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 Wheeler (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 Wheeler. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Wheeler is located in Porter 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 Porter County: Cook (IL), Jasper, Lake, LaPorte, Starke & Berrien (MI).
Below are the counties that are near Wheeler. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wheeler:
- Porter County (The home county of Wheeler)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- South Haven
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- South Haven is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Haven
- Portage
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Willow Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Willow Creek is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
- Woodland Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Woodland Village is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Babcock
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Babcock is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babcock
- Valparaiso
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Porter Crossroads
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Porter Crossroads is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter Crossroads
- Burns Harbor
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Ogden Dunes
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Ogden Dunes is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogden Dunes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,083 people
- Chesterton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Suman
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Suman is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suman
- Porter
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Tratebas Mill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Tratebas Mill is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tratebas Mill
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- DeMotte
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- DeMotte is located in Jasper County
- 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>
- Forest City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Forest City is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Stoutsburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Stoutsburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoutsburg
- Wheatfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Tefft
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Tefft is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tefft
- Virgie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Virgie is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgie
- Fair Oaks
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lake County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- Deep River
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Deep River is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Hobart
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Lake Station
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- New Chicago
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- New Chicago is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Chicago
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,937 people
- Liverpool
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Liverpool is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liverpool
- Green Acres
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Green Acres is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Acres
- Duneland Village of Gary
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Duneland Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Duneland Village is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duneland Village
- Lakes of the Four Seasons
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Merrillville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Winfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Winfield is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,265 people
- Lottaville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Lottaville is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lottaville
- Gary
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- LaPorte County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- Alida
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Alida is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alida
- Haskell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Haskell is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haskell
- Westville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Wanatah
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Otis
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Otis is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otis
- Holmesville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Holmesville is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmesville
- Michigan City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Union Mills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Waterford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Waterford is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
- La Crosse
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Door Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Door Village is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Door Village
- Hanna
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Pottawattamie Park
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pottawattamie Park is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottawattamie Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 221 people
- Newton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- Thayer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Thayer is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Roselawn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Roselawn is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselawn
- Sumava Resorts
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Village is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
- Starke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- San Pierre
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- North Judson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Toto
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Toto is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toto
- Cook County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- Lansing
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Calumet City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Lynwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Burnham
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Burnham is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,040 people
- Ford Heights
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Globe
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Globe is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
- Sauk Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Hegewisch
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hegewisch is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hegewisch
- East Side
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- East Side is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Side
- Glenwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- South Holland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Chicago Heights
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Dolton
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Kankakee County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- Sherburnville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sherburnville is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherburnville
- Illinoi
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Illinoi is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
- Grant Park
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Grant Park is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,231 people
- Illiana Heights
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Illiana Heights is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illiana Heights
- Will County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- Willowbrook
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Crete
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Steger
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Beecher
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Goodenow
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Goodenow is located in Will County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodenow
- University Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Monee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Berrien County (MI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- Michiana
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Grand Beach
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Grand Beach is located in Berrien County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Beach
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- New Buffalo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wheeler, see our County-by-County Page for Wheeler.
Cemeteries Near Wheeler ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wheeler.
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 Wheeler - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wheeler covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- Janes Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Deep River Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mosier Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Blachly Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Chester Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Calvary Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Calvary Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Portage.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #84536 <2>
- Temple of Israel Cemetery of Gary
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Blake Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Kimball Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Gossett Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Robbins Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- James Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (175 more) ...
- McCool Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCool Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the McCool Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Portage.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #85842 <2>
- Hobart City Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- St. Francis Xavier Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Wheeler had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- Sedley
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Sedley is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedley
- Deep River
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Deep River is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Ainsworth
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ainsworth is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ainsworth
- Hobart
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Willow Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Willow Creek is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
- Babcock
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Babcock is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babcock
- McCool
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- McCool is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCool
- Crisman
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Crisman is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crisman
- Lake Station
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Valparaiso
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Liverpool
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Liverpool is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liverpool
- Merrillville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Woodville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Woodville is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Miller
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Miller is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller
- Winfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Winfield is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,265 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wheeler. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wheeler.
Newspapers Published in Wheeler ...
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 115 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wheeler.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wheeler, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wheeler.
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 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 Wheeler:
- Websites specific to Indiana
- Pages specific to Porter County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Jasper County
- Lake County
- LaPorte County
- Newton County
- Starke County
- Cook County
- Kankakee County
- Will County
- Berrien 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 Wheeler, 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 from Point A (ie- Wheeler) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |