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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 Mendota (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 Mendota. 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 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.

Mendota is located in La Salle 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 La Salle County: Bureau, DeKalb, Grundy, Kendall, Lee, Livingston, Marshall, Putnam & Woodford.

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

  • La Salle County     (The home county of Mendota)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mendota, with the one closest to Mendota listed first.
    • Triumph
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Troy Grove
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Earlville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Waltham
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Waltham is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waltham
    • Prairie Center
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Prairie Center is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Center
    • La Salle
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Peru
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Peru is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peru
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,612 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Peru <1>
    • Baker
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Baker is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
    • North Utica
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • North Utica is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Utica
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,333 people
    • Utica
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Leland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Oglesby
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
  • Bureau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mendota, with the one closest to Mendota listed first.
    • Arlington
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • La Moille
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Cherry
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Van Orin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Ladd
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Ladd is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladd
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,184 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ladd <1>
    • Zearing
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Zearing is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zearing
    • Dalzell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Seatonville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Hollowayville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Hollowayville is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollowayville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 85 people
    • Malden
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Ottville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Ottville is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottville
    • Greenoak
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Greenoak is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenoak
  • DeKalb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mendota, with the one closest to Mendota listed first.
    • Shabbona Grove
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
    • Shabbona
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Somonauk
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Waterman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Franks
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Franks is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
    • Sandwich
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Elva
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Elva is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elva
    • Hinckley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Malta
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Grundy County
    • Nettle Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Nettle Creek is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettle Creek
  • Kendall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mendota, with the one closest to Mendota listed first.
    • Newark
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Millbrook
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Little Rock
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Little Rock is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
    • Plano
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Plano is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plano
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,879 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Plano <1>
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mendota, with the one closest to Mendota listed first.
    • Sublette
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Compton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • West Brooklyn
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • The Burg
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • The Burg is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Burg
    • Radley
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Radley is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
    • Paw Paw
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • East Paw Paw
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • East Paw Paw is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Paw Paw
    • Inlet
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Inlet is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
    • Lee Center
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Lee
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Amboy
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Steward
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
  • Ogle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mendota, with the one closest to Mendota listed first.
    • Flagg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Flagg is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg
    • Rochelle
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Creston
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Flagg Center
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Flagg Center is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg Center
    • Hillcrest
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Hillcrest is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,216 people
    • Carthage
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Carthage is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
    • Chana
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Putnam County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mendota, with the one closest to Mendota listed first.
    • Standard
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Granville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Mark
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Hennepin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Mount Palatine
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Mount Palatine is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Palatine
    • McNabb
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Putnam
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Magnolia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Whiteside County
    • Deer Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Mendota ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mendota.

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

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

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

  • Worsley Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Restland Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Holy Cross Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Crandall Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Wisner Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Dewey Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Fourmile Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Brooklyn Lutheran Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • St. Pauls Evangelical Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Erbes Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Clarion Lutheran Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (243 more) ...
    • Lutheran Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Tripp Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Davis Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)

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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Mendota had a population of 3,542 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Mendota had a population of 6,904 people.

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

  • Meriden
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Meriden is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meriden
  • Triumph
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Troy Grove
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Dimmick
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Dimmick is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dimmick
  • Sublette
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • La Moille
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Arlington
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • West Brooklyn
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Earlville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Compton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Prairie Center
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Prairie Center is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Center
  • Radley
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Radley is located in Lee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Paw Paw
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Van Orin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Ladd
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Ladd is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladd
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,184 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ladd <1>

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Mendota ...

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 65 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mendota.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Mendota. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Mendota and those printed in the larger area surrounding Mendota.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3> of Mendota.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Mendota:

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>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Mendota) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Mendota, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.