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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 Alonzo (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 Alonzo. 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 and hospitals 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.

Alonzo is located in Iroquois County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Iroquois County: Ford, Kankakee, Vermilion, Benton (IN) & Newton (IN).

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

  • Iroquois County     (The home county of Alonzo)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alonzo, with the one closest to Alonzo listed first.
    • Goodwine
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Wellington
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Milford
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Claytonville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Stockland
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Schwer
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Schwer is located in Iroquois County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schwer
    • Woodworth
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Woodworth is located in Iroquois County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodworth
    • Cissna Park
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Woodland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Watseka
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Crescent City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Buckley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
  • Champaign County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alonzo, with the one closest to Alonzo listed first.
    • Penfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Gifford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Ludlow
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Flatville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Flatville is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatville
    • Rantoul
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Royal
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Royal is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Royal <1>
    • Prospect
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Prospect is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prospect
  • Ford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alonzo, with the one closest to Alonzo listed first.
    • Paxton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Roberts
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Piper City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Melvin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Elliott
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Vermilion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alonzo, with the one closest to Alonzo listed first.
    • East Lynn
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Hoopeston
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Coalton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Coalton is located in Vermilion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalton
    • Rankin
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Rossville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Alvin
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Alvin is located in Vermilion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
      • Alvin has also been known as:
      • Alvan Village
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alvin <1>
    • Henning
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Potomac
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Armstrong
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Bismarck
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Collison
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Illiana
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Illiana is located in Vermilion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illiana
  • Benton County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alonzo, with the one closest to Alonzo listed first.
    • Ambia
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Ambia is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ambia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
    • Freeland Park
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Freeland Park is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeland Park
    • Dunn ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Dunn is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
    • Talbot
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Raub
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Raub is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raub
    • Boswell
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Earl Park
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Earl Park is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earl Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 342 people
    • Gravel Hill
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Gravel Hill is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravel Hill
    • Fowler
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Fowler is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fowler
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,305 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fowler <1>
    • Atkinson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Atkinson is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkinson
    • Oxford
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Oxford is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,145 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Oxford <1>
    • Wadena
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Wadena is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wadena
  • Newton County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alonzo, with the one closest to Alonzo listed first.
    • Kentland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Newton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Newton is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
    • Goodland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Beaver City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Beaver City is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver City
    • Brook
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Brook is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brook
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 941 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Brook <1>
    • Morocco
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Morocco is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morocco
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,086 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Morocco <1>
    • Foresman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Foresman is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foresman
  • Warren County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alonzo, with the one closest to Alonzo listed first.
    • Pence
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Pence is located in Warren County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pence
    • Brisco ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Brisco is located in Warren County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brisco
    • Hedrick
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Hedrick is located in Warren County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedrick
    • Sloan ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Sloan is located in Warren County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sloan
    • Pine Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Old Town
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Old Town is located in Warren County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
    • State Line City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • State Line City is located in Warren County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Line City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
    • State Line
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • State Line is located in Warren County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Line
    • West Lebanon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • West Lebanon is located in Warren County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lebanon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 686 people
    • Chatterton ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Chatterton is located in Warren County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatterton
    • Williamsport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Alonzo ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alonzo.

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

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

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

  • Amity Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Old Milford Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Maple Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Old Apostolic Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Floral Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Sugar Creek Chapel Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Ash Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Schwer Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • St. John's Lutheran Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • East Lynn Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Vennum Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (187 more) ...
    • Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Cissna Park Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Rankin Union Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)

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 Alonzo in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Alonzo.

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

  • Hickman
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Hickman is located in Iroquois County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickman
  • Goodwine
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Wellington
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Milford
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Claytonville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • East Lynn
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Schwer
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Schwer is located in Iroquois County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schwer
  • Stockland
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Hoopeston
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Woodworth
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Woodworth is located in Iroquois County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodworth
  • Cissna Park
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Cheneyville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Cheneyville is located in Vermilion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheneyville
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Rankin
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Ambia
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Ambia is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ambia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
    • Dunnington
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Dunnington is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnington

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

Newspapers Published in Alonzo ...

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 143 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alonzo.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Alonzo, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Alonzo.

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 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 Alonzo:

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