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 Salem (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 Salem. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Salem is located in Stephenson 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 Stephenson County: Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Winnebago, Green (WI) & Lafayette (WI).
Below are the counties that are near Salem. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Salem:
- Stephenson County (The home county of Salem)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Eleroy
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Lena
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lena is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,680 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lena <1>
- Yellow Creek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Yellow Creek is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Creek
- McConnell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Red Oak
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Red Oak is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
- Pearl City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kent
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Cedarville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Buena Vista
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Buena Vista is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Bolton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bolton is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton
- Freeport
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Florence
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Florence is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Shannon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Zier Cors
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Zier Cors is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zier Cors
- Georgetown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Georgetown is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Lanark
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Polsgrove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Polsgrove is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polsgrove
- Mount Carroll
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Center Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Center Hill is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Hill
- Chadwick
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Elkhorn Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Elkhorn Grove is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn Grove
- Daggett ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Daggett is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daggett
- Hitt
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Hitt is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitt
- Hickory Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hickory Grove is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
- Jo Daviess County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Nora
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stockton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Warren
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Valley is located in Jo Daviess County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
- Apple River
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Elizabeth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Scales Mound
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hanover
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Ogle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Baileyville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Harper
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Harper is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Forreston
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Brookville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Brookville is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookville
- Adeline
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Adeline is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adeline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Egan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Egan is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
- Haldane
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Haldane is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haldane
- Maryland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Maryland is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maryland
- Leaf River
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Buffalo Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Buffalo Grove is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Grove
- Mount Morris
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Polo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Whiteside County
- Coleta
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Winnebago County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Lake Summerset
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Lake Summerset is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Summerset
- Pecatonica
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Seward
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Durand
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Winnebago
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Alworth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Alworth is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alworth
- Wempletown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
- Shirland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Jackson County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Sabula
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Green Island
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Green Island is located in Jackson County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Island
- Green County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Cadiz
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Cadiz is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadiz
- Browntown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Browntown is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browntown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Twin Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Twin Grove is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
- Monroe
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Monroe is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,426 people
- Brodhead
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Brodhead is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brodhead
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,204 people
- Monticello
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Monticello is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,185 people
- Mineral Point
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mineral Point is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Point
- Albany
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Albany is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
- Population from the 2020 Census: 977 people
- Lafayette County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- South Wayne
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- South Wayne is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wayne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Gratiot
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gratiot is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gratiot
- Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
- Woodford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Woodford is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
- Wiota
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wiota is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiota
- Argyle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Argyle is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 809 people
- Fort Gratiot ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fort Gratiot is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Gratiot
- Former name for Fort Gratiot:
- Gratiot Grove
- Shullsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Shullsburg is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shullsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,192 people
- Darlington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Darlington is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,317 people
- White Oak
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- White Oak is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
- Rock County (WI)
- Avon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Avon is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Salem, see our County-by-County Page for Salem.
Cemeteries Near Salem ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Salem.
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 Salem - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Salem covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Samel Evangelical Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Salem UCC Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Salem Evangelical Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Eleroy Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Grisby Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lena Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lena Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Martin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Yellow Creek Brethren Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Babbs Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Liebhart Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (262 more) ...
- Harlem Center Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Manny Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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.<2>
While we didn't find Salem in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Salem.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Eleroy
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Lena
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lena is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,680 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lena <1>
- Yellow Creek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Yellow Creek is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Creek
- Damascus
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Damascus is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damascus
- Kent
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Red Oak
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Red Oak is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
- McConnell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Bolton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bolton is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton
- Cedarville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Buena Vista
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Buena Vista is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Waddams Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Waddams Grove is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waddams Grove
- Freeport
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Loran
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Loran is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loran
- Orangeville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Oneco
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Oneco is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oneco
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Salem. See our List of 1890's Communities around Salem.
Newspapers Published in Salem ...
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 246 newspapers that have been published in the area around Salem.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Salem, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Salem.
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 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 Salem:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Stephenson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Carroll County
- Jo Daviess County
- Ogle County
- Whiteside County
- Winnebago County
- Jackson County
- Green County
- Lafayette County
- Rock 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> | 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 Salem, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Salem) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |