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 West Brooklyn (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 West Brooklyn. 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 West Brooklyn ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for West Brooklyn: W. Brooklyn
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Brooklyn. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Brooklyn.
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 northwest 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 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.
West Brooklyn 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 West Brooklyn. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Brooklyn:
- Lee County (The home county of West Brooklyn)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Brooklyn, with the one closest to West Brooklyn listed first.
- The Burg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- The Burg is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Burg
- Compton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Inlet
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Inlet is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
- Sublette
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Lee Center
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Paw Paw
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- East Paw Paw
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- East Paw Paw is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Paw Paw
- Radley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Radley is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
- Amboy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Ashton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Lee
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Steward
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Franklin Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bureau County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Brooklyn, with the one closest to West Brooklyn listed first.
- La Moille
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Van Orin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Arlington
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Cherry
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Ohio
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Greenoak
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Greenoak is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenoak
- Zearing
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Zearing is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zearing
- Kasbeer
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ladd
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Limerick
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Limerick is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limerick
- Malden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dover
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Dalzell
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Brooklyn, with the one closest to West Brooklyn listed first.
- Shabbona
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Shabbona Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
- Waterman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Malta
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Elva
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Elva is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elva
- Franks
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Franks is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
- Somonauk
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Esmond
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hinckley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- De Kalb
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sandwich
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Clare
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Coltonville ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Coltonville is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coltonville
- Kendall County
- Little Rock
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Little Rock is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
- La Salle County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Brooklyn, with the one closest to West Brooklyn listed first.
- Mendota
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Earlville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Triumph
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Troy Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Leland
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Prairie Center
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Prairie Center is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Center
- Waltham
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Waltham is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waltham
- Baker
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Baker is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- La Salle
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Peru
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- North Utica
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- North Utica is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Utica
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,333 people
- Blakes
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Blakes is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakes
- Serena
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ogle County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Brooklyn, with the one closest to West Brooklyn listed first.
- Flagg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Flagg is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg
- Rochelle
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Flagg Center
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Flagg Center is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg Center
- Carthage
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Carthage is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
- Hillcrest
(18 miles [29 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
- Creston
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Chana
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Honey Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Honey Creek is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
- Watertown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Watertown is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watertown
- Oregon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Holcomb
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Lindenwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Woosung
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Brooklyn, with the one closest to West Brooklyn listed first.
- Granville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Mark
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Standard
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Whiteside County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Brooklyn, with the one closest to West Brooklyn listed first.
- Deer Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Rock Falls
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Penrose
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Penrose is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penrose
- Sterling
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Brooklyn, see our County-by-County Page for West Brooklyn.
Cemeteries Near West Brooklyn ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Brooklyn.
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 West Brooklyn - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Brooklyn covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Brooklyn, with the one closest to West Brooklyn listed first.
- St. Mary's Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Union Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Brooklyn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Brooklyn Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fisk Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Peterson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Inlet Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Woodside Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Baird - Pumphrey Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fourmile Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cottage Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (252 more) ...
- Harding Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Twin Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Theiss Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
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 West Brooklyn had a population of 200 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, West Brooklyn had a population of 131 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Brooklyn, with the one closest to West Brooklyn listed first.
- Compton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Sublette
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Lee Center
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Paw Paw
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Mendota
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Meriden
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Meriden is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meriden
- Radley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Radley is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
- Amboy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Ashton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Lee
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Steward
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Franklin Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- La Moille
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Earlville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rollo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Rollo is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollo
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Brooklyn. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Brooklyn.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of West Brooklyn ...
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 51 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Brooklyn.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of West Brooklyn. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of West Brooklyn and those printed in the larger area surrounding West Brooklyn.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4> of West Brooklyn.
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 West Brooklyn:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Lee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bureau County
- DeKalb County
- Kendall County
- La Salle County
- Ogle County
- Putnam County
- Whiteside 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 West Brooklyn, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- West Brooklyn) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |