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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 South Paw Paw (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 South Paw Paw. 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.

Name Variations for South Paw Paw ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

Another variation: South Pawpaw.

  • A typical abbreviation for South Paw Paw: S. Paw Paw

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

South Paw Paw is located in Lee 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 Lee County: Bureau, DeKalb, La Salle, Ogle & Whiteside.

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

  • Lee County     (The home county of South Paw Paw)
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Paw Paw, with the one closest to South Paw Paw listed first.
    • East Paw Paw
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • East Paw Paw is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Paw Paw
    • Radley
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Radley is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
    • Paw Paw
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Compton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • The Burg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • The Burg is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Burg
    • Lee
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • West Brooklyn
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Steward
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Sublette
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Inlet
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Inlet is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
    • Lee Center
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Ashton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Amboy
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
  • Bureau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Paw Paw, with the one closest to South Paw Paw listed first.
    • La Moille
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Arlington
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Cherry
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Van Orin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Dalzell
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Ladd
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Ladd is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladd
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,184 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ladd <1>
    • Zearing
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Zearing is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zearing
    • Greenoak
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Greenoak is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenoak
    • Seatonville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Spring Valley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Hollowayville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Hollowayville is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollowayville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 85 people
    • Malden
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Ohio
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • DeKalb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Paw Paw, with the one closest to South Paw Paw listed first.
    • Shabbona Grove
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
    • Shabbona
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Waterman
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Franks
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Franks is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
    • Somonauk
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Sandwich
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Elva
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Elva is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elva
    • Hinckley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Malta
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • De Kalb
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Cortland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Coltonville ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Coltonville is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coltonville
    • Clare
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
  • Grundy County
    • Nettle Creek
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Nettle Creek is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettle Creek
  • Kane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Paw Paw, with the one closest to South Paw Paw listed first.
    • Big Rock
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Kaneville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Maple Park
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Sugar Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Elburn
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Virgil
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Kendall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Paw Paw, with the one closest to South Paw Paw listed first.
    • Little Rock
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Little Rock is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
    • Millbrook
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Newark
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Plano
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Plano is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plano
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,879 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Plano <1>
    • Yorkville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Bristol
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Lisbon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lisbon is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
    • Montgomery
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Oswego
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Plattville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Plattville is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plattville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
  • La Salle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Paw Paw, with the one closest to South Paw Paw listed first.
    • Earlville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Leland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Baker
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Baker is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
    • Mendota
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Triumph
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Prairie Center
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Prairie Center is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Center
    • Troy Grove
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Waltham
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Waltham is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waltham
    • Serena
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Sheridan
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Blakes
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Blakes is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakes
    • Millington
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Wedron
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
  • Ogle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Paw Paw, with the one closest to South Paw Paw listed first.
    • Creston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Flagg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Flagg is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg
    • Rochelle
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Hillcrest
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Hillcrest is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,216 people
    • Flagg Center
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Flagg Center is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg Center
    • Carthage
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Carthage is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
    • Chana
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Lindenwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Holcomb
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Honey Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Honey Creek is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
    • Watertown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Watertown is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watertown
    • Monroe Center
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Putnam County
    • Standard
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near South Paw Paw ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of South Paw Paw.

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 South Paw Paw - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • South Paw Paw Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • East Paw Paw Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Wyoming Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Old Stevens Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Harding Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Cottage Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Ellsworth Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Tripp Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Theresa Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Carter Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Johnson Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Fourmile Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (252 more) ...
    • Earl Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • English Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Brooklyn Lutheran Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)

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 South Paw Paw in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of South Paw Paw.

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

  • Radley
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Radley is located in Lee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
  • Rollo
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Rollo is located in DeKalb County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollo
  • Paw Paw
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Earlville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Shabbona Grove
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
  • Shabbona
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Compton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Meriden
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Meriden is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meriden
  • Leland
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Lee
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Baker
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Baker is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
  • West Brooklyn
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Mendota
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Waterman
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Triumph
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in South Paw Paw ...

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 38 newspapers that have been published in the area around South Paw Paw.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of South Paw Paw, 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 South Paw Paw.

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 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 South Paw Paw:

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 South Paw Paw, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- South Paw Paw) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.