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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 Southgate (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 Southgate. 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 Southgate ...

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 Gate.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Southgate. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Southgate.

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 northeast 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 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.

Southgate is located in Ogle 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 Ogle County: Carroll, DeKalb, Lee, Stephenson, Whiteside & Winnebago.

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

  • Ogle County     (The home county of Southgate)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Southgate, with the one closest to Southgate listed first.
    • Rochelle
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Flagg
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Flagg is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg
    • Hillcrest
      (4 miles [6.4 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
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Flagg Center is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg Center
    • Creston
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Chana
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Lindenwood
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Holcomb
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Carthage
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Carthage is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
    • Honey Creek
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Honey Creek is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
    • Watertown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Watertown is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watertown
    • Davis Junction
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Monroe Center
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Boone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Southgate, with the one closest to Southgate listed first.
    • Irene
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Irene is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
    • Herbert
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Herbert is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
    • Belvidere
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Garden Prairie
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Bureau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Southgate, with the one closest to Southgate listed first.
    • La Moille
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Van Orin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Arlington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Ohio
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • DeKalb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Southgate, with the one closest to Southgate listed first.
    • Malta
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Esmond
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Shabbona
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Elva
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Elva is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elva
    • Clare
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Fairdale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Fairdale is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
    • Shabbona Grove
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
    • De Kalb
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Coltonville ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Coltonville is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coltonville
    • Kirkland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Waterman
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Brush Point ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Brush Point is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Point
    • Cortland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
  • Kane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Southgate, with the one closest to Southgate listed first.
    • Maple Park
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Virgil
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Big Rock
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Kaneville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Burlington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Elburn
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Lily Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Lily Lake is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lily Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,019 people
  • Kendall County
    • Little Rock
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Little Rock is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
  • La Salle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Southgate, with the one closest to Southgate listed first.
    • Earlville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Mendota
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Leland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Baker
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Baker is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
    • Triumph
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Prairie Center
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Prairie Center is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Center
    • Troy Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Southgate, with the one closest to Southgate listed first.
    • Steward
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Ashton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Lee
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • The Burg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • The Burg is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Burg
    • Franklin Grove
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Compton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Paw Paw
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • West Brooklyn
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Inlet
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Inlet is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
    • Lee Center
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • East Paw Paw
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • East Paw Paw is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Paw Paw
    • Nachusa
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Radley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Radley is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
  • Winnebago County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Southgate, with the one closest to Southgate listed first.
    • New Millford
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • New Millford is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Millford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
    • North Park
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • North Park is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Park
    • Indian Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Indian Village is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
    • Cherry Valley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Alworth
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Alworth is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alworth
    • Rockford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Winnebago
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Seward
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Loves Park
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Southgate ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Southgate.

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

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

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

  • St. Patrick's Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Lawnridge Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Steward Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Trinity Memorial Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Flagg Center Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Reynolds Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Union Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Woodlawn Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Cooley Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Ashton Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Ashton Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southwest of Ashton.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #488154 <2>
  • German Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Norwegian Lutheran Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (244 more) ...
    • Bethel Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Gehant Farm Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • White Rock Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)

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

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

  • Rochelle
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Steward
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Flagg
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Flagg is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg
  • Flagg Center
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Flagg Center is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg Center
  • Creston
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Ashton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Kings
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Kings is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings
  • Lee
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • White Rock
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • White Rock is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
  • Malta
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Chana
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Esmond
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Lindenwood
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Franklin Grove
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Shabbona
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Southgate ...

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 85 newspapers that have been published in the area around Southgate.

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

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Southgate:

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 Southgate, 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 from Point A (ie- Southgate) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.