Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Martin. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Martin to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Martin, please Contact Us.
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 Martin (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 Martin. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Martin is historic, it would have been located within present day Mercer 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 Mercer County: Des Moines (IA), Louisa (IA), Henderson, Henry, Knox, Rock Island & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Martin. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Martin:
- Mercer County (The home county of Martin)
- The following are listed by their distance from Martin, with the one closest to Martin listed first.
- Burgess
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Burgess is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
- Gilchrist
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
- Viola
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Norwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Norwood is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- Shale City
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Shale City is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
- Sunbeam
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Sunbeam is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbeam
- Aledo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Matherville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Alexis
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Griffin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Griffin is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- North Henderson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Seaton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- New Windsor
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- New Windsor is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Windsor
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Martin, with the one closest to Martin listed first.
- Milroy
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Milroy is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
- Rozetta
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Rozetta is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rozetta
- Oquawka
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Biggsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Biggsville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Gladstone
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Media
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Media is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Olena
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Olena is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Martin, with the one closest to Martin listed first.
- Alpha
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Ophiem
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ophiem is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ophiem
- Woodhull
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Lynn Center
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Orion
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Andover
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Osco
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Morristown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Morristown is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
- Cambridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Briar Bluff
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Briar Bluff is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
- Colona
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Green Rock
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Green Rock is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Rock
- Bishop Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Martin, with the one closest to Martin listed first.
- Rio
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Henderson Grove
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Henderson Grove is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson Grove
- Henderson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Galesburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Wataga
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Oneida
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- East Galesburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- East Galesburg is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Galesburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
- Altona
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Knox
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Knox is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
- Knoxville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Abingdon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Appleton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Appleton is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
- De Long
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- De Long is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Long
- Rock Island County
- The following are listed by their distance from Martin, with the one closest to Martin listed first.
- Reynolds
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Taylor Ridge
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Edgington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Edgington is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgington
- Buffalo Prairie
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Coyne Center
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Coyne Center is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyne Center
- Oak Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
- Andalusia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Milan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Coal Valley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Illinois City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Illinois City is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinois City
- Rock Island
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Moline
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- East Moline
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- East Moline is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Moline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 20,473 people
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Martin, with the one closest to Martin listed first.
- Shanghai City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Shanghai City is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai City
- Eleanor
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Eleanor is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
- Gerlaw
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Little York
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Utah
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Utah is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
- Monmouth
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Cameron
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Surrey
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Surrey is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surrey
- Kirkwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Berwick
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Smithshire
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Roseville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Des Moines County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Martin, with the one closest to Martin listed first.
- Kingston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Kingston is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Mediapolis
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Sperry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sperry is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sperry
- Louisa County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Martin, with the one closest to Martin listed first.
- Oakville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Elrick Junction
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Elrick Junction is located in Louisa County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrick Junction
- Wapello
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Wapello is located in Louisa County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,999 people
- Grandview
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Grandview is located in Louisa County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 519 people
- Muscatine County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Martin, with the one closest to Martin listed first.
- Midway Beach
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Midway Beach is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway Beach
- Fairport
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Fairport is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Pine Mills ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Mills is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
- Muscatine
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Prairie
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Fruitland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fruitland is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 966 people
- Scott County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Martin, with the one closest to Martin listed first.
- Buffalo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Blue Grass
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Bettendorf
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Davenport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Riverdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Riverdale is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 398 people
- Panorama Park
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Panorama Park is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panorama Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 331 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Martin, see our County-by-County Page for Martin.
Cemeteries Near Martin ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Martin.
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 Martin - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Martin covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Martin, with the one closest to Martin listed first.
- Bridger Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Carnahan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Norwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Norwood Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<3> to the northwest of Alexis.
- The Norwood Cemetery has also been known as:
- Norwood Presbyterian Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1998078 <4>
- Graham Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- McPherren Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Brownlee Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Mann Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cooper Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- St. John's Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Viola Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- McClure Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Alexis Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexis Cemetery
- The Alexis Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Mary's Cemetery
- Continue List (291 more) ...
- Aledo Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hopewell Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell Cemetery
- The Hopewell Cemetery has also been known as:
- Woodhams Cemetery
- Farlows Grove 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.
While we didn't find Martin in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Martin.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Martin, with the one closest to Martin listed first.
- Norwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Norwood is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- Viola
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gilchrist
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
- Sunbeam
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Sunbeam is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbeam
- Alexis
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Seaton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- North Henderson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Griffin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Griffin is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- New Windsor
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- New Windsor is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Windsor
- Little York
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Eleanor
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Eleanor is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
- Gerlaw
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Cable
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cable is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cable
- Preemption
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Millersburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Millersburg is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Martin. See our List of 1890's Communities around Martin.
Newspapers Published in Martin ...
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 58 newspapers that have been published in the area around Martin.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Martin, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Martin.
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 Martin:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Mercer County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Henderson County
- Henry County
- Knox County
- Rock Island County
- Warren County
- Des Moines County
- Louisa County
- Muscatine County
- Scott County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Illinois
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Martin, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- Martin) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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. |