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

Pittwood is located in Iroquois 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 Iroquois County: Ford, Kankakee, Vermilion, Benton (IN) & Newton (IN).

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

  • Iroquois County     (The home county of Pittwood)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pittwood, with the one closest to Pittwood listed first.
    • Martinton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Watseka
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Donovan
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • L'Erable
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • L'Erable is located in Iroquois County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for L'Erable
    • Iroquois
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Papineau
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Beaverville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Crescent City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Woodland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Sheldon
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Clifton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Ashkum
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Ford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pittwood, with the one closest to Pittwood listed first.
    • Piper City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Cabery
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Kempton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Roberts
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Kankakee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pittwood, with the one closest to Pittwood listed first.
    • Saint Anne
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Sammons Point
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Sammons Point is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sammons Point
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 237 people
      • Sammons Point has also been known as:
      • Sammons Point village
    • Aroma Park
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Hopkins Park
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Hopkins Park is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkins Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 608 people
      • Hopkins Park has also been known as:
      • Hopkins Park village
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hopkins Park <1>
    • Otto
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Otto is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otto
    • Sun River Terrace
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Sun River Terrace is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun River Terrace
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
    • Irwin
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Irwin is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irwin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
    • Kankakee
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Limestone
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Limestone is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,498 people
    • Bradley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Momence
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Litchfield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Litchfield is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield
  • Livingston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pittwood, with the one closest to Pittwood listed first.
    • Cullom
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Charlotte
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Charlotte is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlotte
    • Chatsworth
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Vermilion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pittwood, with the one closest to Pittwood listed first.
    • East Lynn
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Hoopeston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Rankin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Coalton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Coalton is located in Vermilion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalton
  • Benton County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pittwood, with the one closest to Pittwood listed first.
    • Raub
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Raub is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raub
    • Earl Park
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Earl Park is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earl Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 342 people
    • Freeland Park
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Freeland Park is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeland Park
    • Gravel Hill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Gravel Hill is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravel Hill
    • Dunn ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Dunn is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
    • Wadena
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Wadena is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wadena
    • Ambia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Ambia is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ambia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
    • Fowler
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Fowler is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fowler
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,305 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fowler <1>
    • Talbot
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Boswell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Jasper County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pittwood, with the one closest to Pittwood listed first.
    • Egypt
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Egypt is located in Jasper County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
    • Fair Oaks
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Collegeville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Collegeville is located in Jasper County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collegeville
    • Remington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Rensselaer
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Lake County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pittwood, with the one closest to Pittwood listed first.
    • Illinoi
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Illinoi is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
    • Schneider
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Schneider is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schneider
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
    • Shelby
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Shelby is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby
  • Newton County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pittwood, with the one closest to Pittwood listed first.
    • Morocco
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Morocco is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morocco
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,086 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Morocco <1>
    • Beaver City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Beaver City is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver City
    • Kentland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Brook
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Brook is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brook
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 941 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Brook <1>
    • Newton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Newton is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
    • Foresman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Foresman is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foresman
    • Goodland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Mount Ayr
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Mount Ayr is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Ayr
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Lake Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake Village is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
    • Sumava Resorts
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Roselawn
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Roselawn is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselawn
    • Thayer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Thayer is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer

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

Cemeteries Near Pittwood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pittwood.

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

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

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

  • Lyman Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Old Burg Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Greentown Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Olivet Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Prarie Dell Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Pierce Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Chamberlain Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Gard Army of the Republic Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Teege Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Wilson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Iroquois Memorial Park
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (151 more) ...
    • Roberts Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Old Texas Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • L'Erable Catholic Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<3>

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

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

  • Martinton
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Watseka
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Donovan
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • L'Erable
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • L'Erable is located in Iroquois County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for L'Erable
  • Eastburn
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Eastburn is located in Iroquois County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastburn
  • Iroquois
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Beaverville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Papineau
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Crescent City
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Sheldon
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Saint Anne
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Clifton
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Ashkum
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Effner
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Effner is located in Iroquois County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Effner
    • Effner
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Effner is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Effner

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

Newspapers Published in Pittwood ...

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 160 newspapers that have been published in the area around Pittwood.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Pittwood, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Pittwood.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Pittwood:

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>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.
<3>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 Pittwood, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Pittwood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.