RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Illinois >> Menard County >> Hill Top >> 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 Hill Top (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 Hill Top. 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.

Hill Top is located in Menard 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 Menard County: Cass, Logan, Mason & Sangamon.

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

  • Menard County     (The home county of Hill Top)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hill Top, with the one closest to Hill Top listed first.
    • Petersburg
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Tallula
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Athens
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Oakford
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Greenview
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Croft
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Croft is located in Menard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hill Top, with the one closest to Hill Top listed first.
    • Newmansville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Newmansville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
    • Ashland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Sylvan ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Sylvan is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
    • Gurney ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Gurney is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
    • Philadelphia
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Philadelphia is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Chandlerville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Burlingame
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Burlingame is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
    • Old Princeton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Old Princeton is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Princeton
    • Virginia
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Jules
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Jules is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
    • Bluff Springs
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Arenzville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hill Top, with the one closest to Hill Top listed first.
    • Marbletown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Marbletown is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marbletown
    • Sepo
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Sepo is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sepo
    • Liverpool
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Summum
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Summum is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summum
    • Astoria
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hill Top, with the one closest to Hill Top listed first.
    • Middletown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • New Holland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Elkhart
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Broadwell
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Broadwell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Cornland
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Lake Fork
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Bell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Bell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
    • Emden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hartsburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Lincoln
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Chestervale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hill Top, with the one closest to Hill Top listed first.
    • Kilbourne
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • White City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • White City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
    • Easton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Teheran
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Teheran is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
    • Mason City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Long Branch
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Long Branch is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
    • Poplar City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Bath
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Snicarte
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Snicarte is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snicarte
    • Topeka
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Natrona
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Natrona is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
    • Havana
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hill Top, with the one closest to Hill Top listed first.
    • Prentice
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Prentice is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prentice
    • Literberry
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Alexander
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Arcadia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Arcadia is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
    • Arnold
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Arnold is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
    • Jacksonville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Pisgah
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Pisgah is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
    • Franklin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Waverly
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • South Jacksonville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • South Jacksonville is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jacksonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,075 people
    • Concord
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Woodson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hill Top, with the one closest to Hill Top listed first.
    • Pleasant Plains
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Salisbury
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Salisbury is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
    • Cantrall
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Pasfield
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Pasfield is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pasfield
    • Berlin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Berlin is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
    • Sherman
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Williamsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Leland Grove
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Leland Grove is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,451 people
    • Ridgely
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Ridgely is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgely
    • Curran
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Curran is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curran
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
    • Grandview
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Grandview is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,369 people
    • Hawthorne Place
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Hawthorne Place is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorne Place
  • Schuyler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hill Top, with the one closest to Hill Top listed first.
    • Bluff City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Browning
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Bader
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Bader is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
    • Frederick
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Tazewell County
    • Winkel ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Winkel is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkel

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

Cemeteries Near Hill Top ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hill Top.

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 Hill Top - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Oakland Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • St. Petersburg Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Hash Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • White Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Farmers Point Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Baker Prairie #2 Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Rose Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Park Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Old Concord Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Smedly Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (355 more) ...
    • Hickory Grove Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Baker Prairie #1 Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Concord Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)

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 in 1895, Hill Top had railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Petersburg
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Tallula
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Tice
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Tice is located in Menard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tice
  • Loyd
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Loyd is located in Menard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyd
  • Atterberry
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Atterberry is located in Menard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atterberry
  • Newmansville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Newmansville is located in Cass County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
  • Curtis
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Curtis is located in Menard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtis
  • Pleasant Plains
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Salisbury
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Salisbury is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
  • Athens
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Oakford
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Ashland
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Richland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Richland is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
    • Sylvan ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Sylvan is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
    • Gurney ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Gurney is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney

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

Newspapers Published in Hill Top ...

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 Hill Top.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hill Top, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Hill Top.

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 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 Hill Top:

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 Hill Top, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Hill Top) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.