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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 Laidlaw (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 Laidlaw. 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.

Laidlaw 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 Laidlaw. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Laidlaw:

  • Cattaraugus County     (The home county of Laidlaw)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laidlaw, with the one closest to Laidlaw listed first.
    • Elton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Elton is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elton
    • Franklinville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Machias
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Delevan
      (7 miles [11.3 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>
    • Bird
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Bird is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bird
    • Yorkshire
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Yorkshire is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkshire
    • Ischua
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Ischua is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ischua
    • Abbotts
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Abbotts is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbotts
    • Humphrey
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Humphrey is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humphrey
    • Sugartown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Sugartown is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugartown
    • Ellicottville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Brooklyn
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Brooklyn is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
  • Allegany County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laidlaw, with the one closest to Laidlaw listed first.
    • Fairview
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Fairview is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Rushford
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Lyons Corners
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Lyons Corners is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons Corners
    • Black Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Caneadea
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Houghton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Hume
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Oramel
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Oramel is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oramel
    • Cuba
      (14 miles [22.5 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>
    • Belfast
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Fillmore
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • West Allen
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • West Allen is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Allen
  • Erie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laidlaw, with the one closest to Laidlaw listed first.
    • Dutchtown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Dutchtown is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutchtown
    • Protection
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Protection is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Protection
    • Springville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Footes
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Footes is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Footes
    • Holland
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Concord
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Concord is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Morton Corners
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Morton Corners is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morton Corners
    • Wyandale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Wyandale is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyandale
    • Boston
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Patchin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Patchin is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patchin
    • West Falls
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • West Falls is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Falls
    • Griffins Mills
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Griffins Mills is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffins Mills
  • Livingston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laidlaw, with the one closest to Laidlaw listed first.
    • Dalton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Lewis
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Lewis is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewis
    • Nunda
      (26 miles [41.8 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 Laidlaw, with the one closest to Laidlaw listed first.
    • Arcade
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Bliss
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Curriers
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Curriers is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curriers
    • Java Center
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Pike
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • East Koy
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • East Koy is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Koy
    • Smiths Corner
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Smiths Corner is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths Corner
    • Java Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Hardys
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Hardys is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardys
    • North Java
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Gainesville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Castile
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
  • McKean County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laidlaw, with the one closest to Laidlaw listed first.
    • Myrtle
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Myrtle is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
    • Tuna
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Tuna is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuna
    • Derrick City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Duke Center
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Duke Center is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duke Center
    • Eldred
      (30 miles [48.3 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>
    • Foster Brook
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Foster Brook is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster Brook
    • Gilmore
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Gilmore is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore

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

Cemeteries Near Laidlaw ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Laidlaw.

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

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

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

  • Farmersville Center Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Ten Broeck Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Elton Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Siloam Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Mt. Prospect Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Maple Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Maple Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Hardys Corners Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Cadiz Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Rawson Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Delavan Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delavan Cemetery
    • The Delavan Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Maple Dale Cemetery
    • Maplehurst Cemetery
    • Yorkshire Center Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #65204 <2>
  • Freedom Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (275 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 in 1895, Laidlaw had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Farmersville
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Farmersville is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmersville
  • Elton
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Elton is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elton
  • Farmersville Station
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Machias Junction
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Machias Junction is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Machias Junction
  • Franklinville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Machias
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Fairview
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Fairview is located in Allegany County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
  • Cadiz
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Cadiz is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadiz
  • Elgin
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Elgin is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
  • Sandusky
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Sandusky is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
  • Bird
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Bird is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bird
  • Rushford
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Freedom
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Devereaux
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Devereaux is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devereaux
    • Fitch
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Fitch is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitch

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

Newspapers Published in Laidlaw ...

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 165 newspapers that have been published in the area around Laidlaw.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Laidlaw, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Laidlaw.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Laidlaw:

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 Laidlaw, 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- Laidlaw) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.