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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 German Corner (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 German Corner. 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 German Corner ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for German Corner: German Cor. (or less commonly used: German Crn.)

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 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.

German Corner is located in Henry 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 Henry County: Bureau, Knox, Mercer, Rock Island, Stark & Whiteside.

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

  • Henry County     (The home county of German Corner)
    • The following are listed by their distance from German Corner, with the one closest to German Corner listed first.
    • Kewanee
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Bishop Hill
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Atkinson
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Galva
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Cambridge
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Annawan
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Geneseo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Andover
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Osco
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Morristown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Morristown is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
    • Hooppole
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Lynn Center
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Hickory Hills
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Hickory Hills is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hills
  • Bureau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from German Corner, with the one closest to German Corner listed first.
    • Mineral
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Neponset
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Sheffield
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Buda
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Manlius
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Yorktown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Yorktown is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
    • New Bedford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Wyanet
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Milo
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Milo is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milo
    • Tiskilwa
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Princeton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Walnut
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from German Corner, with the one closest to German Corner listed first.
    • Altona
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Victoria
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Oneida
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Rio
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Wataga
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Appleton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Appleton is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
    • Dahinda
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Williamsfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Henderson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Henderson Grove
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Henderson Grove is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson Grove
    • Knox
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Knox is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
    • East Galesburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • East Galesburg is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Galesburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
    • Galesburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Marshall County
  • Mercer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from German Corner, with the one closest to German Corner listed first.
    • New Windsor
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • New Windsor is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Windsor
    • Windsor
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Windsor is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 760 people
    • Griffin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Griffin is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
    • Sherrard
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • North Henderson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Preemption
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Matherville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Viola
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Peoria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from German Corner, with the one closest to German Corner listed first.
    • Elmore
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Elmore is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmore
    • Laura
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Monica
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Monica is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monica
    • Princeville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Rock Island County
    • The following are listed by their distance from German Corner, with the one closest to German Corner listed first.
    • Rustic Acres
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Rustic Acres is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustic Acres
    • Joslin
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Joslin is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joslin
    • Barstow
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Hillsdale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Carbon Cliff
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Coal Valley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Silvis
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Silvis is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silvis
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,473 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Silvis <1>
    • Rapids City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • East Moline
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • East Moline is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Moline
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 20,473 people
    • Hampton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Hampton is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,738 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hampton <1>
    • Port Byron
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Coyne Center
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Coyne Center is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyne Center
    • Milan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Milan is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,945 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Milan <1>
  • Stark County
    • The following are listed by their distance from German Corner, with the one closest to German Corner listed first.
    • La Fayette
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Osceola
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Osceola is located in Stark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
    • Toulon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Modena
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Modena is located in Stark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modena
    • West Jersey
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • West Jersey is located in Stark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Jersey
    • Bradford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Castleton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Wyoming
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Speer
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Warren County
    • Shanghai City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Shanghai City is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai City
  • Whiteside County
    • The following are listed by their distance from German Corner, with the one closest to German Corner listed first.
    • Erie
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Erie is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,482 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Erie <1>
    • Prophetstown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Tampico
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Pratt ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Pratt is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
    • Denrock
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Denrock is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denrock
    • Deer Grove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Lyndon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Fenton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Newton Corners
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Newton Corners is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Corners
  • Scott County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from German Corner, with the one closest to German Corner listed first.
    • Le Claire
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Pleasant Valley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Panorama Park
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Panorama Park is located in Scott County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panorama Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 331 people
    • Riverdale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Riverdale is located in Scott County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverdale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 398 people
    • Bettendorf
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Princeton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near German Corner ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of German Corner.

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 German Corner - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Cosner Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Liberty Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Pace Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Greenlee Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Wethersfield Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Old Kewanee Public Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Talbot Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Bishop Hill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • South Pleasant View Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Mt. Olivet Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (271 more) ...
    • Pleasant View Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Orthodox Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Garden of Peace Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)

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>

While we didn't find German Corner in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of German Corner.

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

  • Ulah
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Ulah is located in Henry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ulah
  • Kewanee
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Bishop Hill
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Galva
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Atkinson
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Cambridge
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Annawan
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Nekoma
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Nekoma is located in Henry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nekoma
  • Mineral
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Saxon ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Saxon is located in Henry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxon
  • Elmira
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Neponset
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Geneseo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • La Fayette
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Osco
      (13 miles [20.9 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 German Corner. See our List of 1890's Communities around German Corner.

Newspapers Published in German Corner ...

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 50 newspapers that have been published in the area around German Corner.

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

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 helpful 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 German Corner:

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 German Corner, 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- German Corner) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.