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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 Elgin (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 Elgin. 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.

Elgin is located in Cattaraugus County.

To see how the shape of New York's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Cattaraugus County: Allegany, Chautauqua, Erie, Wyoming, McKean (PA) & Warren (PA).

Below are the counties that are near Elgin. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Elgin:

  • Cattaraugus County     (The home county of Elgin)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
    • Abbotts
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Abbotts is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbotts
    • Ischua
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Ischua is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ischua
    • Franklinville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Elton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Elton is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elton
    • Bird
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Bird is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bird
    • Machias
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Humphrey
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Humphrey is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humphrey
    • Sugartown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Sugartown is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugartown
    • Delevan
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Delevan is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delevan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,039 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Delevan <1>
    • Weston Mills
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Weston Mills is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston Mills
    • Great Valley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Allegany
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Ellicottville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
  • Allegany County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
    • Lyons Corners
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lyons Corners is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons Corners
    • Black Creek
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Rushford
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Cuba
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Cuba is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,460 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cuba <1>
    • Fairview
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Fairview is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Oramel
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Oramel is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oramel
    • Caneadea
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Belfast
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Friendship
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Houghton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • West Clarksville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • West Clarksville is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Clarksville
    • Fillmore
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hume
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Erie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
    • Springville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Dutchtown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Dutchtown is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutchtown
    • Protection
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Protection is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Protection
    • Concord
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Concord is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Footes
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Footes is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Footes
    • Holland
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Morton Corners
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Morton Corners is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morton Corners
    • Wyandale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Wyandale is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyandale
    • Boston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Livingston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
    • Dalton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Lewis
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Lewis is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewis
    • Nunda
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Nunda is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nunda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,274 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nunda <1>
  • Wyoming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
    • Arcade
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Bliss
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • East Koy
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • East Koy is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Koy
    • Pike
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Curriers
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Curriers is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curriers
    • Hardys
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Hardys is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardys
    • Java Center
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Smiths Corner
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Smiths Corner is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths Corner
    • Java Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Gainesville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • North Java
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Castile
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Silver Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • McKean County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
    • Myrtle
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Myrtle is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
    • Eldred
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Eldred is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldred
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 754 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Eldred <1>
    • Duke Center
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Duke Center is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duke Center
    • Derrick City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Gilmore
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Gilmore is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Tuna
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Tuna is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuna
    • Summit
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Summit is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
    • Foster Brook
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Foster Brook is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster Brook
    • Dallas City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Dallas City is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas City
    • Larabee
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Larabee is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larabee
    • Rixford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Rixford is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rixford
    • Sawyer City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Sawyer City is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer City
    • Bradford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Potter County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
    • Shinglehouse
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • East Sharon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • East Sharon is located in Potter County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sharon
    • Honeoye
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Honeoye is located in Potter County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honeoye
    • Chrystal
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Chrystal is located in Potter County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chrystal
    • Millport
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Millport is located in Potter County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millport

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Elgin, see our County-by-County Page for Elgin.

Cemeteries Near Elgin ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Elgin.

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 Elgin - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Elgin covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.

  • Rawson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Union Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Hill Cemetery
    • The Union Hill Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Burlinghame Hill Cemetery
    • Wilson Cemetery
    • Yankee Hill Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #66569 <2>
  • Abbotts Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Ischua Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Hardys Corners Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Fitch Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • North Cuba Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Black Creek Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Bellville Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Prospect Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Cadiz Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Bristol Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (256 more) ...

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 Elgin had a population of 52 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.

  • Abbotts
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Abbotts is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbotts
  • Ischua
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Ischua is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ischua
  • Farmersville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Farmersville is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmersville
  • Fitch
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Fitch is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitch
  • Franklinville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Cadiz
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Cadiz is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadiz
  • North Cuba
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • North Cuba is located in Allegany County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Cuba
  • Laidlaw
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Laidlaw is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laidlaw
  • Black Creek
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Cuba
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Cuba is located in Allegany County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,460 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cuba <1>
  • Marshall
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Marshall is located in Allegany County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshall
  • Rushford
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Farmersville Station
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Hinsdale
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Rockville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Rockville is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Elgin. See our List of 1890's Communities around Elgin.

Newspapers Published in Elgin ...

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 162 newspapers that have been published in the area around Elgin.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Elgin, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Elgin.

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 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 Elgin:

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 Elgin, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Elgin) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.