RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Illinois >> Lee County >> Harmon >> 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 Harmon (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 Harmon. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Harmon is located in Lee 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 Lee County: Bureau, DeKalb, La Salle, Ogle & Whiteside.

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

  • Lee County     (The home county of Harmon)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harmon, with the one closest to Harmon listed first.
    • Nelson
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Prairieville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Prairieville is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
    • Eldena
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Amboy
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Dixon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Nachusa
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Lee Center
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Franklin Grove
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Inlet
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Inlet is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
    • Sublette
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Ashton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • West Brooklyn
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • The Burg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • The Burg is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Burg
  • Bureau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harmon, with the one closest to Harmon listed first.
    • Walnut
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Ohio
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Kasbeer
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Van Orin
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Limerick
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Limerick is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limerick
    • New Bedford
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Greenoak
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Greenoak is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenoak
    • Yorktown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Yorktown is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
    • Manlius
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • La Moille
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Dover
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Malden
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Zearing
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Zearing is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zearing
  • Carroll County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harmon, with the one closest to Harmon listed first.
    • Hazelhurst
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Hazelhurst is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelhurst
    • South Elkhorn
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • South Elkhorn is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elkhorn
    • Milledgeville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Hitt
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Hitt is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitt
    • Elkhorn Grove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Elkhorn Grove is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn Grove
    • Fair Haven
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Fair Haven is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Haven
    • Chadwick
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Ideal
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Ideal is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ideal
    • Argo Fay
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Argo Fay is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argo Fay
    • Daggett ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Daggett is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daggett
    • Lanark
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Henry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harmon, with the one closest to Harmon listed first.
    • Hooppole
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Annawan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • La Salle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harmon, with the one closest to Harmon listed first.
    • Mendota
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Troy Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Ogle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harmon, with the one closest to Harmon listed first.
    • Woosung
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Buffalo Grove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Buffalo Grove is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Grove
    • Polo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Carthage
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Carthage is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
    • Watertown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Watertown is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watertown
    • Brookville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Brookville is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookville
    • Haldane
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Haldane is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haldane
    • Maryland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Maryland is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maryland
    • Mount Morris
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Honey Creek
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Honey Creek is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
    • Oregon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Chana
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Flagg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Flagg is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg
  • Whiteside County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harmon, with the one closest to Harmon listed first.
    • Rock Falls
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Sterling
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Deer Grove
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Galt
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Penrose
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Penrose is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penrose
    • Tampico
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Coleta
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Lyndon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Malvern
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Malvern is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malvern
    • Prophetstown
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • White Pigeon
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • White Pigeon is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Pigeon
    • Denrock
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Denrock is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denrock
    • Morrison
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Harmon ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Harmon.

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

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

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

  • Centenary Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Emanuel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Pine Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Stevens Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Nelson Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Rock Ridge Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Odd Fellows Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Golder Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Williams Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (234 more) ...

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 Harmon had a population of 132 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Harmon had a population of 109 people.

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

  • Nelson
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Walton
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Walton is located in Lee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walton
  • Prairieville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Prairieville is located in Lee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
  • Eldena
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Sterling
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Rock Falls
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Amboy
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Dixon
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Deer Grove
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Walnut
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Nachusa
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Galt
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Como
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Como is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Como
    • Ohio
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Penrose
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Penrose is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penrose

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

Newspapers Published in Harmon ...

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 186 newspapers that have been published in the area around Harmon.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Harmon, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Harmon.

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 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 Harmon:

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 Harmon, 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 from Point A (ie- Harmon) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.