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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 Little America (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 Little America. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Little America is located in Fulton 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 Fulton County: Knox, Mason, McDonough, Peoria, Schuyler, Tazewell & Warren.

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

  • Fulton County     (The home county of Little America)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Little America, with the one closest to Little America listed first.
    • Liverpool
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Dunfermline
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Bryant
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint David
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Sepo
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Sepo is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sepo
    • Lewistown
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Banner
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Canton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Cuba
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Cuba is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,149 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cuba <1>
    • Breeds
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Breeds is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breeds
    • Fiatt
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Brereton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Brereton is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brereton
    • Marbletown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Marbletown is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marbletown
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Little America, with the one closest to Little America listed first.
    • Chandlerville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Newmansville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Newmansville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
    • Sylvan ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Sylvan is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Little America, with the one closest to Little America listed first.
    • Yates City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Maquon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Saint Augustine
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Little America, with the one closest to Little America listed first.
    • New Holland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Emden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Little America, with the one closest to Little America listed first.
    • Buzzville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Buzzville is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buzzville
    • Goofy Ridge
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Goofy Ridge is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goofy Ridge
    • Havana
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Topeka
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Forest City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Forest City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
    • Union
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Union is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Poplar City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Manito
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Long Branch
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Long Branch is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
    • Bath
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Easton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Kilbourne
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Teheran
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Teheran is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
  • McDonough County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Little America, with the one closest to Little America listed first.
    • New Philadelphia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • New Philadelphia is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Philadelphia
    • Adair
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Bushnell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Prairie City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Prairie City is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
    • Bardolph
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Industry
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Menard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Little America, with the one closest to Little America listed first.
    • Oakford
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Greenview
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Petersburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Peoria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Little America, with the one closest to Little America listed first.
    • Glasford
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Kingston Mines
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Mapleton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Trivoli
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Hanna City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Elmwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Bartonville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Maxwell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Maxwell is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
    • Bellevue
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Bellevue is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,037 people
    • Edwards
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Norwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Norwood is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
    • Pottstown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Pottstown is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown
    • West Peoria
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Schuyler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Little America, with the one closest to Little America listed first.
    • Bluff City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Bader
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Bader is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
    • Browning
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Little America, with the one closest to Little America listed first.
    • Radville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Radville is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radville
    • Talbott
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Talbott is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talbott
    • Parkland
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Parkland is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkland
    • Stoehrs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Stoehrs is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoehrs
    • Green Valley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • South Pekin
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • South Pekin is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Pekin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,081 people
    • Powerton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Powerton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powerton
    • Hawley ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Hawley is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawley
    • Winkel ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Winkel is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkel
    • Crescent
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Crescent is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
    • Midway
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Midway is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Pekin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Pekin is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pekin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 31,808 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pekin <1>
    • Schaeferville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Schaeferville is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schaeferville

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

Cemeteries Near Little America ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Little America.

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 Little America - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Liverpool Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Pollitt Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Salem Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Rakestraw Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Quiver Presbyterian Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Maryville Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Wright Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Waterford Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Highbridge Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (343 more) ...
    • Fullerton Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Laurel Hill Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Bethel 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.<3>

While we didn't find Little America in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Little America.

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

  • Maples Mill
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Maples Mill is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maples Mill
  • Liverpool
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Dunfermline
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Bryant
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Sepo
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Sepo is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sepo
  • Saint David
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Lewistown
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Havana
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Topeka
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Bishop
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Bishop is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
  • Civer ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Civer is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Civer
  • Banner
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Monterey
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Monterey is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
    • Canton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Forest City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Forest City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people

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

Newspapers Published in Little America ...

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 176 newspapers that have been published in the area around Little America.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Little America, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Little America.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Little America:

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 Little America, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Little America) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.