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 Williams Center (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 Williams Center. 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 Williams Center ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
- A typical abbreviation for Williams Center: Williams Ctr. (or less commonly used: Williams Cen., Williams Cent. or Williams Cntr.)
- You might see Williams Centre instead of Williams Center.
- While the name of this community is Williams Center, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Williams Center may originally have been William's Center.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Williams Center might be written as William Center.
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.
For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Williams Center is located in Williams County.
To see how the shape of Ohio's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Williams County: DeKalb (IN), Steuben (IN), Hillsdale (MI), Defiance, Fulton & Henry.
Below are the counties that are near Williams Center. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Williams Center:
- Williams County (The home county of Williams Center)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams Center, with the one closest to Williams Center listed first.
- Melbern
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Melbern is located in Williams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melbern
- Bryan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Pulaski
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pulaski is located in Williams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pulaski
- Denmark ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Denmark is located in Williams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Edgerton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Blakeslee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Montpelier
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Stryker
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Holiday City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Holiday City is located in Williams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
- Edon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jim Town
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Jim Town is located in Williams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jim Town
- West Unity
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ainger
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Ainger is located in Williams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ainger
- Defiance County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams Center, with the one closest to Williams Center listed first.
- Ney
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Sherwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Hicksville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Brunersburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Brunersburg is located in Defiance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brunersburg
- Defiance
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Williamstown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Williamstown is located in Defiance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
- Jewell
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Jewell is located in Defiance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
- Ayersville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ayersville is located in Defiance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayersville
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams Center, with the one closest to Williams Center listed first.
- Archbold
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Burlington
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Burlington is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
- Eckley ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Eckley is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eckley
- Eckley has also been known as:
- Eckley Station
- Pettisville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Pettisville is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pettisville
- Fayette
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Thelma ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Thelma is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thelma
- Wauseon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Powers ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Powers is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers
- Powers has also been known as:
- Powers Station
- Ritters ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ritters is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritters
- Inlet ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Inlet is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
- Oakshade
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Oakshade is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakshade
- Advance
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Advance is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Advance
- Denson ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Denson is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denson
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams Center, with the one closest to Williams Center listed first.
- Ridgeville Corners
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Ridgeville Corners is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeville Corners
- Okolona
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Okolona is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okolona
- Okolona has also been known as:
- Okalona
- Florida
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Florida is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florida
- Population from the 2020 Census: 213 people
- Napoleon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Holgate
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- New Bavaria
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- New Bavaria is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Bavaria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Pleasant Bend
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Bend is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Bend
- Elery
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Elery is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elery
- Malinta
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Paulding County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams Center, with the one closest to Williams Center listed first.
- New Rochester ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- New Rochester is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Rochester
- Renollet ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Renollet is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renollet
- Cecil
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Cecil is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cecil
- Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
- Emmett
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Emmett is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmett
- Emmett has also been known as:
- Emerald Station
- Emerald
- Knoxdale ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Knoxdale is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knoxdale
- Link ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Link is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Link
- Antwerp
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Junction
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Junction is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction
- Paulding
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Charloe
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Charloe is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charloe
- Broughton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Broughton is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broughton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 115 people
- Hedges
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Hedges is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedges
- Latty
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Latty is located in Paulding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latty
- Population from the 2020 Census: 180 people
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams Center, with the one closest to Williams Center listed first.
- Hartsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hartsburg is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsburg
- Continental
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dupont
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kieferville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kieferville is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kieferville
- Van Wert County
- Scott
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Allen County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams Center, with the one closest to Williams Center listed first.
- Harlan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Grabill
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Woodburn
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Leo-Cedarville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Leo-Cedarville is located in Allen County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leo-Cedarville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,882 people
- Leo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Edgerton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Edgerton is located in Allen County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton
- Hacienda Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hacienda Village is located in Allen County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hacienda Village
- Zulu
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Zulu is located in Allen County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zulu
- DeKalb County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams Center, with the one closest to Williams Center listed first.
- Butler
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Saint Joe
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Moore
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Moore is located in DeKalb County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore
- Concord
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Concord is located in DeKalb County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Spencerville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Waterloo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Auburn
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Ashley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Corunna
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Corunna is located in DeKalb County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corunna
- Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
- Fairfield Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Fairfield Center is located in DeKalb County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield Center
- Garrett
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Altona
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Altona is located in DeKalb County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altona
- Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
- New Era
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- New Era is located in DeKalb County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Era
- Steuben County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams Center, with the one closest to Williams Center listed first.
- Alvarado
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Alvarado is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
- Hamilton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hamilton is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,595 people
- Russels Point
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Russels Point is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russels Point
- York
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- York is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Pleasant Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Lake is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Lake
- Clear Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Clear Lake is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Angola
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hudson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Fremont
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ray
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ray is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Jamestown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jamestown is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Branch County (MI)
- Ray
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hillsdale County (MI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams Center, with the one closest to Williams Center listed first.
- Buckeye ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Buckeye is located in Hillsdale County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye
- Waldron
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Waldron is located in Hillsdale County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 521 people
- Camden
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Frontier
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Frontier is located in Hillsdale County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frontier
- Ransom
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Ransom is located in Hillsdale County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ransom
- Lickly Corners
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Lickly Corners is located in Hillsdale County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickly Corners
- Prattville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Prattville is located in Hillsdale County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prattville
- Montgomery
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Montgomery is located in Hillsdale County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
- Population from the 2020 Census: 329 people
- Shadyside
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Shadyside is located in Hillsdale County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shadyside
- Reading
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Pittsford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Steamburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Steamburg is located in Hillsdale County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steamburg
- Lenawee County (MI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams Center, with the one closest to Williams Center listed first.
- Munson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Munson is located in Lenawee County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munson
- Morenci
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- North Morenci
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- North Morenci is located in Lenawee County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Morenci
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Williams Center, see our County-by-County Page for Williams Center.
Cemeteries Near Williams Center ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Williams Center.
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 Williams Center - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Williams Center covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Williams Center, with the one closest to Williams Center listed first.
- Williams Center Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Fetters Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Farmer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Fountain Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Brown Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Old Presbyterian Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Trinity Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Tamarack Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Kent Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Lost Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Lentz Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (354 more) ...
- Ney Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Lick Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Zion Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
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 Williams Center had a population of 216 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Williams Center, with the one closest to Williams Center listed first.
- Farmer
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Farmer is located in Defiance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmer
- Melbern
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Melbern is located in Williams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melbern
- Bryan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ney
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Pulaski
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pulaski is located in Williams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pulaski
- Edgerton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Cicero ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cicero is located in Defiance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cicero
- Moats
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Moats is located in Defiance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moats
- Blakeslee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sherwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Montpelier
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- The Bend
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- The Bend is located in Defiance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Bend
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Evansport
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Stryker
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Artic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Artic is located in DeKalb County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artic
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Williams Center. See our List of 1890's Communities around Williams Center.
Newspapers Published in Williams Center ...
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 61 newspapers that have been published in the area around Williams Center.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Williams Center, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Williams Center.
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 Williams Center:
- Websites specific to Ohio
- Pages specific to Williams County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Defiance County
- Fulton County
- Henry County
- Paulding County
- Putnam County
- Van Wert County
- Allen County
- DeKalb County
- Steuben County
- Branch County
- Hillsdale County
- Lenawee County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Ohio
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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 Williams Center, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Williams Center) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |