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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 Chautauqua Park (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 Chautauqua Park. 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 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.

Chautauqua Park is located in Mason 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 Mason County: Cass, Fulton, Logan, Menard, Schuyler & Tazewell.

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

  • Mason County     (The home county of Chautauqua Park)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chautauqua Park, with the one closest to Chautauqua Park listed first.
    • Havana
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Buzzville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Buzzville is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buzzville
    • Topeka
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Goofy Ridge
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Goofy Ridge is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goofy Ridge
    • Long Branch
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Long Branch is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
    • Poplar City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Bath
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Kilbourne
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Forest City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Forest City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
    • Easton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Union
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Union is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Teheran
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Teheran is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chautauqua Park, with the one closest to Chautauqua Park listed first.
    • Chandlerville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Newmansville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Newmansville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
    • Sylvan ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Sylvan is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
    • Jules
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Jules is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
    • Philadelphia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Philadelphia is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Virginia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Bluff Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Burlingame
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Burlingame is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
    • Oak Grove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Oak Grove is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Gurney ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Gurney is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
    • Beardstown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Ashland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chautauqua Park, with the one closest to Chautauqua Park listed first.
    • Sepo
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Sepo is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sepo
    • Liverpool
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Lewistown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Marbletown
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Marbletown is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marbletown
    • Bryant
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Dunfermline
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Saint David
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Summum
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Summum is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summum
    • Cuba
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Cuba is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,149 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cuba <1>
    • Ipava
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Banner
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Canton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chautauqua Park, with the one closest to Chautauqua Park listed first.
    • New Holland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Middletown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Emden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • McDonough County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chautauqua Park, with the one closest to Chautauqua Park listed first.
    • New Philadelphia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • New Philadelphia is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Philadelphia
    • Adair
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Bushnell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Bardolph
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Prairie City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Prairie City is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
    • Industry
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Menard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chautauqua Park, with the one closest to Chautauqua Park listed first.
    • Oakford
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Greenview
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Petersburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Tallula
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Athens
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Croft
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Croft is located in Menard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
  • Peoria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chautauqua Park, with the one closest to Chautauqua Park listed first.
    • Glasford
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Kingston Mines
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Mapleton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Trivoli
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Hanna City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Bartonville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Schuyler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chautauqua Park, with the one closest to Chautauqua Park listed first.
    • Bluff City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Bader
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Bader is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
    • Browning
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Frederick
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Rushville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Littleton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chautauqua Park, with the one closest to Chautauqua Park listed first.
    • Radville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Radville is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radville
    • Parkland
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Parkland is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkland
    • Talbott
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Talbott is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talbott
    • Winkel ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Winkel is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkel
    • Green Valley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Stoehrs
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Stoehrs is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoehrs
    • Midway
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Midway is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Powerton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Powerton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powerton
    • South Pekin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • South Pekin is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Pekin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,081 people
    • Crescent
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Crescent is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
    • Hawley ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Hawley is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawley
    • Delavan
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Chautauqua Park ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Chautauqua Park.

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 Chautauqua Park - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Fullerton Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Neteler Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Laurel Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Hancock - Pioneer Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Rakestraw Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Speckman Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Steging Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Quiver Presbyterian Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Waterford Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Foutch Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (367 more) ...
    • Pleasant View Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Liverpool Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Kearney Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<2>

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

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

  • Havana
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Sepo
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Sepo is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sepo
  • Kelsey
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Kelsey is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsey
  • Liverpool
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Matanzas
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Matanzas is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matanzas
  • Topeka
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Poplar City
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Maples Mill
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Maples Mill is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maples Mill
  • Lewistown
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Marbletown
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Marbletown is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marbletown
  • Bishop
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Bishop is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
  • Bryant
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Bath
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Conover
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Conover is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conover
    • Kilbourne
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Chautauqua Park ...

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 29 newspapers that have been published in the area around Chautauqua Park.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Chautauqua Park, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Chautauqua Park.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Chautauqua Park:

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 Chautauqua Park, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Chautauqua Park) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.