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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 Waldo (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 Waldo. 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 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.

Waldo is located in Livingston 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 Livingston County: Ford, Grundy, Kankakee, La Salle, McLean & Woodford.

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

  • Livingston County     (The home county of Waldo)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waldo, with the one closest to Waldo listed first.
    • Flanagan
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Graymont
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Pontiac
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Pontiac is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pontiac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,176 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pontiac <1>
    • McDowell
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • McDowell is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
    • Cornell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Long Point
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Avoca ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Avoca is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
    • Ancona
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Cayuga
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Cayuga is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga
    • Fairbury
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Swygert
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Swygert is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swygert
    • Coalville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Coalville is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
    • Vermilion City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Vermilion City is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermilion City
  • Ford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waldo, with the one closest to Waldo listed first.
    • Sibley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Garber
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Garber is located in Ford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garber
  • Grundy County
    • Kinsman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • La Salle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waldo, with the one closest to Waldo listed first.
    • Dana
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Dana is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dana <1>
    • Rutland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Leeds
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Leeds is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
    • Streator
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Kangley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Kangley is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kangley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
    • Kernan
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Kernan is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kernan
    • Ransom
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Lostant
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Lostant is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lostant
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 477 people
      • Lostant has also been known as:
      • Lost Ant
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lostant <1>
    • Leonore
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Priscilla ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Priscilla is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Priscilla
    • Grand Ridge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Marshall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waldo, with the one closest to Waldo listed first.
    • Wenona
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Evans ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Evans is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
    • Toluca
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • La Rose
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Varna
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • McLean County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waldo, with the one closest to Waldo listed first.
    • Meadows
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Meadows is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadows
    • Gridley
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Chenoa
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Lexington
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Weston
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Weston is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
    • Hudson
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Towanda
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Cooksville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Merna
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Colfax
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Normal
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Carlock
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Yuton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Yuton is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
  • Putnam County
    • Magnolia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waldo, with the one closest to Waldo listed first.
    • Deer Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Lilly
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Lilly is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
    • Washington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Woodford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waldo, with the one closest to Waldo listed first.
    • Panola
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Panola is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
    • El Paso
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Woodford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Woodford is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
    • Minonk
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Kappa
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Kappa is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kappa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • Benson
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Secor
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Roanoke
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Congerville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Eureka
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Goodfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Washburn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Metamora
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Waldo ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Waldo.

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

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

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

  • Waldo Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Gridley Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Pike Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Center Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Hibbs - Bigger Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Chenoa Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Rook's Creek Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Walden Farm Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Petri Evangelical Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Bauman Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (247 more) ...
    • Calvary Catholic Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Payne Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Johnson Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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.<2>

While we didn't find Waldo in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Waldo.

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

  • Meadows
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Meadows is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadows
  • Gridley
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Flanagan
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Graymont
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Chenoa
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Ocoya
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Ocoya is located in Livingston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocoya
  • Rooks Creek
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Rooks Creek is located in Livingston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rooks Creek
  • El Paso
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Lexington
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Weston
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Weston is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
  • Pontiac
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Pontiac is located in Livingston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pontiac
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,176 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pontiac <1>
  • Kappa
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Kappa is located in Woodford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kappa
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Dana
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Dana is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dana <1>
    • Rowe
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Rowe is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe
    • Minonk
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Waldo ...

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 159 newspapers that have been published in the area around Waldo.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Waldo, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Waldo.

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 either 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 Waldo:

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