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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 Pekin (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 Pekin. 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.

Pekin is located in Niagara County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Niagara County: Erie, Genesee & Orleans.

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

  • Niagara County     (The home county of Pekin)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pekin, with the one closest to Pekin listed first.
    • Dickersonville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Ransomville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Bergholtz
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Bergholtz. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bergholtz
      • Bergholtz is located in Niagara County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Bergholtz
      • From Pekin to Bergholtz
    • Colonial Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Colonial Village have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
      • Colonial Village is located in Niagara County
    • Saint Johnsburg
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Model City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Model City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Model City
      • Model City is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Model City <1>
    • Lockport Junction
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Porter Center
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Black Creek Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Black Creek Village have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Creek Village
      • Black Creek Village is located in Niagara County
    • Hoffman
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Pendleton Center
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Lewiston
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lewiston have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewiston
      • Lewiston is located in Niagara County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,572 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lewiston <1>
  • Erie County
  • Genesee County
  • Orleans County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pekin, with the one closest to Pekin listed first.
    • Jeddo
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Lakewood Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lakewood Village have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood Village
      • Lakewood Village is located in Orleans County
    • Medina
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Lyndonville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Shadigee
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Pekin ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pekin.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • St. Andrew Lutheran Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Andrew Lutheran Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Andrew Lutheran Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Mt. View Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. View Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. View Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Peters Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Peters Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Peters Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Lockport Road Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lockport Road Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lockport Road Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Hillside Cemetery of Cambria
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hillside Cemetery of Cambria
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hillside Cemetery of Cambria have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • North Ridge Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the North Ridge Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the North Ridge Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Dickersonville Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Pioneer Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pioneer Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pioneer Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Pauls Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Pauls Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Pauls Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Holy Ghost Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Holy Ghost Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Holy Ghost Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Wheatfield Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Wheatfield Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Wheatfield Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (280 more) ...
    • Campbell Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Campbell Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Campbell Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Mt. Hope Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • St. Jacobs Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Jacobs Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Jacobs Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Pekin had a population of 220 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Sanborn
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sanborn have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanborn
    • Sanborn is located in Niagara County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sanborn <1>
  • Shawnee
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shawnee have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawnee
    • Shawnee is located in Niagara County
  • Ransomville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Bergholtz
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Bergholtz. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bergholtz
    • Bergholtz is located in Niagara County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Bergholtz
    • From Pekin to Bergholtz
  • North Ridge
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Ridge have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Ridge
    • North Ridge is located in Niagara County
  • Saint Johnsburg
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Mapleton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mapleton have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleton
    • Mapleton is located in Niagara County
  • Beach Ridge
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Beach Ridge have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Ridge
    • Beach Ridge is located in Niagara County
  • Lockport Junction
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Hickory Corners
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hickory Corners have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Corners
    • Hickory Corners is located in Niagara County
  • South Wilson
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Wilson have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wilson
    • South Wilson is located in Niagara County
  • La Salle
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for La Salle have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Salle
    • La Salle is located in Niagara County
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Pekin ...

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 57 newspapers that have been published in the area around Pekin.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Pekin, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Pekin.

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 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 Pekin:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Pekin. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Niagara County: www.niagaracounty.com/

The official website for State of New York: https://www.ny.gov/

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>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<3>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<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 drawn from Point A (ie- Pekin) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Pekin. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 43.1684, Longitude: -78.8851       In this case, the coordinates for Pekin have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>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.
<6>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 Pekin, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025