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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 Steward (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 Steward. 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.

Steward 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 Steward. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Steward:

  • Lee County     (The home county of Steward)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Steward, with the one closest to Steward listed first.
    • Lee
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • The Burg
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • The Burg is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Burg
    • Ashton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Compton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • East Paw Paw
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • East Paw Paw is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Paw Paw
    • Paw Paw
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • West Brooklyn
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Inlet
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Inlet is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
    • Franklin Grove
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Radley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Radley is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
    • Lee Center
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Sublette
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Boone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Steward, with the one closest to Steward listed first.
    • Irene
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Irene is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
    • Herbert
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Herbert is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
    • Belvidere
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Bureau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Steward, with the one closest to Steward listed first.
    • La Moille
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Van Orin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Arlington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Cherry
      (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 Steward, with the one closest to Steward listed first.
    • Malta
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Shabbona
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Shabbona Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
    • Elva
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Elva is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elva
    • Waterman
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Esmond
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • De Kalb
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Clare
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Coltonville ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Coltonville is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coltonville
    • Fairdale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Fairdale is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
    • Cortland
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • 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
  • Kane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Steward, with the one closest to Steward listed first.
    • Maple Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Big Rock
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Kaneville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Virgil
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Burlington
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Elburn
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Lily Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 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
    • Sugar Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Kendall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Steward, with the one closest to Steward listed first.
    • Little Rock
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Little Rock is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
    • Plano
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • 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>
    • Millbrook
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • La Salle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Steward, with the one closest to Steward listed first.
    • Earlville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Leland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Mendota
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Baker
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Baker is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
    • Triumph
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Prairie Center
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Prairie Center is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Center
    • Troy Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Waltham
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Waltham is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waltham
    • Sheridan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Millington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Serena
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Blakes
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Blakes is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakes
  • Ogle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Steward, with the one closest to Steward listed first.
    • Rochelle
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Creston
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hillcrest
      (7 miles [11.3 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
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Flagg is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg
    • Flagg Center
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Flagg Center is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg Center
    • Chana
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Lindenwood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Holcomb
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Carthage
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Carthage is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
    • Honey Creek
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Honey Creek is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
    • Watertown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Watertown is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watertown
    • Davis Junction
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
  • Winnebago County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Steward, with the one closest to Steward listed first.
    • New Millford
      (22 miles [35.4 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
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • North Park is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Park
    • Cherry Valley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Indian Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Indian Village is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
    • Rockford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Alworth
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Alworth is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alworth

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

Cemeteries Near Steward ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Steward.

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

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

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

  • Steward Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Union Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Norwegian Lutheran Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Patrick's Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • German Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Lee Calvary Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Reynolds Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Twin Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Lawnridge Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Trinity Memorial Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • English Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Fisk Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (239 more) ...
    • Rose Hill Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Woodlawn Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Flagg Center Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Steward had a population of 176 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Steward had a population of 238 people.

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

  • Lee
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Rochelle
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Creston
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Flagg
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Flagg is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg
  • Flagg Center
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Flagg Center is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg Center
  • Shabbona
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Malta
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Ashton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Compton
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Paw Paw
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Shabbona Grove
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
  • Kings
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Kings is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • West Brooklyn
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Rollo
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Rollo is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollo
    • Waterman
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Steward ...

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 67 newspapers that have been published in the area around Steward.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Steward, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Steward.

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 helpful 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 Steward:

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