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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 McDonough (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 McDonough. 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.

McDonough is located in Chenango 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 Chenango County: Broome, Cortland, Delaware, Madison & Otsego.

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

  • Chenango County     (The home county of McDonough)
    • The following are listed by their distance from McDonough, with the one closest to McDonough listed first.
    • Adams Corner
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Adams Corner is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams Corner
    • Pitcher
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Smithville Flats
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Kirk
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Kirk is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirk
    • Oxford
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • South Otselic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Haynes
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Haynes is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
    • Beaver Meadow
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Beaver Meadow is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Meadow
    • Plymouth
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Greene
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Norwich
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • North Norwich
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • North Norwich is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Norwich
  • Broome County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McDonough, with the one closest to McDonough listed first.
    • Upper Lisle
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Upper Lisle is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upper Lisle
    • Triangle
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Triangle is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Triangle
    • Killawog
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Lisle
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Whitney Point
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • North Colesville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • North Colesville is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Colesville
    • Quinneville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Quinneville is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinneville
    • Manningville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Manningville is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manningville
    • Belden
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Belden is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belden
    • Castle Creek
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Castle Creek is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castle Creek
    • Glen Aubrey
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Kattellville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Kattellville is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kattellville
  • Cayuga County
    • Summer Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Summer Hill is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summer Hill
      • Summer Hill has also been known as:
      • Plato
  • Cortland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McDonough, with the one closest to McDonough listed first.
    • Solon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Solon is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solon
    • Marathon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Messengerville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Messengerville is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Messengerville
    • Lapeer
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Lapeer is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapeer
    • Crains Mills
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Crains Mills is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crains Mills
    • McGraw
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Truxton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • East Homer
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • East Homer is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Homer
    • East River
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • East River is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East River
    • Cortland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Harford Mills
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Harford Mills is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harford Mills
    • Harford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
  • Delaware County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McDonough, with the one closest to McDonough listed first.
    • Sidney
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Masonville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Sidney Center
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • China
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • China is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for China
    • Tacoma
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Tacoma is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoma
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McDonough, with the one closest to McDonough listed first.
    • DeRuyter
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • DeRuyter is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeRuyter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 518 people
    • Puckerville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Puckerville is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puckerville
    • Earlville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Randallsville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Randallsville is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randallsville
    • New Woodstock
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • New Woodstock is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Woodstock
    • Hamilton Center
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Hamilton Center is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton Center
    • South Hamilton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • South Hamilton is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hamilton
    • West Eaton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • West Eaton is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Eaton
    • East Hamilton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • East Hamilton is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hamilton
    • Hamilton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Union
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Union is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Pecksport
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Pecksport is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pecksport
  • Onondaga County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McDonough, with the one closest to McDonough listed first.
    • Fabius
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Apulia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Apulia is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apulia
    • Assembly Park
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Assembly Park is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Assembly Park
    • Tully
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Delphi Falls
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Berwyn
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Berwyn is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwyn
    • Pompey Center
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Pompey Center is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pompey Center
    • Pompey
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Otsego County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McDonough, with the one closest to McDonough listed first.
    • Copes Corner
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Copes Corner is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copes Corner
    • Gilbertsville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Unadilla
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Morris
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Pittsfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Pittsfield is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsfield
    • Youmans Corner
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Youmans Corner is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youmans Corner
    • South Edmeston
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • South Edmeston is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Edmeston
    • Wells Bridge
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Edmeston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Tioga County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McDonough, with the one closest to McDonough listed first.
    • Ketchumville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Ketchumville is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ketchumville
    • Newark Valley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • West Newark
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • West Newark is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Newark
  • Tompkins County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McDonough, with the one closest to McDonough listed first.
    • McLean
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Dryden
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Groton City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Groton City is located in Tompkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groton City
    • Caroline Center
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Caroline Center is located in Tompkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caroline Center
    • Freeville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Peruville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Peruville is located in Tompkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peruville
    • Slaterville Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near McDonough ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of McDonough.

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

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

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

  • Union Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Ashcraft Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Peaceful Forest Graveyard
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Moore Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Corbin Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • East Pharsalia Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Westview Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Towsley and Moore Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Brakel Valley Churchyard Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Crane Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Knickerbocker Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Cowles Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (461 more) ...
    • Miller Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Loomis Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Wilcox Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)

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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that McDonough had a population of 548 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • East McDonough
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • East McDonough is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East McDonough
  • East Pharsalia
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Pharsalia
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Pharsalia is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pharsalia
  • Willet
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Smithville Flats
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Pitcher Springs
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Pitcher Springs is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitcher Springs
  • Tyner
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Tyner is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyner
  • Preston
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Preston is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Preston
  • Pitcher
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Taylor
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Taylor is located in Cortland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor
  • Cincinnatus
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Penelope
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Penelope is located in Broome County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penelope
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • North Pitcher
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • North Pitcher is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Pitcher
    • North Pharsalia
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • North Pharsalia is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Pharsalia
    • Oxford
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in McDonough ...

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 96 newspapers that have been published in the area around McDonough.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of McDonough, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for McDonough.

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 professional and volunteer 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 McDonough:

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>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- McDonough) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<4>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 McDonough, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.