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 Fenton (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 Fenton. 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 and hospitals 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.
Fenton 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 Fenton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Fenton:
- Whiteside County (The home county of Fenton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fenton, with the one closest to Fenton listed first.
- Denrock
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Denrock is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denrock
- Pratt ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pratt is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
- Newton Corners
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Newton Corners is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Corners
- Lyndon
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Erie
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Morrison
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Prophetstown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Union Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Union Grove is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- East Clinton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- East Clinton is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Clinton
- Albany
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Malvern
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Malvern is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malvern
- Fulton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Valley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Spring Valley is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Bureau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fenton, with the one closest to Fenton listed first.
- Yorktown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Yorktown is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
- New Bedford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Walnut
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Manlius
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mineral
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sheffield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fenton, with the one closest to Fenton listed first.
- Fair Haven
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Fair Haven is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Haven
- Ideal
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Ideal is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ideal
- Thomson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Argo Fay
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Argo Fay is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argo Fay
- Chadwick
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Milledgeville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Daggett ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Daggett is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daggett
- Ayers
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Ayers is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayers
- Hickory Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Hickory Grove is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
- Wacker
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Wacker is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wacker
- Hazelhurst
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Hazelhurst is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelhurst
- Hitt
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Hitt is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitt
- South Elkhorn
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- South Elkhorn is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elkhorn
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fenton, with the one closest to Fenton listed first.
- Hooppole
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Geneseo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Hickory Hills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hickory Hills is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hills
- Atkinson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Cleveland
(21 miles [33.8 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
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Dayton is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Annawan
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Colona
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Green Rock
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Green Rock is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Rock
- Briar Bluff
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Briar Bluff is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
- Morristown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Morristown is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
- Osco
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cambridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fenton, with the one closest to Fenton listed first.
- Nelson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Prairieville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Prairieville is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Harmon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Dixon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ogle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fenton, with the one closest to Fenton listed first.
- Woosung
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Brookville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Brookville is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookville
- Buffalo Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Buffalo Grove is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Grove
- Polo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Island County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fenton, with the one closest to Fenton listed first.
- Hillsdale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Joslin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Joslin is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joslin
- Cordova
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Port Byron
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rapids City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Rustic Acres
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rustic Acres is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustic Acres
- Barstow
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hampton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Carbon Cliff
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Silvis
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- East Moline
(26 miles [41.8 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
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Moline
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Clinton County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fenton, with the one closest to Fenton listed first.
- Clinton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Camanche
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Shaffton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Shaffton is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaffton
- Folletts
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Folletts is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folletts
- Low Moor
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Elk River Junction
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Elk River Junction is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk River Junction
- Elvira
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Elvira is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elvira
- Sixmile
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Sixmile is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sixmile
- Andover
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Andover is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Tenmile
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Tenmile is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenmile
- Bryant
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bryant is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
- Teeds Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Teeds Grove is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teeds Grove
- Goose Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Goose Lake is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goose Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Jackson County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fenton, with the one closest to Fenton listed first.
- Sabula
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Miles
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Preston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Van Buren
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Van Buren is located in Jackson County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Buren
- Scott County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fenton, with the one closest to Fenton listed first.
- Princeton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Le Claire
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- McCausland
(21 miles [33.8 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
- Pleasant Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Panorama Park
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Panorama Park is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panorama Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 331 people
- Riverdale
(26 miles [41.8 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
- Park View
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Park View is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park View
- Bettendorf
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Eldridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Long Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Noel ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 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 Fenton, see our County-by-County Page for Fenton.
Cemeteries Near Fenton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fenton.
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 Fenton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Fenton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Fenton, with the one closest to Fenton listed first.
- Fenton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Smack Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Lyndon Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Erie Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Shady Town Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Grove Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Union Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Garden Plain Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Minta Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Kingsbury Presbyterian Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Washington Road Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cotton Wood Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (256 more) ...
- Sharon Church Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Round Grove Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Heaton Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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 Fenton had a population of 91 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Fenton, with the one closest to Fenton listed first.
- Pratt ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pratt is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
- Denrock
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Denrock is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denrock
- Erie
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Lyndon
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Prophetstown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Morrison
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Union Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Union Grove is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- Garden Plain
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Garden Plain is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Plain
- Spring Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Spring Hill is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Sands
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Sands is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sands
- Round Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Round Grove is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Grove
- Ustick
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Ustick is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ustick
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- East Clinton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- East Clinton is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Clinton
- Albany
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Hillsdale
(11 miles [17.7 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 Fenton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Fenton.
Newspapers Published in Fenton ...
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 174 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fenton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Fenton, 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 Fenton.
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 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 Fenton:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Whiteside County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bureau County
- Carroll County
- Henry County
- Lee County
- Ogle 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 Fenton, 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- Fenton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |