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 Melody (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 Melody. 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 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.
Melody is located in Lake 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 Lake County: Cook, McHenry, Allegan (MI), Berrien (MI), Van Buren (MI) & Kenosha (WI).
Below are the counties that are near Melody. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Melody:
- Lake County (The home county of Melody)
- The following are listed by their distance from Melody, with the one closest to Melody listed first.
- Mettawa
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Lake Forest
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Bluff
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bannockburn
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Lincolnshire
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Green Oaks
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Riverwoods
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Highwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Prairie View
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Prairie View is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie View
- Indian Creek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Indian Creek is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 538 people
- Vernon Hills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Aptakisic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Aptakisic is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aptakisic
- Cook County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melody, with the one closest to Melody listed first.
- Wheeling
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Covenant Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Covenant Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covenant Village
- Northbrook
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Techny
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Colonial Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Colonial Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
- Prospect Heights
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Glencoe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- The Grove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- The Grove is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Grove
- Northfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Capri Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Capri Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capri Village
- Glenview
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Arlington Heights
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- DuPage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melody, with the one closest to Melody listed first.
- Bensenville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Itasca
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Wood Dale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Medinah
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Roselle
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Addison
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Bloomingdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Keeneyville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Keeneyville is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeneyville
- Elmhurst
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Bartlett
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cloverdale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cloverdale is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Glendale Heights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Kane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melody, with the one closest to Melody listed first.
- East Dundee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Carpentersville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Elgin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Sleepy Hollow
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- West Dundee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Gilberts
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Coleman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Coleman is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
- South Elgin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- South Elgin is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elgin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 24,646 people
- Freeman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Freeman is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
- Pingree Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- McHenry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melody, with the one closest to Melody listed first.
- Island Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Island Lake is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,951 people
- Fox River Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Lakemoor
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Cary
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Holiday Hills
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Holiday Hills is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 574 people
- Oakwood Hills
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Oakwood Hills is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,011 people
- Barreville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Barreville is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barreville
- Prairie Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Prairie Grove is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,920 people
- Trout Valley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Trout Valley is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trout Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 508 people
- Johnsburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pistakee Highlands
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pistakee Highlands is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pistakee Highlands
- Sunnyside
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sunnyside is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnyside
- Kenosha County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Melody, with the one closest to Melody listed first.
- Fossland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Fossland is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fossland
- Pleasant Prairie
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 21,373 people
- Benet Lake
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Benet Lake is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benet Lake
- Lake Shangrila
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Shangrila is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shangrila
- Woodworth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Woodworth is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodworth
- Bristol
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Bristol is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,145 people
- Kenosha
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Kenosha is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenosha
- Population from the 2020 Census: 99,570 people
- Camp Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Camp Lake is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Lake
- Salem Lakes
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Salem Lakes is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem Lakes
- Former names for Salem Lakes:
- Salem
- Silver Lake
- Paddock Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Paddock Lake is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paddock Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,232 people
- Fox River
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Fox River is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox River
- Somers
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Somers is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somers
- Walworth County (WI)
- Genoa City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Genoa City is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,981 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Melody, see our County-by-County Page for Melody.
Cemeteries Near Melody ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Melody.
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 Melody - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Melody covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Melody, with the one closest to Melody listed first.
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Vernon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Ft. Sheridan Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Lake Forest Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Willow Lawn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Deerfield Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mooney Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Ascension Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lake County Poor Farm Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Lakeside Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (286 more) ...
- Diamond Lake Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Gridley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- North Northfield Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<3>
While we didn't find Melody in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Melody.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Melody, with the one closest to Melody listed first.
- Rondout
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Rondout is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rondout
- Lake Forest
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Half Day
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Half Day is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Half Day
- Lake Bluff
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Prairie View
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Prairie View is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie View
- Leithton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Leithton is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leithton
- Aptakisic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Aptakisic is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aptakisic
- Deerfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Highland Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Libertyville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Long Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rockefeller
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Rockefeller is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockefeller
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Diamond Lake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Diamond Lake is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Lake
- Buffalo Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wheeling
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Melody. See our List of 1890's Communities around Melody.
Newspapers Published in Melody ...
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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Melody.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Melody, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Melody.
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 Melody:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Lake County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cook County
- DuPage County
- Kane County
- McHenry County
- Kenosha County
- Walworth 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> | 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 Melody, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Melody) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |