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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 Sour Spring Grove (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 Sour Spring Grove. 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.

Name Variations for Sour Spring Grove ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Sour Spring Grove: Sour Spg. Grv. (or less commonly used: Sour Spng. Grv. or Sour Sprng. Grv.)

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 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.

Sour Spring Grove is located in Erie 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 Erie County: Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Niagara & Wyoming.

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

  • Erie County     (The home county of Sour Spring Grove)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sour Spring Grove, with the one closest to Sour Spring Grove listed first.
    • Grandyle Village
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Grandyle Village is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandyle Village
    • Tonawanda
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Ferry Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Ferry Village is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferry Village
    • Kenmore
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Amherst
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Getzville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Williamsville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Buffalo
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Sloan
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Sloan is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sloan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,522 people
    • Swormville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Swormville is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swormville
    • Cheektowaga
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Bowmansville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Harris Hill
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Harris Hill is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Hill
  • Genesee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sour Spring Grove, with the one closest to Sour Spring Grove listed first.
    • Amherst
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Amherst is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst
    • Corfu
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Indian Falls
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Indian Falls is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Falls
    • Alabama
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Alabama is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alabama
    • Basom
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • North Pembroke
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • North Pembroke is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Pembroke
    • Sawens
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Sawens is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawens
    • Wheatville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Wheatville is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatville
    • Griswold
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Griswold is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
  • Niagara County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sour Spring Grove, with the one closest to Sour Spring Grove listed first.
    • North Tonawanda
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • North Tonawanda is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Tonawanda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 30,050 people
    • Park Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Park Village is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Village
    • Wurlitzer Park Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Black Creek Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Black Creek Village is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Creek Village
    • Saint Johnsburg
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Saint Johnsburg is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johnsburg
    • Martinsville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Martinsville is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
    • Bergholtz
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Bergholtz is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bergholtz
    • Hoffman
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Hoffman is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoffman
    • Colonial Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Colonial Village is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
    • Niagara Falls
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Pletchers Corners
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Pletchers Corners is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pletchers Corners
    • Pekin
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Pekin is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pekin
    • Pendleton Center
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Pendleton Center is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pendleton Center
  • Orleans County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sour Spring Grove, with the one closest to Sour Spring Grove listed first.
    • Jeddo
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Jeddo is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeddo
    • Lakewood Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Lakewood Village is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood Village
    • Medina
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Wyoming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sour Spring Grove, with the one closest to Sour Spring Grove listed first.
    • Folsomdale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Folsomdale is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsomdale
    • Harris Corners
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Harris Corners is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Corners

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

Cemeteries Near Sour Spring Grove ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sour Spring Grove.

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 Sour Spring Grove - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • White Haven Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Maple Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Mt. Olivet Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • City Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for City Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the City Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Tonawanda.
    • The City Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Tonawanda City Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #64209 <2>
  • St. Francis Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Salem Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem Church Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Salem Church Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Tonawanda.
    • The Salem Church Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Salem Cemetery
    • Salem's Gemeinde Kirchhof
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2300968 <2>
  • St. Stevens Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Elmlawn Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • White Haven Road Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Frenchman's Creek Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • McAffee Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood Cemetery
    • The Greenwood Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Greenwood Municipal Cemetery
  • Continue List   (309 more) ...
    • St. John's Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • White Chapel Memorial Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • St. Martin's Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)

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>

While we didn't find Sour Spring Grove in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Sour Spring Grove.

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

  • Tonawanda
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • North Tonawanda
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • North Tonawanda is located in Niagara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Tonawanda
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 30,050 people
  • Kenmore
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • La Salle
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • La Salle is located in Niagara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Salle
  • Martinsville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Martinsville is located in Niagara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
  • Saint Johnsburg
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Saint Johnsburg is located in Niagara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johnsburg
  • Eggertsville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Hoffman
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hoffman is located in Niagara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoffman
  • Bergholtz
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Bergholtz is located in Niagara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bergholtz
  • Snyder
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Snyder is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snyder
  • Getzville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Beach Ridge
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Beach Ridge is located in Niagara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Ridge
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Wendelville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Wendelville is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wendelville
    • Sanborn
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Niagara Falls
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Sour Spring Grove ...

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 85 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sour Spring Grove.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sour Spring Grove, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sour Spring Grove.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Sour Spring Grove:

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 Sour Spring Grove, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Sour Spring Grove) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.