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 Seward (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 Seward. 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 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.
Seward 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 Seward. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Seward:
- Winnebago County (The home county of Seward)
- The following are listed by their distance from Seward, with the one closest to Seward listed first.
- Pecatonica
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Alworth
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Alworth is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alworth
- Winnebago
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Wempletown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
- Indian Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Indian Village is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- Durand
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Rockford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Lake Summerset
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Lake Summerset is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Summerset
- New Millford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- New Millford is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Millford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
- North Park
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- North Park is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Park
- Shirland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sturbridge Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sturbridge Village is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge Village
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Seward, with the one closest to Seward listed first.
- Irene
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Irene is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
- Caledonia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Timberlane
(25 miles [40.2 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
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Poplar Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Russellville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Russellville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Herbert
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Herbert is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Seward, with the one closest to Seward listed first.
- Shannon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Elkhorn Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Elkhorn Grove is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn Grove
- Zier Cors
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Zier Cors is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zier Cors
- Hazelhurst
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hazelhurst is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelhurst
- Hitt
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hitt is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitt
- Georgetown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Georgetown is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- South Elkhorn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- South Elkhorn is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elkhorn
- Lanark
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Milledgeville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Seward, with the one closest to Seward listed first.
- Fairdale
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Fairdale is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
- Esmond
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Kirkland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Seward, with the one closest to Seward listed first.
- Ashton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Dixon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Franklin Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Nachusa
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Prairieville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Prairieville is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Ogle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Seward, with the one closest to Seward listed first.
- Egan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Egan is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
- Leaf River
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Byron
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Adeline
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Adeline is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adeline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Stillman Valley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Baileyville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Mount Morris
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Forreston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Oregon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Maryland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Maryland is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maryland
- Davis Junction
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Haldane
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Haldane is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haldane
- Stephenson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Seward, with the one closest to Seward listed first.
- German Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Ridott
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Davis
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Dakota
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rock City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rock City is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 279 people
- Freeport
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Florence
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Florence is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Cedarville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Afolkey
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Afolkey is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afolkey
- Rock Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rock Grove is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Grove
- Bolton
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Bolton is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton
- Red Oak
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Red Oak is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
- Whiteside County
- Penrose
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Penrose is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penrose
- Green County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Seward, with the one closest to Seward listed first.
- Twin Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Twin Grove is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
- Brodhead
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Brodhead is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brodhead
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,204 people
- Monroe
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Monroe is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,426 people
- Cadiz
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cadiz is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadiz
- Rock County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Seward, with the one closest to Seward listed first.
- Avon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Avon is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Newark
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Newark is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Beloit
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Beloit is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36,637 people
- Orfordville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Orfordville is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orfordville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,486 people
- Garden Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Garden Village is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Hanover
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hanover is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
- Footville
(30 miles [48.3 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
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Seward, see our County-by-County Page for Seward.
Cemeteries Near Seward ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Seward.
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 Seward - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Seward covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Seward, with the one closest to Seward listed first.
- Twelvemile Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Pecatonica Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Egan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Middle Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ridott Christian Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ridott Christian Reformed Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- North Grove Christian Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Wagner Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- North Grove Evangelical Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Winnebago Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Ridott Center Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Silver Creek Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (280 more) ...
- Silver Creek Reformed Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Lightsville Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Prospect Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
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, Seward had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Seward, with the one closest to Seward listed first.
- Egan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Egan is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
- Myrtle
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Myrtle is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Pecatonica
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- German Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Ridott
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Leaf River
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Adeline
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Adeline is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adeline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Byron
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wempletown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
- South Freeport
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- South Freeport is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Freeport
- Kishwaukee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Kishwaukee is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kishwaukee
- Baileyville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Davis
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Stillman Valley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Forreston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Seward. See our List of 1890's Communities around Seward.
Newspapers Published in Seward ...
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 109 newspapers that have been published in the area around Seward.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Seward, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Seward.
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 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 Seward:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Winnebago County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Carroll County
- DeKalb County
- Lee County
- Ogle County
- Stephenson County
- Whiteside County
- Green 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> | 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 Seward, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Seward) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |