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 Garden Plain (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 Garden Plain. 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.
Name Variations for Garden Plain ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Garden Plain: Garden Pln.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Garden Plain. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Garden Plain.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Garden Plain 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 Garden Plain. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Garden Plain:
- Whiteside County (The home county of Garden Plain)
- The following are listed by their distance from Garden Plain, with the one closest to Garden Plain listed first.
- East Clinton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- East Clinton is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Clinton
- Fulton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Newton Corners
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Newton Corners is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Corners
- Albany
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Union Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Union Grove is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- Fenton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Morrison
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Spring Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Valley is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Erie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Denrock
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Denrock is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denrock
- Pratt ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pratt is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
- Lyndon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Malvern
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Malvern is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malvern
- Bureau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garden Plain, with the one closest to Garden Plain listed first.
- Yorktown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Yorktown is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
- New Bedford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garden Plain, with the one closest to Garden Plain listed first.
- Thomson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Fair Haven
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fair Haven is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Haven
- Ideal
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ideal is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ideal
- Argo Fay
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Argo Fay is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argo Fay
- Ayers
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Ayers is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayers
- Daggett ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Daggett is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daggett
- Hickory Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Hickory Grove is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
- Wacker
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Wacker is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wacker
- Center Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Center Hill is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Hill
- Chadwick
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Savanna
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Mount Carroll
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Milledgeville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garden Plain, with the one closest to Garden Plain listed first.
- Hickory Hills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Hickory Hills is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hills
- Hooppole
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cleveland
(22 miles [35.4 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
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Dayton is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Geneseo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Colona
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Green Rock
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Green Rock is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Rock
- Briar Bluff
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Briar Bluff is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
- Atkinson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Morristown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Morristown is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
- Annawan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jo Daviess County
- Pleasant Valley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Valley is located in Jo Daviess County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garden Plain, with the one closest to Garden Plain listed first.
- Prairieville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Prairieville is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Nelson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Harmon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Ogle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garden Plain, with the one closest to Garden Plain listed first.
- Brookville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Brookville is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookville
- Buffalo Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Buffalo Grove is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Grove
- Rock Island County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garden Plain, with the one closest to Garden Plain listed first.
- Hillsdale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Cordova
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Joslin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Joslin is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joslin
- Port Byron
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rapids City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Rustic Acres
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Rustic Acres is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustic Acres
- Hampton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Barstow
(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
- Moline
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Coal Valley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Clinton County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Garden Plain, with the one closest to Garden Plain listed first.
- Clinton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Camanche
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Shaffton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Shaffton is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaffton
- Sixmile
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sixmile is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sixmile
- Low Moor
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Elk River Junction
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Elk River Junction is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk River Junction
- Elvira
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Elvira is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elvira
- Folletts
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Folletts is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folletts
- Andover
(13 miles [20.9 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
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tenmile is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenmile
- Bryant
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bryant is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
- Teeds Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Teeds Grove is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teeds Grove
- Goose Lake
(17 miles [27.4 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 Garden Plain, with the one closest to Garden Plain listed first.
- Sabula
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Miles
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Preston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Van Buren
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Van Buren is located in Jackson County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Buren
- Spragueville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Green Island
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Green Island is located in Jackson County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Island
- Springbrook
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Scott County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Garden Plain, with the one closest to Garden Plain listed first.
- Princeton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- McCausland
(16 miles [25.7 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
- Le Claire
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Valley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Park View
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Park View is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park View
- Panorama Park
(23 miles [37 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
- Long Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Noel ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Noel is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noel
- Eldridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Riverdale
(25 miles [40.2 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
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Davenport
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Donahue
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Garden Plain, see our County-by-County Page for Garden Plain.
Cemeteries Near Garden Plain ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Garden Plain.
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 Garden Plain - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Garden Plain covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Garden Plain, with the one closest to Garden Plain listed first.
- Garden Plain Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Minta Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Oakridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Cotton Wood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. St. Claire Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lusk Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Kingsbury Presbyterian Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Fulton Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Fulton Twp. Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Calvary Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Calvary Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Fulton.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #105008 <2>
- Fulton Twp. Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Springdale Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (282 more) ...
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Smack Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
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 Garden Plain had a population of 40 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Garden Plain, with the one closest to Garden Plain listed first.
- East Clinton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- East Clinton is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Clinton
- Albany
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Fulton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Clinton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Union Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Union Grove is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- Lyons
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Lyons is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons
- Camanche
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fenton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Chaney
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Chaney is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chaney
- Morrison
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Ustick
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ustick is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ustick
- Erie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Pratt ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pratt is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
- Denrock
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Denrock is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denrock
- Thomson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Garden Plain. See our List of 1890's Communities around Garden Plain.
Newspapers Published in Garden Plain ...
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 169 newspapers that have been published in the area around Garden Plain.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Garden Plain, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Garden Plain.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Garden Plain:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Whiteside County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bureau County
- Carroll County
- Henry County
- Jo Daviess 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> | 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 Garden Plain, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Garden Plain) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |