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 Ward (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 Ward. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Ward 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 Ward. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ward:
- Kankakee County (The home county of Ward)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- Momence
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Litchfield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Litchfield is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield
- Illiana Heights
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Illiana Heights is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illiana Heights
- Grant Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Grant Park is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,231 people
- Illinoi
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Illinoi is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
- Sherburnville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sherburnville is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherburnville
- Hopkins Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- 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>
- Sun River Terrace
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sun River Terrace is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun River Terrace
- Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
- Saint George
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Saint George is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Aroma Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Anne
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bradley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Cook County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- South Chicago Heights
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- South Chicago Heights is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Chicago Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,957 people
- Park Forest
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Richton Park
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Sauk Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Chicago Heights
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Ford Heights
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Lynwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Matteson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Olympia Fields
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Flossmoor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Glenwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Country Club Hills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Iroquois County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- Beaverville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Papineau
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Martinton
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Chebanse
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Donovan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- L'Erable
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- L'Erable is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for L'Erable
- Clifton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Iroquois
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Ashkum
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Effner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Effner is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Effner
- Sheldon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Watseka
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Will County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- Beecher
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Peotone
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Goodenow
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Goodenow is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodenow
- Monee
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Crete
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- University Park
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Steger
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Willowbrook
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Wallingford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wallingford is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
- Wilton Center
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Symerton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Symerton is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Symerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 91 people
- Frankfort Square
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Frankfort Square is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort Square
- Jasper County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- Forest City
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Forest City is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Fair Oaks
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- DeMotte
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- DeMotte is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeMotte
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,172 people
- DeMotte has also been known as:
- De Motte
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for DeMotte <1>
- Virgie
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Virgie is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgie
- Stoutsburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Stoutsburg is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoutsburg
- Wheatfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Rensselaer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gifford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Gifford is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gifford
- Collegeville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Collegeville is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collegeville
- Egypt
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Egypt is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Lake County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- Illinoi
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Illinoi is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
- Schneider
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Schneider is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schneider
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Shelby
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Shelby is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby
- Lowell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Dalecarlia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Dalecarlia is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Dalecarlia
- Cedar Lake
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dinwiddie
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Dinwiddie is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dinwiddie
- Saint John
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Crown Point
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Leroy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Leroy is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leroy
- Dyer
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Dyer is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,955 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dyer <1>
- Schererville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Newton County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- Lake Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Lake Village is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
- Sumava Resorts
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Thayer
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Thayer is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Roselawn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Roselawn is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselawn
- Morocco
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver City is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver City
- Mount Ayr
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Ayr is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Ayr
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Brook
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Foresman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Foresman is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foresman
- Kentland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Newton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Newton is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Porter County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- Hebron
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Aylesworth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Aylesworth is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aylesworth
- Boone Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Boone Grove is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boone Grove
- Porter Crossroads
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Porter Crossroads is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter Crossroads
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ward, see our County-by-County Page for Ward.
Cemeteries Near Ward ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ward.
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 Ward - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ward covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- Shrontz Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- St. Judes Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Momence Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Mt. Airy Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Union Corner Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sherburnville Christian Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Bible Witness Camp Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Guiding Star Memorial Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Heusing Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery
- The St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
- Petersberg Cemetery
- Continue List (251 more) ...
- St. George Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Zion Lutheran Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion Lutheran Cemetery
- The Zion Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery
- Concordia Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
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 Ward in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ward.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ward, with the one closest to Ward listed first.
- Momence
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Grant Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Grant Park is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,231 people
- Sherburnville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sherburnville is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherburnville
- Koster
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Koster is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koster
- Hopkins Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- 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>
- Exline
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Exline is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exline
- Saint George
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Saint George is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Sollitt
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Sollitt is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sollitt
- Lake Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Lake Village is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
- Saint Anne
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kankakee
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Beecher
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Papineau
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Beaverville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Shelby
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Shelby is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ward. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ward.
Newspapers Published in Ward ...
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 74 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ward.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ward, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ward.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Ward:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Kankakee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cook County
- Iroquois County
- Will County
- Jasper County
- Lake County
- Newton County
- Porter 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 Ward, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Ward) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |