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 McCall (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 McCall. 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.
McCall 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 McCall. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to McCall:
- Hancock County (The home county of McCall)
- The following are listed by their distance from McCall, with the one closest to McCall listed first.
- Ferris
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Adrian
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Carthage
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Elvaston
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Burnside
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Burnside is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Powellton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Powellton is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Colusa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Basco
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Bentley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bentley is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
- Hamilton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Nauvoo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dallas City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from McCall, with the one closest to McCall listed first.
- Loraine
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Lima
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- La Prairie
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Marcelline
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Marcelline is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcelline
- Golden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Mendon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Meyer
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Meyer is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
- Ursa
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Blacks
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Blacks is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blacks
- Camp Point
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Coatsburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Paloma
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from McCall, with the one closest to McCall listed first.
- Lomax
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Iowa Junction
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- Terre Haute
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
- Carman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Gulf Port
(25 miles [40.2 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
- Raritan
(25 miles [40.2 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
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Olena
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Olena is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
- Media
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Media is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- McDonough County
- The following are listed by their distance from McCall, with the one closest to McCall listed first.
- VIshnu Springs ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- VIshnu Springs is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for VIshnu Springs
- Colmar
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Colmar is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
- Blandinsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Tennessee
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Colchester
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Sciota
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Lamone Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Lamone Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamone Village
- East Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- East Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
- Macomb
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- University Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- University Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
- Good Hope
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Schuyler County
- The following are listed by their distance from McCall, with the one closest to McCall listed first.
- Huntsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Camden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wayland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wayland is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Des Moines County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from McCall, with the one closest to McCall listed first.
- Patterson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Patterson is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Burlington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- West Burlington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Middletown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Middletown is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Danville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Danville is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
- Henry County (IA)
- Lowell
(28 miles [45.1 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 McCall, with the one closest to McCall listed first.
- Galland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Galland is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galland
- Keokuk
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Sandusky
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Sandusky is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Montrose
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Buena Vista is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Fort Madison
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Jeffersonville ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jeffersonville is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
- Wever
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- New Boston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- New Boston is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
- Sawyer
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Sawyer is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer
- Former names for Sawyer:
- Atlee
- Edwards
- Charleston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Charleston is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charleston
- Vincennes
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Vincennes is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vincennes
- Clark County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from McCall, with the one closest to McCall listed first.
- Alexandria
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Francisville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Saint Francisville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Francisville
- Wayland
(20 miles [32.2 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
- Dumas
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Dumas is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumas
- Clark City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Clark City is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark City
- Revere
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Saint Patrick
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Patrick is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
- Peaksville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Peaksville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaksville
- Athens
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Athens is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
- Kahoka
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Medill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Medill is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medill
- Lewis County (MO)
- Canton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to McCall, see our County-by-County Page for McCall.
Cemeteries Near McCall ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of McCall.
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 McCall - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for McCall covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from McCall, with the one closest to McCall listed first.
- Barnes Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Moss Ridge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- County Farm Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Old Carthage Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Woodring Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Rock Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Elvaston Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- McKay Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Thornber Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Franklin Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Sterns Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (435 more) ...
- Oakwood Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- McGee Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- West Basco Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that McCall had a population of 24 people in 1895 with railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from McCall, with the one closest to McCall listed first.
- Ferris
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Elvaston
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Carthage
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Adrian
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Burnside
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Burnside is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Powellton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Powellton is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Basco
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Bentley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bentley is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
- Colusa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Sonora ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Sonora is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonora
- Hamilton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Elderville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Elderville is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elderville
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Galland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Galland is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galland
- Keokuk
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Webster
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Webster is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around McCall. See our List of 1890's Communities around McCall.
Newspapers Published in McCall ...
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 134 newspapers that have been published in the area around McCall.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of McCall, 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 McCall.
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 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 McCall:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Hancock County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Henderson County
- McDonough County
- Schuyler County
- Des Moines County
- Henry County
- Lee County
- Clark County
- Lewis 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> | 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 McCall, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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- McCall) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |