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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 Brooklyn (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 Brooklyn. 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.

Brooklyn is located in Schuyler 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 Schuyler County: Adams, Brown, Cass, Fulton, Hancock, Mason & McDonough.

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

  • Schuyler County     (The home county of Brooklyn)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
    • Wayland
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Wayland is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
    • Camden
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Huntsville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Littleton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Rushville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Frederick
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Bader
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Bader is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
    • Browning
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Bluff City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
  • Adams County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
    • La Prairie
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Golden
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Blacks
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Blacks is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blacks
    • Clayton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Camp Point
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Kellerville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Kellerville is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerville
    • Coatsburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Loraine
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Columbus
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Columbus is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
    • Paloma
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Mendon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Fowler
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Liberty
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Brown County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
    • Ripley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Ripley is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
    • Mound Station
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Mound Station is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Station
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Mount Sterling
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Timewell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Hersman
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Hersman is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersman
    • Cooperstown
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Cooperstown is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperstown
    • Gilbirds
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Gilbirds is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbirds
    • Versailles
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
    • Beardstown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Oak Grove
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Oak Grove is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Bluff Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Hagener
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Hagener is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagener
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
    • Vermont
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Table Grove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Astoria
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Ipava
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Summum
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Summum is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summum
    • Marietta
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Marbletown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Marbletown is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marbletown
    • Checkrow
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Checkrow is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Checkrow
    • Smithfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Hancock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
    • Plymouth
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Augusta
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Bowen
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Joetta
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Joetta is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joetta
    • Chili
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Chili is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chili
    • Bentley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Bentley is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
    • Fountain Green
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Fountain Green is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Green
    • West Point
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • West Point is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Point
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
    • Carthage
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Basco
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Burnside
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Burnside is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
    • La Harpe
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • La Harpe is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Harpe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,123 people
    • Ferris
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Mason County
    • Snicarte
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Snicarte is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snicarte
  • McDonough County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
    • Doddsville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Doddsville is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doddsville
    • Industry
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Colmar
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Colmar is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
    • Colchester
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Tennessee
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • VIshnu Springs ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • VIshnu Springs is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for VIshnu Springs
    • East Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • East Village is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
    • Lamone Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Lamone Village is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamone Village
    • Macomb
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Macomb is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macomb
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,206 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Macomb <1>
    • University Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • University Village is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
    • Adair
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Bardolph
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Blandinsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
  • Morgan County
    • Meredosia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Pike County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
    • Chambersburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Perry
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Warren County
    • Youngstown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Youngstown is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngstown

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

Cemeteries Near Brooklyn ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brooklyn.

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

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

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

  • Brooklyn Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Blackburn Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Cox Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Joey Eaton Grave
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Prather Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Mecum Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Stoneking Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Noel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Markee Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • King Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • West Camden Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Taggart Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (494 more) ...
    • White Oak Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Neidy Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Stoneking Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)

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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Brooklyn 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 Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.

  • Wayland
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Wayland is located in Schuyler County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
  • Birmingham
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Birmingham is located in Schuyler County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
  • Huntsville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Camden
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Doddsville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Doddsville is located in McDonough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doddsville
  • Erwin
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Erwin is located in Schuyler County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erwin
  • Littleton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Fandon
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Fandon is located in McDonough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fandon
  • Plymouth
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Augusta
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Industry
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Colmar
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Colmar is located in McDonough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Rushville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Hills Grove ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Hills Grove is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills Grove
    • Saint Mary
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Saint Mary is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Mary

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

Newspapers Published in Brooklyn ...

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 76 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brooklyn.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brooklyn, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Brooklyn.

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 Brooklyn:

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>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 Brooklyn, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Brooklyn) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.