RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Illinois >> Warren County >> Gerlaw >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Gerlaw (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 Gerlaw. 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 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 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.

Gerlaw is located in Warren 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 Warren County: Fulton, Henderson, Knox, McDonough & Mercer.

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

  • Warren County     (The home county of Gerlaw)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gerlaw, with the one closest to Gerlaw listed first.
    • Utah
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Utah is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
    • Monmouth
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Eleanor
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Eleanor is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
    • Shanghai City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Shanghai City is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai City
    • Little York
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Cameron
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Surrey
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Surrey is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surrey
    • Kirkwood
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Berwick
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Smithshire
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Roseville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Youngstown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Youngstown is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngstown
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gerlaw, with the one closest to Gerlaw listed first.
    • Avon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • London Mills
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Ellisville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Babylon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Babylon is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babylon
  • Henderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gerlaw, with the one closest to Gerlaw listed first.
    • Rozetta
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Rozetta is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rozetta
    • Biggsville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Biggsville is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
    • Milroy
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Milroy is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
    • Oquawka
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Media
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Media is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
    • Gladstone
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Olena
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Olena is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
    • Raritan
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Raritan is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raritan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
    • Stronghurst
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Gulf Port
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Gulf Port is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf Port
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
    • Carman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Terre Haute
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
  • Henry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gerlaw, with the one closest to Gerlaw listed first.
    • Alpha
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Woodhull
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Ophiem
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Ophiem is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ophiem
    • Lynn Center
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Andover
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Orion
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Bishop Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Osco
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Cambridge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gerlaw, with the one closest to Gerlaw listed first.
    • Henderson Grove
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Henderson Grove is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson Grove
    • Galesburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Henderson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Rio
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • East Galesburg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • East Galesburg is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Galesburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
    • Abingdon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Knoxville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Wataga
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Knox
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Knox is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
    • De Long
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • De Long is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Long
    • Oneida
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Saint Augustine
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
  • McDonough County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gerlaw, with the one closest to Gerlaw listed first.
    • Prairie City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Prairie City is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
    • Good Hope
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Bushnell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Sciota
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Mercer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gerlaw, with the one closest to Gerlaw listed first.
    • Alexis
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Norwood
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Norwood is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
    • Burgess
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Burgess is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
    • North Henderson
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Sunbeam
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Sunbeam is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbeam
    • Seaton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Gilchrist
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
    • Viola
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Shale City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Shale City is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
    • Windsor
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Windsor is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 760 people
    • Aledo
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • New Windsor
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • New Windsor is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Windsor
  • Rock Island County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gerlaw, with the one closest to Gerlaw listed first.
    • Reynolds
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Taylor Ridge
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Buffalo Prairie
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Coyne Center
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Coyne Center is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyne Center
    • Edgington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Edgington is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgington
    • Oak Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Oak Grove is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
  • Des Moines County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gerlaw, with the one closest to Gerlaw listed first.
    • Kingston
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Kingston is located in Des Moines County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
    • Burlington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Burlington is located in Des Moines County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24,516 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Burlington <1>
    • Mediapolis
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Sperry
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Sperry is located in Des Moines County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sperry
    • Dodgeville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Dodgeville is located in Des Moines County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodgeville
  • Louisa County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gerlaw, with the one closest to Gerlaw listed first.
    • Oakville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Elrick Junction
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Elrick Junction is located in Louisa County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrick Junction

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

Cemeteries Near Gerlaw ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gerlaw.

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

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

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

  • Gerlaw Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Spring Grove Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Spring Grove Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Warren County Memorial Park
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Mosher Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Monmouth City Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Ogden Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Terpening Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Sugar Tree Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • St. Mary's Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Pioneer Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Alexis Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexis Cemetery
    • The Alexis Cemetery has also been known as:
    • St. Mary's Cemetery
  • Continue List   (293 more) ...
    • Patterson Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Potter Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Cedar Creek Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)

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 Gerlaw had a population of 68 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Monmouth
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Coldbrook
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Coldbrook is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldbrook
  • Utah
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Utah is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
  • Alexis
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Eleanor
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Eleanor is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
  • Norwood
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Norwood is located in Mercer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
  • Little York
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Cameron
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Surrey
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Surrey is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surrey
  • Ormonde
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Ormonde is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ormonde
  • Phelps
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Phelps is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phelps
  • North Henderson
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Kirkwood
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Larchland
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Larchland is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larchland
    • Sunbeam
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Sunbeam is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbeam

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Gerlaw. See our List of 1890's Communities around Gerlaw.

Newspapers Published in Gerlaw ...

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 74 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gerlaw.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gerlaw, 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 Gerlaw.

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 Gerlaw:

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 Gerlaw, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Gerlaw) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.