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 Kirkwood (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 Kirkwood. 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 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 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.
Kirkwood is located in Warren 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 Warren County: Fulton, Henderson, Knox, McDonough & Mercer.
Below are the counties that are near Kirkwood. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Kirkwood:
- Warren County (The home county of Kirkwood)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirkwood, with the one closest to Kirkwood listed first.
- Smithshire
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Monmouth
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Eleanor
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Eleanor is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
- Little York
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Roseville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Gerlaw
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Berwick
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cameron
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Surrey
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Surrey is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surrey
- Utah
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Utah is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
- Youngstown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Youngstown is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngstown
- Shanghai City
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Shanghai City is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai City
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirkwood, with the one closest to Kirkwood listed first.
- Avon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- London Mills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Babylon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Babylon is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babylon
- Ellisville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Checkrow
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Checkrow is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Checkrow
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirkwood, with the one closest to Kirkwood listed first.
- Disco
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Disco is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Disco
- La Harpe
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- La Harpe is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Harpe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,123 people
- Dallas City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fountain Green
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fountain Green is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Green
- Pontoosuc
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pontoosuc is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pontoosuc
- Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
- Colusa
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirkwood, with the one closest to Kirkwood listed first.
- Biggsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Biggsville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Rozetta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rozetta is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rozetta
- Media
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Media is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Oquawka
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Olena
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Olena is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
- Stronghurst
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Gladstone
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Raritan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Raritan is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raritan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Milroy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Milroy is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
- Carman
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Terre Haute
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
- Gulf Port
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Gulf Port is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf Port
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Iowa Junction
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirkwood, with the one closest to Kirkwood listed first.
- Alpha
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Woodhull
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirkwood, with the one closest to Kirkwood listed first.
- Abingdon
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Galesburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Henderson Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Henderson Grove is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson Grove
- Saint Augustine
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- De Long
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- De Long is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Long
- East Galesburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- East Galesburg is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Galesburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
- Henderson
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Knoxville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Rio
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Knox
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Knox is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
- Wataga
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gilson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Maquon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- McDonough County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirkwood, with the one closest to Kirkwood listed first.
- Good Hope
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Sciota
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Blandinsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Prairie City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Prairie City is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Bushnell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bardolph
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Lamone Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Lamone Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamone Village
- Macomb
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- East Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- East Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
- University Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- University Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
- New Philadelphia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- New Philadelphia is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Philadelphia
- Colchester
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Mercer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirkwood, with the one closest to Kirkwood listed first.
- Norwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Norwood is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- Seaton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Alexis
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sunbeam
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Sunbeam is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbeam
- Burgess
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Burgess is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
- Keithsburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- North Henderson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Aledo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Joy
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Gilchrist
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
- Shale City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Shale City is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
- Viola
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- New Boston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Des Moines County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirkwood, with the one closest to Kirkwood listed first.
- Kingston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Kingston is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Burlington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Patterson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Patterson is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Sperry
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Sperry is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sperry
- West Burlington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Mediapolis
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Dodgeville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Dodgeville is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodgeville
- Kline
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Kline is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kline
- Middletown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Middletown is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Danville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Danville is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
- Lee County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirkwood, with the one closest to Kirkwood listed first.
- Wever
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- South Augusta
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- South Augusta is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Augusta
- Louisa County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirkwood, with the one closest to Kirkwood listed first.
- Oakville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Elrick Junction
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Elrick Junction is located in Louisa County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrick Junction
- Morning Sun
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Kirkwood, see our County-by-County Page for Kirkwood.
Cemeteries Near Kirkwood ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Kirkwood.
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 Kirkwood - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Kirkwood covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Kirkwood, with the one closest to Kirkwood listed first.
- Center Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Hickory Point Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Salter's Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Smith Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- County Farm Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Davidson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davidson Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Davidson Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<2> to the northeast of Media.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #105353 <3>
- Township Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Pioneer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Monmouth City Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- St. Mary's Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Tree Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Reed Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (332 more) ...
- Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Biggsville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Biggsville Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<2> to the north of Biggsville.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #104759 <3>
- Pleasant Green Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Kirkwood had a population of 949 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Kirkwood had a population of 670 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Kirkwood, with the one closest to Kirkwood listed first.
- Ponemah
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ponemah is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponemah
- Smithshire
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Larchland
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Larchland is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larchland
- Ellison ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Ellison is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellison
- Monmouth
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Media
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Media is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Ormonde
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Ormonde is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ormonde
- Rozetta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rozetta is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rozetta
- Eleanor
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Eleanor is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
- Phelps
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Phelps is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phelps
- Little York
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Roseville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Olena
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Olena is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
- Stronghurst
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Berwick
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Kirkwood. See our List of 1890's Communities around Kirkwood.
Newspapers Published in Kirkwood ...
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 156 newspapers that have been published in the area around Kirkwood.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Kirkwood, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Kirkwood.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Kirkwood:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Warren County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Fulton County
- Hancock County
- Henderson County
- Henry County
- Knox County
- McDonough County
- Mercer County
- Des Moines County
- Lee County
- Louisa 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Kirkwood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Kirkwood, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |