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 La Crosse (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 La Crosse. 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.
La Crosse is located in Hancock 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 Hancock County: Lee (IA), Adams, Henderson, McDonough, Schuyler, Clark (MO) & Lewis (MO).
Below are the counties that are near La Crosse. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to La Crosse:
- Hancock County (The home county of La Crosse)
- The following are listed by their distance from La Crosse, with the one closest to La Crosse listed first.
- La Harpe
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- 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
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fountain Green is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Green
- Burnside
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Burnside is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Disco
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Disco is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Disco
- Adrian
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Joetta
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Joetta is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joetta
- Ferris
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Colusa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Carthage
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dallas City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pontoosuc
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Pontoosuc is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pontoosuc
- Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
- Powellton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Powellton is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Bentley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Bentley is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from La Crosse, with the one closest to La Crosse listed first.
- La Prairie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Loraine
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Golden
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Lima
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from La Crosse, with the one closest to La Crosse listed first.
- Terre Haute
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
- Lomax
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Iowa Junction
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- Carman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Raritan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Raritan is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raritan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Stronghurst
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Olena
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Olena is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
- Gulf Port
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Gulf Port is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf Port
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Media
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Media is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Biggsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Biggsville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Gladstone
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Oquawka
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Rozetta
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Rozetta is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rozetta
- McDonough County
- The following are listed by their distance from La Crosse, with the one closest to La Crosse listed first.
- Blandinsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- VIshnu Springs ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- VIshnu Springs is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for VIshnu Springs
- Tennessee
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Colchester
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Sciota
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Colmar
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Colmar is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
- Lamone Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Lamone Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamone Village
- East Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- East Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
- Good Hope
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Macomb
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- University Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- University Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
- Bardolph
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Industry
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Schuyler County
- The following are listed by their distance from La Crosse, with the one closest to La Crosse listed first.
- Huntsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Wayland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wayland is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Camden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Littleton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from La Crosse, with the one closest to La Crosse listed first.
- Smithshire
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Roseville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Youngstown
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Youngstown is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngstown
- Kirkwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Des Moines County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from La Crosse, with the one closest to La Crosse listed first.
- Patterson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Patterson is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Burlington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- West Burlington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Middletown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Middletown is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Danville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Danville is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
- Kline
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Kline is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kline
- Dodgeville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Dodgeville is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodgeville
- Kingston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Kingston is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Sperry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Sperry is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sperry
- Henry County (IA)
- Lowell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lowell is located in Henry County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
- Lee County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from La Crosse, with the one closest to La Crosse listed first.
- Wever
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fort Madison
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Galland
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Galland is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galland
- Sandusky
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Sandusky is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Sawyer
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sawyer is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer
- Former names for Sawyer:
- Atlee
- Edwards
- South Augusta
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- South Augusta is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Augusta
- Montrose
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Keokuk
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Denmark
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jeffersonville ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Jeffersonville is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
- Buena Vista ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- West Point
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- New Boston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- New Boston is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
- Clark County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from La Crosse, with the one closest to La Crosse listed first.
- Alexandria
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Francisville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Saint Francisville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Francisville
- Wayland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Wayland is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to La Crosse, see our County-by-County Page for La Crosse.
Cemeteries Near La Crosse ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of La Crosse.
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 La Crosse - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for La Crosse covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from La Crosse, with the one closest to La Crosse listed first.
- McConnell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pilot Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- McKay Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Webster Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Webster Cemetery is located outside and to the northwest of Webster.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108773 <2>
- Wright Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Fountain Green Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Yetter Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Spangler Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lincoln Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- La Harpe Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Harpe Cemetery
- The La Harpe Cemetery has also been known as:
- La Harpe City Cemetery
- La Harpe Twp. Cemetery
- LaHarpe Cemetery
- LaHarpe City Cemetery
- LaHarpe Twp. Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #228978 <2>
- Vandruff Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Rock Creek Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (434 more) ...
- Majorville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Duncan Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Durham Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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 La Crosse had a population of 72 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from La Crosse, with the one closest to La Crosse listed first.
- Burnside
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Burnside is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Webster
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Webster is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Fountain Green
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fountain Green is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Green
- La Harpe
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- La Harpe is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Harpe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,123 people
- Durham
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Durham is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham
- Disco
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Disco is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Disco
- Adrian
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Ferris
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Joetta
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Joetta is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joetta
- Blandinsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Colusa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Carthage
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Terre Haute
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
- McCall
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- McCall is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCall
- Lomax
(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 La Crosse. See our List of 1890's Communities around La Crosse.
Newspapers Published in La Crosse ...
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 66 newspapers that have been published in the area around La Crosse.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of La Crosse, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for La Crosse.
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 La Crosse:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Hancock County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Henderson County
- McDonough County
- Schuyler County
- Warren County
- Des Moines County
- Henry County
- Lee County
- Clark 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> | 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- La Crosse) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 La Crosse, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |