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 Winneshiek (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 Winneshiek. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.
Winneshiek is located in Stephenson 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 Stephenson County: Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Winnebago, Green (WI) & Lafayette (WI).
Below are the counties that are near Winneshiek. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Winneshiek:
- Stephenson County (The home county of Winneshiek)
- The following are listed by their distance from Winneshiek, with the one closest to Winneshiek listed first.
- Dakota
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Ridott
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rock City
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Rock City is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 279 people
- Cedarville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Afolkey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Afolkey is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afolkey
- Freeport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Davis
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Rock Grove is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Grove
- Red Oak
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Red Oak is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
- Buena Vista
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- German Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Orangeville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Winneshiek, with the one closest to Winneshiek listed first.
- Shannon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Georgetown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Georgetown is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Zier Cors
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Zier Cors is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zier Cors
- Lanark
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Elkhorn Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Elkhorn Grove is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn Grove
- Hitt
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hitt is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitt
- Hazelhurst
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Hazelhurst is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelhurst
- South Elkhorn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- South Elkhorn is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elkhorn
- Mount Carroll
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Polsgrove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Polsgrove is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polsgrove
- Chadwick
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Milledgeville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jo Daviess County
- The following are listed by their distance from Winneshiek, with the one closest to Winneshiek listed first.
- Nora
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Stockton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Warren
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Valley is located in Jo Daviess County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
- Apple River
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Ogle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Winneshiek, with the one closest to Winneshiek listed first.
- Baileyville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Egan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Egan is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
- Adeline
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Adeline is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adeline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Forreston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Harper
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Harper is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Leaf River
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Haldane
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Haldane is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haldane
- Maryland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Maryland is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maryland
- Mount Morris
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Byron
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Brookville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Brookville is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookville
- Oregon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Winnebago County
- The following are listed by their distance from Winneshiek, with the one closest to Winneshiek listed first.
- Pecatonica
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Lake Summerset
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Summerset is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Summerset
- Durand
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Seward
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Winnebago
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Alworth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Alworth is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alworth
- Wempletown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
- Shirland
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Indian Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Indian Village is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- Rockford
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Sturbridge Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Sturbridge Village is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge Village
- Rockton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Green County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Winneshiek, with the one closest to Winneshiek listed first.
- Twin Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Twin Grove is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
- Monroe
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Monroe is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,426 people
- Cadiz
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Cadiz is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadiz
- Brodhead
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Brodhead is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brodhead
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,204 people
- Browntown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Browntown is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browntown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Albany
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Albany is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
- Population from the 2020 Census: 977 people
- Mineral Point
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Mineral Point is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Point
- Monticello
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Monticello is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,185 people
- Attica
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Attica is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Lafayette County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Winneshiek, with the one closest to Winneshiek listed first.
- South Wayne
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- South Wayne is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wayne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Woodford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Woodford is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
- Gratiot
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Gratiot is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gratiot
- Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
- Wiota
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wiota is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiota
- Argyle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Argyle is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 809 people
- Rock County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Winneshiek, with the one closest to Winneshiek listed first.
- Avon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Avon is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Newark
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Newark is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Orfordville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Orfordville is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orfordville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,486 people
- Beloit
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Beloit is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36,637 people
- Footville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Footville is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Footville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 822 people
- Hanover
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hanover is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
- Magnolia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Magnolia is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Garden Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Garden Village is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Winneshiek, see our County-by-County Page for Winneshiek.
Cemeteries Near Winneshiek ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Winneshiek.
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 Winneshiek - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Winneshiek covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Winneshiek, with the one closest to Winneshiek listed first.
- Silver Spring Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Lancaster Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Freeport Mennonite Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeport Mennonite Church Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Freeport Mennonite Church Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<2> to the southwest of Dakota.
- The Freeport Mennonite Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Freeport Mennonite Cemetery
- Mennonite Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2188877 <3>
- Mennonite Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Dakota Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Gunds Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- State Road Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Rock City Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Pioneers Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Ridott Center Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Grandview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (266 more) ...
- Freeport City Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wagner Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Afolkey Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Winneshiek in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Winneshiek.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Winneshiek, with the one closest to Winneshiek listed first.
- Dakota
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Ridott
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rock City
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Rock City is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 279 people
- Cedarville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Freeport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Afolkey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Afolkey is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afolkey
- South Freeport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- South Freeport is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Freeport
- Davis
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Rock Grove is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Grove
- Red Oak
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Red Oak is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
- German Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Pecatonica
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Buena Vista
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Damascus
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Damascus is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damascus
- Baileyville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Winneshiek. See our List of 1890's Communities around Winneshiek.
Newspapers Published in Winneshiek ...
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 133 newspapers that have been published in the area around Winneshiek.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Winneshiek, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Winneshiek.
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 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 Winneshiek:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Stephenson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Carroll County
- Jo Daviess County
- Ogle County
- Winnebago County
- Green County
- Lafayette County
- Rock 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Winneshiek) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Winneshiek, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |