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 Wilders (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 Wilders. 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 southwest 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 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 west 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.
Wilders is located in LaPorte 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 LaPorte County: Jasper, Porter, Saint Joseph, Starke & Berrien (MI).
Below are the counties that are near Wilders. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wilders:
- LaPorte County (The home county of Wilders)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilders, with the one closest to Wilders listed first.
- La Crosse
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Wanatah
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hanna
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Haskell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Haskell is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haskell
- Alida
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Alida is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alida
- Union Mills
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Westville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Kingsford Heights
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Kingsford Heights is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsford Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,379 people
- Kingsbury
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kingsbury is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 239 people
- Door Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Door Village is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Door Village
- Otis
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Otis is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otis
- Holmesville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Holmesville is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmesville
- Kankakee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Kankakee is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kankakee
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilders, with the one closest to Wilders listed first.
- Delong
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Delong is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delong
- Lake Bruce
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Bruce is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Bruce
- Leiters Ford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Leiters Ford is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leiters Ford
- Kewanna
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kewanna is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kewanna
- Population from the 2020 Census: 598 people
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilders, with the one closest to Wilders listed first.
- Tefft
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tefft is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tefft
- Wheatfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Stoutsburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Stoutsburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoutsburg
- Gifford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Gifford is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gifford
- DeMotte
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- 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>
- Virgie
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Virgie is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgie
- Forest City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Forest City is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Fair Oaks
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rensselaer
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Collegeville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Collegeville is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collegeville
- Lake County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilders, with the one closest to Wilders listed first.
- Lakes of the Four Seasons
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Leroy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Leroy is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leroy
- Winfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Winfield is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,265 people
- Dinwiddie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Dinwiddie is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dinwiddie
- Deep River
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Deep River is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Shelby
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Shelby is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby
- Crown Point
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Green Acres
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Green Acres is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Acres
- Hobart
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Merrillville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Dalecarlia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Lake Dalecarlia is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Dalecarlia
- Lowell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Lake Station
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilders, with the one closest to Wilders listed first.
- Burr Oak
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Burr Oak is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burr Oak
- Culver
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Culver is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culver
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,484 people
- Donaldson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Donaldson is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donaldson
- Tyner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Tyner is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyner
- Plymouth
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Newton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilders, with the one closest to Wilders listed first.
- Roselawn
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Roselawn is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselawn
- Thayer
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Thayer is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Sumava Resorts
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Mount Ayr
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Ayr is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Ayr
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Lake Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Lake Village is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
- Porter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilders, with the one closest to Wilders listed first.
- Kouts
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Aylesworth
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Aylesworth is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aylesworth
- Boone Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Boone Grove is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boone Grove
- Porter Crossroads
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Porter Crossroads is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter Crossroads
- Valparaiso
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hebron
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Suman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Suman is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suman
- Tratebas Mill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Tratebas Mill is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tratebas Mill
- South Haven
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- South Haven is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Haven
- Wheeler
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wheeler is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Babcock
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Babcock is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babcock
- Chesterton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Porter
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Pulaski County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilders, with the one closest to Wilders listed first.
- Medaryville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Denham
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Denham is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denham
- Beardstown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Beardstown is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beardstown
- Francesville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Winamac
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Monterey
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Monterey is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Lawton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lawton is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawton
- Star City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Thornhope
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Thornhope is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornhope
- Former names for Thornhope:
- Parisville
- Rosedale
- Thornhope has also been known as:
- Oak
- Saint Joseph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilders, with the one closest to Wilders listed first.
- Walkerton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- North Liberty
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Starke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilders, with the one closest to Wilders listed first.
- San Pierre
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- North Judson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Toto
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Toto is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toto
- Aldine
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Aldine is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldine
- Knox
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Bass Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Bass Lake is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bass Lake
- Hamlet
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ora
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Ora is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora
- Ober
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Ober is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ober
- Grovertown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Grovertown is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grovertown
- Koontz Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Koontz Lake is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koontz Lake
- White County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilders, with the one closest to Wilders listed first.
- Lee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lee is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee
- Buffalo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Buffalo is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Monon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Headlee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Headlee is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Headlee
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wilders, see our County-by-County Page for Wilders.
Cemeteries Near Wilders ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wilders.
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 Wilders - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wilders covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wilders, with the one closest to Wilders listed first.
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- All Saints Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- St. Martins Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- St. Thomas Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Kankakee Twp. Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Highland Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hopewell Mennonite Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Graceland Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hepner Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Morgan Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Hershman Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Adam Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (172 more) ...
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- St. Henrys Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- St. Marks Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
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, Wilders had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wilders, with the one closest to Wilders listed first.
- English Lake
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- English Lake is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Lake
- La Crosse
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Clanricarde
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Clanricarde is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clanricarde
- San Pierre
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Tefft
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tefft is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tefft
- North Judson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kouts
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Thomaston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Thomaston is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomaston
- South Wanatah
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- South Wanatah is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wanatah
- Wheatfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Toto
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Toto is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toto
- Hanna
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Wanatah
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Aylesworth
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Aylesworth is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aylesworth
- Stoutsburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Stoutsburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoutsburg
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wilders. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wilders.
Newspapers Published in Wilders ...
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 42 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wilders.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wilders, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wilders.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Wilders:
- Websites specific to Indiana
- Pages specific to LaPorte County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Fulton County
- Jasper County
- Lake County
- Marshall County
- Newton County
- Porter County
- Pulaski County
- Saint Joseph County
- Starke County
- White 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 Wilders, 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 from Point A (ie- Wilders) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |