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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 Cornell (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 Cornell. 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 doctors and 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.

Cornell is located in Livingston 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 Livingston County: Ford, Grundy, Kankakee, La Salle, McLean & Woodford.

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

  • Livingston County     (The home county of Cornell)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cornell, with the one closest to Cornell listed first.
    • Blackstone
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Missal
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Missal is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missal
    • Ancona
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Graymont
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Cayuga
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Cayuga is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga
    • Pontiac
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Pontiac is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pontiac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,176 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pontiac <1>
    • Long Point
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Budd
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Budd is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Budd
    • Coalville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Coalville is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
    • Vermilion City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Vermilion City is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermilion City
    • Adams ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Adams is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
    • Flanagan
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Ford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cornell, with the one closest to Cornell listed first.
    • Kempton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Cabery
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Grundy County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cornell, with the one closest to Cornell listed first.
    • Kinsman
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Highland Town ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Highland Town is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Town
    • Verona
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Wauponsee
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Wauponsee is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauponsee
    • Mazon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Gardner
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • South Wilmington
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • South Wilmington is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wilmington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 637 people
    • Clarke City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Clarke City is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarke City
    • East Brooklyn
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • East Brooklyn is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brooklyn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
    • Braceville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Central City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Central City is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
    • Centerville ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Centerville is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
  • Kankakee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cornell, with the one closest to Cornell listed first.
    • Reddick
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Buckingham
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • La Salle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cornell, with the one closest to Cornell listed first.
    • Kernan
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Kernan is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kernan
    • Streator
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Dana
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Dana is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dana <1>
    • Ransom
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Kangley
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Kangley is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kangley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
    • Leeds
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Leeds is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
    • Rutland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Grand Ridge
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Leonore
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Marseilles
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Lostant
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Lostant is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lostant
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 477 people
      • Lostant has also been known as:
      • Lost Ant
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lostant <1>
    • Seneca
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Seneca is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,217 people
      • Seneca has also been known as:
      • Crotty
      • Seneca village
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Seneca <1>
  • Marshall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cornell, with the one closest to Cornell listed first.
    • Wenona
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Evans ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Evans is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
    • Toluca
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • La Rose
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Varna
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
  • McLean County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cornell, with the one closest to Cornell listed first.
    • Chenoa
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Meadows
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Meadows is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadows
    • Weston
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Weston is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
    • Gridley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Lexington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Colfax
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Cropsey
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Hudson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Anchor
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Towanda
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Putnam County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cornell, with the one closest to Cornell listed first.
    • Magnolia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Mount Palatine
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Mount Palatine is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Palatine
    • McNabb
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Standard
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Will County
    • Godley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Godley is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 771 people
  • Woodford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cornell, with the one closest to Cornell listed first.
    • Minonk
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Woodford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Woodford is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
    • Panola
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Panola is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
    • Benson
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • El Paso
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Kappa
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Kappa is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kappa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • Secor
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Roanoke
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Washburn
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Cornell ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cornell.

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

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

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

  • Bayou Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Cornell Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Zooks Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Calder Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Springer Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Morris Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Nigh Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Earp Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Campbell Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Corbins Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Camp Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Hadley Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (221 more) ...
    • Johnson Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Rowe Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Sunbury Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)

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 Cornell had a population of 437 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Cornell had a population of 451 people.

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

  • Manville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Manville is located in Livingston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manville
  • Rowe
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Rowe is located in Livingston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe
  • Smithdale
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Smithdale is located in Livingston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithdale
  • Blackstone
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Rooks Creek
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Rooks Creek is located in Livingston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rooks Creek
  • Missal
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Missal is located in Livingston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missal
  • Graymont
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Pontiac
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Pontiac is located in Livingston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pontiac
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,176 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pontiac <1>
  • Cayuga
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Cayuga is located in Livingston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga
  • Reading
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Reading is located in Livingston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reading
  • Ancona
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Long Point
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Budd
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Budd is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Budd
    • Coalville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Coalville is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
    • Flanagan
      (10 miles [16.1 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 Cornell. See our List of 1890's Communities around Cornell.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Cornell ...

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 65 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cornell.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Cornell. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Cornell and those printed in the larger area surrounding Cornell.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3> of Cornell.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Cornell:

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 Cornell, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Cornell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.