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 Moonlight (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 Moonlight. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Moonlight is located in Steuben County.
To see how the shape of Indiana's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Steuben County: DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble, Branch (MI), Hillsdale (MI) & Williams (OH).
Below are the counties that are near Moonlight. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Moonlight:
- Steuben County (The home county of Moonlight)
- The following are listed by their distance from Moonlight, with the one closest to Moonlight listed first.
- Pleasant Lake
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Pleasant Lake is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Lake
- Angola
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hudson
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Russels Point
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Russels Point is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russels Point
- Hamilton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hamilton is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,595 people
- Alvarado
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Alvarado is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
- Jamestown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Jamestown is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Fremont
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- York
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- York is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Orland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ray
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ray is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Clear Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Clear Lake is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Allen County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moonlight, with the one closest to Moonlight listed first.
- Leo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Ari
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ari is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ari
- Huntertown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Leo-Cedarville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Leo-Cedarville is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leo-Cedarville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,882 people
- Grabill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Harlan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Wallen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Wallen is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallen
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moonlight, with the one closest to Moonlight listed first.
- Ashley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Fairfield Center
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Fairfield Center is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield Center
- Waterloo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Corunna
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Corunna is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corunna
- Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
- Moore
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Moore is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore
- Butler
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Auburn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Altona
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Altona is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altona
- Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
- Garrett
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Concord
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Concord is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Saint Joe
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- New Era
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- New Era is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Era
- Spencerville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- LaGrange County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moonlight, with the one closest to Moonlight listed first.
- Stroh
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Stroh is located in LaGrange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stroh
- Gravel Beach
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Gravel Beach is located in LaGrange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravel Beach
- Brushy Prairie
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Brushy Prairie is located in LaGrange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Prairie
- South Milford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- South Milford is located in LaGrange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Milford
- Mongo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Greenfield Mills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Greenfield Mills is located in LaGrange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield Mills
- Plato
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Plato is located in LaGrange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plato
- Brighton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Brighton is located in LaGrange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton
- Wolcottville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Valentine
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Valentine is located in LaGrange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valentine
- LaGrange
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Howe
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Seyberts
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Seyberts is located in LaGrange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seyberts
- Noble County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moonlight, with the one closest to Moonlight listed first.
- Wakeville Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wakeville Village is located in Noble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakeville Village
- Kendallville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Avilla
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Rome City
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Brimfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Brimfield is located in Noble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brimfield
- Laotto
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cosperville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Cosperville is located in Noble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cosperville
- Albion
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ege
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ege is located in Noble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ege
- Wawaka
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Green Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Green Center is located in Noble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Center
- Port Mitchell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Port Mitchell is located in Noble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Mitchell
- Kimmell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Whitley County
- Churubusco
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Branch County (MI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Moonlight, with the one closest to Moonlight listed first.
- Ray
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Canada Shores
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Canada Shores is located in Branch County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Shores
- Gilead
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Gilead is located in Branch County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
- Hatmaker
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Hatmaker is located in Branch County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatmaker
- Bronson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Batavia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Batavia is located in Branch County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batavia
- Fisher
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Fisher is located in Branch County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher
- Coldwater
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Matteson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Matteson is located in Branch County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matteson
- Quincy
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Trailtree Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Trailtree Village is located in Branch County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trailtree Village
- Hodunk
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hodunk is located in Branch County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodunk
- Girard
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Girard is located in Branch County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girard
- Hillsdale County (MI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Moonlight, with the one closest to Moonlight listed first.
- Montgomery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Montgomery is located in Hillsdale County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
- Population from the 2020 Census: 329 people
- Camden
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Reading
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Frontier
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Frontier is located in Hillsdale County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frontier
- Buckeye ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Buckeye is located in Hillsdale County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye
- Ransom
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ransom is located in Hillsdale County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ransom
- Allen
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Allen is located in Hillsdale County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 192 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Allen <1>
- Steamburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Steamburg is located in Hillsdale County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steamburg
- Shadyside
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shadyside is located in Hillsdale County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shadyside
- Saint Joseph County (MI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Moonlight, with the one closest to Moonlight listed first.
- Fawn River
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Fawn River is located in Saint Joseph County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fawn River
- Burr Oak
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Sturgis
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sturgis is located in Saint Joseph County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturgis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,803 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sturgis <1>
- Findley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Findley is located in Saint Joseph County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Findley
- Colon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Colon is located in Saint Joseph County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,155 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Colon <1>
- Klingers
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Klingers is located in Saint Joseph County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klingers
- Bluff Beach
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bluff Beach is located in Saint Joseph County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Beach
- Fairfax
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fairfax is located in Saint Joseph County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfax
- Oakwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Oakwood is located in Saint Joseph County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Defiance County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Moonlight, with the one closest to Moonlight listed first.
- Hicksville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ney
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ney is located in Defiance County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ney
- Population from the 2020 Census: 337 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ney <1>
- Paulding County (OH)
- Link ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Link is located in Paulding County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Link
- Williams County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Moonlight, with the one closest to Moonlight listed first.
- Columbia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Columbia is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Edon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Edon is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 807 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Edon <1>
- Cooney
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Cooney is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooney
- Blakeslee
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Denmark ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Denmark is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Northwest
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Northwest is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest
- Edgerton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ainger
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Ainger is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ainger
- Melbern
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Melbern is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melbern
- Jim Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Jim Town is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jim Town
- Montpelier
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Holiday City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Holiday City is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
- Pioneer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Moonlight, see our County-by-County Page for Moonlight.
Cemeteries Near Moonlight ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Moonlight.
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 Moonlight - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Moonlight covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Moonlight, with the one closest to Moonlight listed first.
- Matson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Pleasant Lake Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Carter Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Circle Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Crockett Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Circle Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Old Circle Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hollister Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Trinity Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- County Line Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Barkers Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (289 more) ...
- Block Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Hamilton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Otsego Center Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
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 Moonlight in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Moonlight.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Moonlight, with the one closest to Moonlight listed first.
- Pleasant Lake
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Pleasant Lake is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Lake
- Hudson
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Summit
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Summit is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
- Angola
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Salem Center
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Salem Center is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem Center
- Ellis
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ellis is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
- Flint
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Flint is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
- Turkey Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Turkey Creek is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turkey Creek
- Hamilton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hamilton is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,595 people
- Fairfield Center
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Fairfield Center is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield Center
- Inverness
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Inverness is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
- Nevada Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Nevada Mills is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nevada Mills
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Sedan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Sedan is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedan
- Waterloo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Alvarado
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Alvarado is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Moonlight. See our List of 1890's Communities around Moonlight.
Newspapers Published in Moonlight ...
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 108 newspapers that have been published in the area around Moonlight.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Moonlight, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Moonlight.
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 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 Moonlight:
- Websites specific to Indiana
- Pages specific to Steuben County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allen County
- DeKalb County
- LaGrange County
- Noble County
- Whitley County
- Branch County
- Hillsdale County
- Saint Joseph County
- Defiance County
- Paulding County
- Williams County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Indiana
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 Moonlight, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Moonlight) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |