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 Sugar Island (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 Sugar Island. 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 Sugar Island ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Sugar Island: Sugar Is. (in Canada, 'Isld.' is the more common abbreviation.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Sugar Island. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Sugar Island.
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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.
Sugar Island is located in Kankakee 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 Kankakee County: Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Livingston, Will, Lake (IN) & Newton (IN).
Below are the counties that are near Sugar Island. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sugar Island:
- Kankakee County (The home county of Sugar Island)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sugar Island, with the one closest to Sugar Island listed first.
- Sammons Point
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sammons Point is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sammons Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 237 people
- Sammons Point has also been known as:
- Sammons Point village
- Otto
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Otto is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otto
- Saint Anne
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Aroma Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Kankakee
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Irwin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Irwin is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Sun River Terrace
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sun River Terrace is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun River Terrace
- Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
- Limestone
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Limestone is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,498 people
- Bradley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Hopkins Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Hopkins Park is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkins Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 608 people
- Hopkins Park has also been known as:
- Hopkins Park village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hopkins Park <1>
- Bourbonnais
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Saint George
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Saint George is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Momence
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Ford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sugar Island, with the one closest to Sugar Island listed first.
- Cabery
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Kempton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Piper City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sugar Island, with the one closest to Sugar Island listed first.
- Clarke City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Clarke City is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarke City
- East Brooklyn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- East Brooklyn is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brooklyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- South Wilmington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- South Wilmington is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wilmington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 637 people
- Braceville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Central City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Central City is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Gardner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Centerville ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Centerville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Diamond
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Coal City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Iroquois County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sugar Island, with the one closest to Sugar Island listed first.
- Chebanse
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Papineau
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- L'Erable
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- L'Erable is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for L'Erable
- Clifton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Martinton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Beaverville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Ashkum
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Donovan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Danforth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Crescent City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Watseka
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Iroquois
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gilman
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sugar Island, with the one closest to Sugar Island listed first.
- Cardiff
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Cardiff is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
- Cullom
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Campus
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Charlotte
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Charlotte is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlotte
- Emington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Griswold
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Griswold is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
- Chatsworth
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Will County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sugar Island, with the one closest to Sugar Island listed first.
- Peotone
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Custer Park
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Custer Park is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer Park
- Wilton Center
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Wallingford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Wallingford is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
- Beecher
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lakewood Shores
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lakewood Shores is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood Shores
- Symerton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Symerton is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Symerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 91 people
- Wilmington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wilmington is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,597 people
- Braidwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Godley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Godley is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 771 people
- Goodenow
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Goodenow is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodenow
- Monee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Manhattan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Benton County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sugar Island, with the one closest to Sugar Island listed first.
- Raub
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Raub is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raub
- Earl Park
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Earl Park is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earl Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 342 people
- Jasper County (IN)
- Fair Oaks
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Lake County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sugar Island, with the one closest to Sugar Island listed first.
- Illinoi
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Illinoi is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
- Schneider
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Schneider is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schneider
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Shelby
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Shelby is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby
- Lowell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Newton County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sugar Island, with the one closest to Sugar Island listed first.
- Morocco
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Lake Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Village is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
- Beaver City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Beaver City is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver City
- Sumava Resorts
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Brook
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Kentland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Ayr
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Mount Ayr is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Ayr
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Roselawn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Roselawn is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselawn
- Thayer
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Thayer is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Newton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Newton is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Foresman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Foresman is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foresman
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sugar Island, see our County-by-County Page for Sugar Island.
Cemeteries Near Sugar Island ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sugar Island.
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 Sugar Island - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sugar Island covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sugar Island, with the one closest to Sugar Island listed first.
- Barnett Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Jones Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- St. Anne Twp. Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Anne Twp. Cemetery
- The St. Anne Twp. Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Anne Cemetery
- St. Mary & Joseph Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Papineau Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- St. Anne Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Aroma Park Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Old State Hospital Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Teege Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Ridge Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Old Baptist Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Leggtown Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (185 more) ...
- Rice - Bebe Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice - Bebe Cemetery
- The Rice - Bebe Cemetery has also been known as:
- Rice - Day Family Cemetery
- Beebe Family Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beebe Family Cemetery
- The Beebe Family Cemetery has also been known as:
- Bebe Family Cemetery
- Beebe Cemetery
- Beebee Cemetery
- Beebetown Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #104680 <2>
- State Hospital Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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 Sugar Island in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Sugar Island.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sugar Island, with the one closest to Sugar Island listed first.
- Otto
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Otto is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otto
- Chebanse
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Saint Anne
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Papineau
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clifton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- L'Erable
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- L'Erable is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for L'Erable
- Kankakee
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Martinton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Irwin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Irwin is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Beaverville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Koster
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Koster is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koster
- Greenwich
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Greenwich is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwich
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Exline
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Exline is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exline
- Ashkum
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hopkins Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Hopkins Park is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkins Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 608 people
- Hopkins Park has also been known as:
- Hopkins Park village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hopkins Park <1>
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sugar Island. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sugar Island.
Newspapers Published in Sugar Island ...
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 91 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sugar Island.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sugar Island, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sugar Island.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Sugar Island:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Kankakee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Ford County
- Grundy County
- Iroquois County
- Livingston County
- Will County
- Benton County
- Jasper County
- Lake County
- Newton 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 Sugar Island, 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- Sugar Island) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |