
- Blackstone
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Farm Ridge
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Farm Ridge is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farm Ridge
- Wilsman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Wilsman is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsman
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Reading
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Reading is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reading
- Manville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Manville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manville
- Marseilles
(8 miles [12.9 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 Otter. See our List of 1890's Communities around Otter.
Newspapers Published in Otter ...
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 108 newspapers that have been published in the area around Otter.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Otter, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Otter.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Otter:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to La Salle County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bureau County
- Grundy County
- Kankakee County
- Kendall County
- Livingston County
- Marshall County
- McLean County
- Putnam County
- Will County
- Woodford County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Illinois
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 Otter, 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 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Otter) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |