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 Webster (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 Webster. 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.
Webster is located in Iroquois 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 Iroquois County: Ford, Kankakee, Vermilion, Benton (IN) & Newton (IN).
Below are the counties that are near Webster. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Webster:
- Iroquois County (The home county of Webster)
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- Sheldon
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Effner
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Effner is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Effner
- Iroquois
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Watseka
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Donovan
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Woodland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Martinton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stockland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Milford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Beaverville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Schwer
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Schwer is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schwer
- Crescent City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Papineau
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ford County
- Piper City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Kankakee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- Saint Anne
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Hopkins Park
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- 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>
- Sammons Point
(22 miles [35.4 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
- Aroma Park
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Otto
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Otto is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otto
- Sun River Terrace
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Sun River Terrace is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun River Terrace
- Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
- Litchfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Litchfield is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield
- Illiana Heights
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Illiana Heights is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illiana Heights
- Momence
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Irwin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Irwin is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Kankakee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Illinoi
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Illinoi is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
- Bradley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Vermilion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- Hoopeston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Coalton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Coalton is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalton
- East Lynn
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Rankin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rossville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Benton County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- Raub
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Raub is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raub
- Earl Park
(11 miles [17.7 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
- Freeland Park
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Freeland Park is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeland Park
- Gravel Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Gravel Hill is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravel Hill
- Dunn ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dunn is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
- Wadena
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Wadena is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wadena
- Fowler
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Ambia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Ambia is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ambia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- Talbot
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Boswell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Atkinson
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Atkinson is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkinson
- Oxford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Templeton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Templeton is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Templeton
- Jasper County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- Egypt
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Egypt is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Remington
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Collegeville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Collegeville is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collegeville
- Rensselaer
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fair Oaks
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lake County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- Illinoi
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Illinoi is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
- Schneider
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Schneider is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schneider
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Newton County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- Kentland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Newton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Newton is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Beaver City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Beaver City is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver City
- Brook
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Morocco
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Goodland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Foresman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Foresman is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foresman
- Mount Ayr
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Ayr is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Ayr
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Lake Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Lake Village is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
- Sumava Resorts
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Roselawn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Roselawn is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselawn
- Thayer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Thayer is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Warren County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- Pence
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Pence is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pence
- Brisco ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Brisco is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brisco
- Pine Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- White County (IN)
- Wolcott
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Webster, see our County-by-County Page for Webster.
Cemeteries Near Webster ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Webster.
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 Webster - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Webster covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- Sheldon Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Old Texas Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Gaffield Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Roberts Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Prarie Dell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Iroquois Memorial Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Belmont Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Fleming Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Morris Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Gard Army of the Republic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (145 more) ...
- Dorne Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Vennum Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Blue Ridge Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
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 Webster in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Webster.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- Eastburn
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Eastburn is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastburn
- Sheldon
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Effner
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Effner is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Effner
- Iroquois
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Effner
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Effner is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Effner
- Raub
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Raub is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raub
- Watseka
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Donovan
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Kentland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Milford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Stockland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Earl Park
(11 miles [17.7 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
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Martinton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Beaverville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Schwer
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Schwer is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schwer
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Webster. See our List of 1890's Communities around Webster.
Newspapers Published in Webster ...
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 198 newspapers that have been published in the area around Webster.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Webster, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Webster.
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 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 Webster:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Iroquois County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Ford County
- Kankakee County
- Vermilion County
- Benton County
- Jasper County
- Lake County
- Newton County
- Warren County
- White 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 Webster, 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- Webster) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |