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 Erie (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 Erie. 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.
Erie is located in Whiteside 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 Whiteside County: Clinton (IA), Bureau, Carroll, Henry, Lee, Ogle & Rock Island.
Below are the counties that are near Erie. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Erie:
- Whiteside County (The home county of Erie)
- The following are listed by their distance from Erie, with the one closest to Erie listed first.
- Pratt ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Pratt is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
- Newton Corners
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Newton Corners is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Corners
- Fenton
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Denrock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Denrock is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denrock
- Prophetstown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Lyndon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Albany
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Union Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Union Grove is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- Morrison
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- East Clinton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- East Clinton is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Clinton
- Fulton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Tampico
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Bureau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erie, with the one closest to Erie listed first.
- Yorktown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Yorktown is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
- New Bedford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mineral
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Manlius
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Walnut
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Sheffield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Neponset
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Buda
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erie, with the one closest to Erie listed first.
- Thomson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Fair Haven
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Fair Haven is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Haven
- Ideal
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Ideal is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ideal
- Argo Fay
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Argo Fay is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argo Fay
- Chadwick
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Daggett ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Daggett is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daggett
- Milledgeville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ayers
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Ayers is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayers
- Hickory Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Hickory Grove is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
- Wacker
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Wacker is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wacker
- South Elkhorn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- South Elkhorn is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elkhorn
- Center Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Center Hill is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Hill
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erie, with the one closest to Erie listed first.
- Hooppole
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hickory Hills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hickory Hills is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hills
- Geneseo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Cleveland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cleveland is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
- Dayton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dayton is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Atkinson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Briar Bluff
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Briar Bluff is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
- Colona
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Green Rock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Green Rock is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Rock
- Annawan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Morristown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Morristown is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
- Osco
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erie, with the one closest to Erie listed first.
- Nelson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Harmon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Prairieville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Prairieville is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Rock Island County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erie, with the one closest to Erie listed first.
- Hillsdale
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Joslin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Joslin is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joslin
- Cordova
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Port Byron
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Rapids City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rustic Acres
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rustic Acres is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustic Acres
- Barstow
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hampton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Carbon Cliff
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Silvis
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- East Moline
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- East Moline is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Moline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 20,473 people
- Coal Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Clinton County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Erie, with the one closest to Erie listed first.
- Camanche
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Clinton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Shaffton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Shaffton is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaffton
- Folletts
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Folletts is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folletts
- Low Moor
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Elvira
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Elvira is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elvira
- Sixmile
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sixmile is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sixmile
- Elk River Junction
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Elk River Junction is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk River Junction
- Andover
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Andover is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Tenmile
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Tenmile is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenmile
- Bryant
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bryant is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
- Teeds Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Teeds Grove is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teeds Grove
- Jackson County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Erie, with the one closest to Erie listed first.
- Sabula
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Miles
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Scott County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Erie, with the one closest to Erie listed first.
- Princeton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Le Claire
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Valley
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- McCausland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- McCausland is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCausland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 311 people
- Panorama Park
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Panorama Park is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panorama Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 331 people
- Riverdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Riverdale is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 398 people
- Bettendorf
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Park View
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Park View is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park View
- Eldridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Long Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Davenport
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Noel ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Noel is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noel
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Erie, see our County-by-County Page for Erie.
Cemeteries Near Erie ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Erie.
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 Erie - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Erie covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Erie, with the one closest to Erie listed first.
- Erie Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Sharon Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Shady Town Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Smack Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fenton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Kingsbury Presbyterian Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Moriah Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bowman Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Loraine Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Washington Road Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bethesda Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lyndon Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (267 more) ...
- McHenry Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Kemmis Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Minta Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
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 Erie had a population of 535 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Erie had a population of 1,482 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Erie, with the one closest to Erie listed first.
- Spring Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Hill is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Pratt ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Pratt is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
- Hillsdale
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Fenton
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Denrock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Denrock is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denrock
- Prophetstown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Lyndon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Joslin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Joslin is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joslin
- Garden Plain
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Garden Plain is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Plain
- Albany
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hooppole
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Morrison
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Union Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Union Grove is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- Camanche
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cordova
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Erie. See our List of 1890's Communities around Erie.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Erie ...
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 Erie.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Erie. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Erie and those printed in the larger area surrounding Erie.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3> of Erie.
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 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 Erie:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Whiteside County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bureau County
- Carroll County
- Henry County
- Lee County
- Rock Island County
- Clinton County
- Jackson 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> | 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 Erie, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Erie) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |