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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 Markham (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 Markham. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Markham is located in Cook 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 Cook County: DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, Lake (IN) & Berrien (MI).

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

  • Cook County     (The home county of Markham)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Markham, with the one closest to Markham listed first.
    • Hazel Crest
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Harvey
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Posen
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Dixmoor
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Dixmoor is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixmoor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,518 people
    • Midlothian
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • East Hazel Crest
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • East Hazel Crest is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hazel Crest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,479 people
    • Phoenix
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Phoenix is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phoenix
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,884 people
    • Robbins
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Homewood
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Country Club Hills
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Oak Forest
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Blue Island
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Blue Island is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Island
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 22,616 people
  • DuPage County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Markham, with the one closest to Markham listed first.
    • Tedens ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Tedens is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tedens
    • Willowbrook
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Darien
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Hinsdale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Clarendon Hills
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Westmont
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Woodridge
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Downers Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Oak Brook
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Oak Brook Terrace
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Oak Brook Terrace is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Brook Terrace
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,094 people
    • Utopia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Utopia is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utopia
    • South Elmhurst
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • South Elmhurst is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elmhurst
  • Kankakee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Markham, with the one closest to Markham listed first.
    • Grant Park
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Grant Park is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,231 people
    • Manteno
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Sherburnville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Sherburnville is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherburnville
    • Saint George
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Saint George is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
    • Illinoi
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Illinoi is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
    • Bourbonnais
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Illiana Heights
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Illiana Heights is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illiana Heights
    • Litchfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Litchfield is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield
    • Momence
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Will County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Markham, with the one closest to Markham listed first.
    • Frankfort Square
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Frankfort Square is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort Square
    • Steger
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • University Park
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Frankfort
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Crete
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Mokena
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Monee
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Willowbrook
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Goodings Grove
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Goodings Grove is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodings Grove
    • Homer Glen
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Homer Glen is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer Glen
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24,281 people
      • Homer Glen has also been known as:
      • Homer Glen village
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Homer Glen <1>
    • Gilletts ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Gilletts is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilletts
    • Goodenow
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Goodenow is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodenow
  • Lake County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Markham, with the one closest to Markham listed first.
    • Hammond
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Hammond is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 75,342 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hammond <1>
    • Munster
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Munster is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munster
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 22,483 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Munster <1>
    • Hessville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Hessville is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hessville
    • Dyer
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Dyer is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15,955 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dyer <1>
    • East Chicago
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Highland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Whiting
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Hartsdale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Hartsdale is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsdale
    • Griffith
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Schererville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • New Elliott
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • New Elliott is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Elliott
    • Saint John
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Porter County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Markham, with the one closest to Markham listed first.
    • Ogden Dunes
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Ogden Dunes is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogden Dunes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,083 people
    • Woodland Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Woodland Village is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
    • Portage
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Portage is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portage
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 37,137 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Portage <1>
    • Willow Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Willow Creek is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
    • Wheeler
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Wheeler is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
    • South Haven
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • South Haven is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Haven
    • Burns Harbor
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Babcock
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Babcock is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babcock
    • Dune Acres
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Dune Acres is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dune Acres
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 182 people
    • Porter Crossroads
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Porter Crossroads is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter Crossroads

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

Cemeteries Near Markham ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Markham.

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

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

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

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 Markham in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Markham.

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

  • Harvey
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Homewood
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Thornton
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Thornton Junction
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Thornton Junction is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton Junction
  • South Holland
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Riverdale
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Blue Island
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Blue Island is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Island
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 22,616 people
  • Glenwood
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Berger
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Berger is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berger
  • Goeselville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Goeselville is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goeselville
  • Tinley Park
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Matteson
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Globe
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Globe is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
    • Kensington
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Kensington is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kensington
    • Gano
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Gano is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gano

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

Newspapers Published in Markham ...

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 125 newspapers that have been published in the area around Markham.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Markham, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Markham.

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 Markham:

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