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 Hamlet (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 Hamlet. 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 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.
Hamlet is located in Mercer 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 Mercer County: Des Moines (IA), Louisa (IA), Henderson, Henry, Knox, Rock Island & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Hamlet. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Hamlet:
- Mercer County (The home county of Hamlet)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hamlet, with the one closest to Hamlet listed first.
- Marston
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Marston is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
- Preemption
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Matherville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Aledo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Shale City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Shale City is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
- Gilchrist
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
- Viola
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Joy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Petersville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Petersville is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersville
- Sherrard
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sunbeam
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Sunbeam is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbeam
- Mannon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mannon is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mannon
- Eliza
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Eliza is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eliza
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hamlet, with the one closest to Hamlet listed first.
- Milroy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Milroy is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
- Rozetta
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Rozetta is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rozetta
- Oquawka
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hamlet, with the one closest to Hamlet listed first.
- Ophiem
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Ophiem is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ophiem
- Orion
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Lynn Center
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Alpha
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Briar Bluff
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Briar Bluff is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
- Colona
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Green Rock
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Green Rock is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Rock
- Andover
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Morristown
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Morristown is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
- Osco
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Woodhull
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Dayton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Dayton is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Cleveland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cleveland is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hamlet, with the one closest to Hamlet listed first.
- Rio
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Henderson Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Henderson Grove is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson Grove
- Henderson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Island County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hamlet, with the one closest to Hamlet listed first.
- Reynolds
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Edgington
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Edgington is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgington
- Taylor Ridge
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Buffalo Prairie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Andalusia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Grove is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
- Illinois City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Illinois City is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinois City
- Coyne Center
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Coyne Center is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyne Center
- Milan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Island
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Coal Valley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Moline
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- East Moline
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- East Moline is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Moline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 20,473 people
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hamlet, with the one closest to Hamlet listed first.
- Little York
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Shanghai City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Shanghai City is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai City
- Eleanor
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Eleanor is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
- Gerlaw
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Utah
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Utah is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
- Monmouth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Kirkwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Cedar County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hamlet, with the one closest to Hamlet listed first.
- Sunbury
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sunbury is located in Cedar County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbury
- Lime City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lime City is located in Cedar County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime City
- Former names for Lime City:
- Lime Kilns
- Munn
- Des Moines County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hamlet, with the one closest to Hamlet listed first.
- Kingston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Kingston is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Mediapolis
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Louisa County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hamlet, with the one closest to Hamlet listed first.
- Oakville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Grandview
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Grandview is located in Louisa County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 519 people
- Elrick Junction
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Elrick Junction is located in Louisa County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrick Junction
- Letts
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Wapello
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Wapello is located in Louisa County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,999 people
- Morning Sun
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Muscatine County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hamlet, with the one closest to Hamlet listed first.
- Midway Beach
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Midway Beach is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway Beach
- Fairport
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fairport is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Pine Mills ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Mills is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
- Pleasant Prairie
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Muscatine
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Stockton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Stockton is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Fruitland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Fruitland is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 966 people
- South Towne Park
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- South Towne Park is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Towne Park
- Wilton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Wilton is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,800 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wilton <1>
- Moscow
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Moscow is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Atalissa
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Scott County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hamlet, with the one closest to Hamlet listed first.
- Buffalo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Blue Grass
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Davenport
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bettendorf
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Riverdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Riverdale is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 398 people
- Walcott
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Durant
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Panorama Park
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Panorama Park is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panorama Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 331 people
- Hickory Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Hickory Grove is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
- Maysville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Maysville is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Pleasant Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Eldridge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Donahue
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Hamlet, see our County-by-County Page for Hamlet.
Cemeteries Near Hamlet ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hamlet.
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 Hamlet - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Hamlet covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Hamlet, with the one closest to Hamlet listed first.
- Hamlet Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Gray Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Reynolds Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Corns Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Edgington Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sugar Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Artz Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- St. Joseph's Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Duncan Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Oak Ridge Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Buffalo Prairie Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (306 more) ...
- Chapel Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Buffalo Prairie Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Aledo Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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 Hamlet had a population of 72 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Hamlet, with the one closest to Hamlet listed first.
- Reynolds
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Marston
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Marston is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
- Edgington
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Edgington is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgington
- Millersburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Millersburg is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
- Taylor Ridge
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Buffalo Prairie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Preemption
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Andalusia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Gilchrist
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
- Petersville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Petersville is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersville
- Joy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Montpelier
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Montpelier is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montpelier
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Viola
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Illinois City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Illinois City is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinois City
- Buffalo
(10 miles [16.1 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 Hamlet. See our List of 1890's Communities around Hamlet.
Newspapers Published in Hamlet ...
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 83 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hamlet.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hamlet, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Hamlet.
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 Hamlet:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Mercer County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Henderson County
- Henry County
- Knox County
- Rock Island County
- Warren County
- Cedar County
- Des Moines County
- Louisa County
- Muscatine 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 Hamlet, 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- Hamlet) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |