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 Elvaston (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 Elvaston. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Elvaston is located in Hancock 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 Hancock County: Lee (IA), Adams, Henderson, McDonough, Schuyler, Clark (MO) & Lewis (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Elvaston. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Elvaston:
- Hancock County (The home county of Elvaston)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elvaston, with the one closest to Elvaston listed first.
- Basco
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Hamilton
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Carthage
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Ferris
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bentley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bentley is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
- Powellton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Powellton is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Adrian
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sutter
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sutter is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
- Warsaw
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Burnside
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Burnside is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- West Point
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- West Point is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Colusa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elvaston, with the one closest to Elvaston listed first.
- Loraine
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Lima
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Marcelline
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Marcelline is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcelline
- Mendon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- La Prairie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Meyer
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Meyer is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
- Ursa
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Golden
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Coatsburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Paloma
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Camp Point
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Blacks
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Blacks is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blacks
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elvaston, with the one closest to Elvaston listed first.
- Lomax
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Iowa Junction
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- Terre Haute
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
- Carman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Gulf Port
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Gulf Port is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf Port
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Raritan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Raritan is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raritan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Stronghurst
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- McDonough County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elvaston, with the one closest to Elvaston listed first.
- VIshnu Springs ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- VIshnu Springs is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for VIshnu Springs
- Colmar
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Colmar is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
- Tennessee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Blandinsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Colchester
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Sciota
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lamone Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Lamone Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamone Village
- East Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- East Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
- Macomb
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- University Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- University Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
- Schuyler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elvaston, with the one closest to Elvaston listed first.
- Huntsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Camden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Des Moines County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elvaston, with the one closest to Elvaston listed first.
- Patterson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Patterson is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Burlington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Middletown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Middletown is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- West Burlington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lee County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elvaston, with the one closest to Elvaston listed first.
- Keokuk
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Sandusky
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Sandusky is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Galland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Galland is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galland
- Buena Vista ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Buena Vista is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Montrose
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fort Madison
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- New Boston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- New Boston is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
- Jeffersonville ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Jeffersonville is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
- Vincennes
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Vincennes is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vincennes
- Argyle
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Charleston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Charleston is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charleston
- Sawyer
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Sawyer is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer
- Former names for Sawyer:
- Atlee
- Edwards
- Van Buren County (IA)
- Farmington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Clark County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elvaston, with the one closest to Elvaston listed first.
- Alexandria
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Saint Francisville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Saint Francisville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Francisville
- Wayland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Wayland is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
- Saint Patrick
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Patrick is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
- Dumas
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Dumas is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumas
- Clark City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Clark City is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark City
- Revere
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Kahoka
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Peaksville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Peaksville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaksville
- Athens
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Athens is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
- Medill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Medill is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medill
- Neeper
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Neeper is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neeper
- Lewis County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elvaston, with the one closest to Elvaston listed first.
- Canton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- La Grange
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Williamstown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Williamstown is located in Lewis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Elvaston, see our County-by-County Page for Elvaston.
Cemeteries Near Elvaston ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Elvaston.
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 Elvaston - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Elvaston covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Elvaston, with the one closest to Elvaston listed first.
- Elvaston Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- McGee Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- County Farm Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- West Basco Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Wythe Presbyterian Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- South Basco Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Old Carthage Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Barnes Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Moss Ridge Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (429 more) ...
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cook Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Woodring Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Elvaston had a population of 307 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Elvaston had a population of 152 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Elvaston, with the one closest to Elvaston listed first.
- McCall
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- McCall is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCall
- Elderville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Elderville is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elderville
- Basco
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Hamilton
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Carthage
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Ferris
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Keokuk
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Bentley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bentley is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
- Sonora ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Sonora is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonora
- Sandusky
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Sandusky is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Warsaw
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Sutter
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sutter is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Adrian
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Galland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Galland is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galland
- Powellton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Powellton is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Elvaston. See our List of 1890's Communities around Elvaston.
Newspapers Published in Elvaston ...
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 71 newspapers that have been published in the area around Elvaston.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Elvaston, 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 Elvaston.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Elvaston:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Hancock County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Henderson County
- McDonough County
- Schuyler County
- Des Moines County
- Lee County
- Van Buren County
- Clark County
- Lewis 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 Elvaston, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Elvaston) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |