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 Bishop Hill (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 Bishop Hill. 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 northwest 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 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.
Bishop Hill is located in Henry 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 Henry County: Bureau, Knox, Mercer, Rock Island, Stark & Whiteside.
Below are the counties that are near Bishop Hill. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bishop Hill:
- Henry County (The home county of Bishop Hill)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bishop Hill, with the one closest to Bishop Hill listed first.
- Galva
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cambridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Kewanee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Woodhull
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Andover
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Osco
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Alpha
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Lynn Center
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ophiem
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Ophiem is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ophiem
- Atkinson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Morristown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Morristown is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
- Geneseo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Annawan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bureau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bishop Hill, with the one closest to Bishop Hill listed first.
- Neponset
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Mineral
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sheffield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Buda
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Milo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Milo is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milo
- Manlius
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- New Bedford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wyanet
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Yorktown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Yorktown is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bishop Hill, with the one closest to Bishop Hill listed first.
- Altona
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Oneida
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Victoria
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Wataga
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rio
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Henderson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Appleton
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Appleton is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
- Dahinda
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Knox
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Knox is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
- Williamsfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Henderson Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Henderson Grove is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson Grove
- East Galesburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- East Galesburg is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Galesburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
- Galesburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Marshall County
- Camp Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Mercer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bishop Hill, with the one closest to Bishop Hill listed first.
- New Windsor
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- New Windsor is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Windsor
- Windsor
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Windsor is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 760 people
- Griffin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Griffin is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- North Henderson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Sherrard
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Alexis
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Viola
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Matherville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Preemption
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Gilchrist
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
- Burgess
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Burgess is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
- Shale City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Shale City is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
- Norwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Norwood is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- Peoria County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bishop Hill, with the one closest to Bishop Hill listed first.
- Elmore
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Elmore is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmore
- Laura
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Monica
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Monica is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monica
- Princeville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Brimfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Elmwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Rock Island County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bishop Hill, with the one closest to Bishop Hill listed first.
- Rustic Acres
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Rustic Acres is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustic Acres
- Coal Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Joslin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Joslin is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joslin
- Barstow
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Carbon Cliff
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Silvis
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Coyne Center
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Coyne Center is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyne Center
- East Moline
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- East Moline is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Moline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 20,473 people
- Oak Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Grove is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
- Hillsdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Hampton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rapids City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Milan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bishop Hill, with the one closest to Bishop Hill listed first.
- La Fayette
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Toulon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- West Jersey
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- West Jersey is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Jersey
- Osceola
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Osceola is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Modena
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Modena is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modena
- Wyoming
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Castleton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Bradford
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Speer
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bishop Hill, with the one closest to Bishop Hill listed first.
- Shanghai City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Shanghai City is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai City
- Utah
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Utah is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
- Surrey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Surrey is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surrey
- Cameron
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Gerlaw
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Scott County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bishop Hill, with the one closest to Bishop Hill listed first.
- Le Claire
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Riverdale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Riverdale is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 398 people
- Bettendorf
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Panorama Park
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Panorama Park is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panorama Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 331 people
- Pleasant Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bishop Hill, see our County-by-County Page for Bishop Hill.
Cemeteries Near Bishop Hill ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bishop Hill.
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 Bishop Hill - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bishop Hill covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bishop Hill, with the one closest to Bishop Hill listed first.
- Bishop Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Piatt Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Red Oak Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Larson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Galva Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Altona Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Talbot Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- McNay Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Walnut Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Rose Dale Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Clover Chapel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (287 more) ...
- Himes Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cosner Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Oneida Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bishop Hill had a population of 330 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Bishop Hill had a population of 121 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bishop Hill, with the one closest to Bishop Hill listed first.
- Nekoma
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Nekoma is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nekoma
- Galva
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ulah
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Ulah is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ulah
- Altona
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Cambridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- La Fayette
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Oneida
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Kewanee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Victoria
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Andover
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ontario
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ontario is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ontario
- Saxon ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Saxon is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxon
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Osco
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Alpha
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Wataga
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bishop Hill. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bishop Hill.
Newspapers Published in Bishop Hill ...
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 44 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bishop Hill.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bishop Hill, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bishop Hill.
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 either 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 Bishop Hill:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Henry County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bureau County
- Knox County
- Marshall County
- Mercer County
- Peoria County
- Rock Island County
- Stark County
- Warren County
- Scott County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Illinois
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 Bishop Hill, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bishop Hill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |