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 Ruby (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 Ruby. 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.
Ruby is located in Winnebago 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 Ruby. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ruby:
- Winnebago County (The home county of Ruby)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ruby, with the one closest to Ruby listed first.
- Sturbridge Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Sturbridge Village is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge Village
- Loves Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Machesney Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rockford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Indian Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Indian Village is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- Argyle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Argyle is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Roscoe
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wempletown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
- North Park
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- North Park is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Park
- Cherry Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rockton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- New Millford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- New Millford is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Millford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
- Winnebago
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ruby, with the one closest to Ruby listed first.
- Caledonia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Timberlane
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Timberlane is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlane
- Population from the 2020 Census: 934 people
- Belvidere
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Poplar Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Irene
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Irene is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
- Russellville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Russellville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Capron
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Garden Prairie
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Herbert
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Herbert is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ruby, with the one closest to Ruby listed first.
- Fairdale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fairdale is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
- Kirkland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Esmond
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Kingston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Clare
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Genoa
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Brush Point ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Brush Point is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Point
- Malta
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Charter Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Charter Grove is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charter Grove
- New Lebanon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- New Lebanon is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lebanon
- Coltonville ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Coltonville is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coltonville
- Sycamore
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sycamore is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 18,317 people
- McHenry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ruby, with the one closest to Ruby listed first.
- Harvard
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Marengo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Union
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Big Foot Prairie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Big Foot Prairie is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Foot Prairie
- Alden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ogle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ruby, with the one closest to Ruby listed first.
- Davis Junction
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Monroe Center
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Stillman Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Byron
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Holcomb
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Lindenwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Egan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Egan is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
- Leaf River
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Chana
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Hillcrest
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Hillcrest is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,216 people
- Adeline
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Adeline is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adeline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Honey Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Honey Creek is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
- Oregon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Stephenson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ruby, with the one closest to Ruby listed first.
- Davis
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Ridott
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Rock City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Rock City is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 279 people
- German Valley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Dakota
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Rock Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Rock Grove is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Grove
- Afolkey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Afolkey is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afolkey
- Cedarville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Freeport
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Florence
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Florence is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Green County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ruby, with the one closest to Ruby listed first.
- Brodhead
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Brodhead is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brodhead
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,204 people
- Twin Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- 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 Ruby, with the one closest to Ruby listed first.
- Beloit
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Beloit is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36,637 people
- Garden Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Garden Village is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Newark
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Newark is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Shopiere
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Shopiere is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shopiere
- Tiffany
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Tiffany is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiffany
- Clinton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Clinton is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,119 people
- Avon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Avon is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Hanover
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Hanover is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
- Orfordville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Orfordville is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orfordville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,486 people
- Avalon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Avalon is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avalon
- Emerald Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Emerald Grove is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerald Grove
- Footville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Footville is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Footville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 822 people
- Janesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Janesville is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 64,664 people
- Walworth County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ruby, with the one closest to Ruby listed first.
- Sharon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sharon is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,546 people
- Allens Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Allens Grove is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Grove
- Big Foot Prairie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Big Foot Prairie is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Foot Prairie
- Darien
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Darien is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darien
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,591 people
- Walworth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Walworth is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,827 people
- Delavan Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Delavan Lake is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delavan Lake
- Delavan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Delavan is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delavan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,240 people
- Fontana-on-Geneva Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fontana-on-Geneva Lake is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontana-on-Geneva Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,743 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ruby, see our County-by-County Page for Ruby.
Cemeteries Near Ruby ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ruby.
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 Ruby - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ruby covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ruby, with the one closest to Ruby listed first.
- Greenwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- St. James & St. Marys Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Mt. Auburn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Cedar Bluff Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Scandinavian Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Marsh Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Harlem Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sunset Memorial Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Guilford Turner Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Guilford Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Owen Center Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Starkey Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (241 more) ...
- Willwood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Arlington Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Carman Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Ruby had railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ruby, with the one closest to Ruby listed first.
- Jonesville
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Jonesville is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesville
- Genet
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Genet is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genet
- Rockford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Harlem
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Harlem is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlem
- Greendale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Greendale is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greendale
- Argyle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Argyle is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Roscoe
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wempletown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
- Perryville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Perryville is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perryville
- Cherry Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rockton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- New Millford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- New Millford is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Millford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Caledonia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Harrison
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Harrison is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Shirland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ruby. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ruby.
Newspapers Published in Ruby ...
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 88 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ruby.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ruby, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ruby.
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 Ruby:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Winnebago County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- DeKalb County
- McHenry County
- Ogle County
- Stephenson County
- Green County
- Rock County
- Walworth 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> | 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 Ruby, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Ruby) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |