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 Good Hope (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 Good Hope. 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 Good Hope ...
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.
Another variation: Goodhope.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Good Hope. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Good Hope.
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 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.
Good Hope is located in McDonough 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 McDonough County: Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Schuyler & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Good Hope. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Good Hope:
- McDonough County (The home county of Good Hope)
- The following are listed by their distance from Good Hope, with the one closest to Good Hope listed first.
- Sciota
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Lamone Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lamone Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamone Village
- Macomb
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- East Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- East Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
- University Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- University Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
- Bardolph
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bushnell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Colchester
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Blandinsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Prairie City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Prairie City is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- New Philadelphia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- New Philadelphia is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Philadelphia
- Adair
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Tennessee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Good Hope, with the one closest to Good Hope listed first.
- Avon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Checkrow
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Checkrow is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Checkrow
- Marietta
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Babylon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Babylon is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babylon
- Table Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Ellisville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Blyton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Blyton is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blyton
- Smithfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Vermont
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- London Mills
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Ipava
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Bybee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Bybee is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bybee
- Cuba
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Good Hope, with the one closest to Good Hope listed first.
- Joetta
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Joetta is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joetta
- La Harpe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- La Harpe is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Harpe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,123 people
- Fountain Green
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Fountain Green is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Green
- Disco
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Disco is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Disco
- Plymouth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Burnside
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Burnside is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Adrian
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Colusa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Augusta
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Carthage
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Dallas City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Ferris
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Bentley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bentley is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Good Hope, with the one closest to Good Hope listed first.
- Raritan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Raritan is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raritan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Media
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Media is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Stronghurst
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Terre Haute
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
- Olena
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Olena is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
- Biggsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Biggsville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Iowa Junction
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- Lomax
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Carman
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Gladstone
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gulf Port
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gulf Port is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf Port
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Rozetta
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Rozetta is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rozetta
- Oquawka
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Good Hope, with the one closest to Good Hope listed first.
- Saint Augustine
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Abingdon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- De Long
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- De Long is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Long
- Schuyler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Good Hope, with the one closest to Good Hope listed first.
- Littleton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Wayland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Wayland is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Huntsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Camden
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Rushville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Good Hope, with the one closest to Good Hope listed first.
- Youngstown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Youngstown is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngstown
- Roseville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Smithshire
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Berwick
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Kirkwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Cameron
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Monmouth
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Surrey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Surrey is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surrey
- Eleanor
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Eleanor is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
- Gerlaw
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Des Moines County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Good Hope, with the one closest to Good Hope listed first.
- Patterson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Patterson is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Burlington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lee County (IA)
- Wever
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Good Hope, see our County-by-County Page for Good Hope.
Cemeteries Near Good Hope ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Good Hope.
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 Good Hope - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Good Hope covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Good Hope, with the one closest to Good Hope listed first.
- Good Hope Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Brooking Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Walnut Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Stickel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stickel Cemetery
- The Stickel Cemetery has also been known as:
- Stickle Cemetery
- Hickory Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek Cemetery
- The Spring Creek Cemetery has also been known as:
- Hainline Cemetery
- Simpson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pearce Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearce Cemetery
- The Pearce Cemetery has also been known as:
- Arberghast - Pearce Cemetery
- Hageman Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hageman Cemetery
- The Hageman Cemetery has also been known as:
- Lynn - Hageman Cemetery
- Pennington #1 Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Walker Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Guy Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (382 more) ...
- St. Paul Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Macomb Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Old Macomb 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 Good Hope had a population of 325 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Good Hope had a population of 361 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Good Hope, with the one closest to Good Hope listed first.
- Sciota
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Scottsburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Scottsburg is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsburg
- Macomb
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bardolph
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Youngstown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Youngstown is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngstown
- Swan Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Swan Creek is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Creek
- Bushnell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Colchester
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Blandinsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- New Philadelphia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- New Philadelphia is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Philadelphia
- Prairie City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Prairie City is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Pennington Point
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pennington Point is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington Point
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Greenbush
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Greenbush is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenbush
- Roseville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Raritan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Raritan is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raritan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Good Hope. See our List of 1890's Communities around Good Hope.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Good Hope ...
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 127 newspapers that have been published in the area around Good Hope.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Good Hope. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Good Hope and those printed in the larger area surrounding Good Hope.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Good Hope.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Good Hope:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to McDonough County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Fulton County
- Hancock County
- Henderson County
- Knox County
- Schuyler County
- Warren County
- Des Moines County
- Lee 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 Good Hope, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Good Hope) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |