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 Oak Grove (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 Oak Grove. 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.
Name Variations for Oak Grove ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
Another variation: Oakgrove.
- A typical abbreviation for Oak Grove: Oak Grv.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Oak Grove. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Oak Grove.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 hospitals and 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.
Oak Grove is located in Rock Island 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 Rock Island County: Clinton (IA), Louisa (IA), Muscatine (IA), Scott (IA), Henry, Mercer & Whiteside.
Below are the counties that are near Oak Grove. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Oak Grove:
- Rock Island County (The home county of Oak Grove)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Coyne Center
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Coyne Center is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyne Center
- Milan
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Rock Island
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Taylor Ridge
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Coal Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Moline
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Reynolds
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Andalusia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- East Moline
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- East Moline is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Moline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 20,473 people
- Edgington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Edgington is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgington
- Silvis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Carbon Cliff
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Briar Bluff
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Briar Bluff is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
- Colona
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Orion
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Green Rock
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Green Rock is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Rock
- Lynn Center
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Morristown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Morristown is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
- Cleveland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cleveland is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
- Dayton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Dayton is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Ophiem
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ophiem is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ophiem
- Osco
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Andover
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hickory Hills
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Hickory Hills is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hills
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Rio
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Henderson Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Henderson Grove is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson Grove
- Altona
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Henderson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oneida
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wataga
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mercer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Preemption
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Sherrard
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Matherville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Griffin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Griffin is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- Shale City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Shale City is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
- Marston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Marston is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
- Gilchrist
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
- Viola
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- New Windsor
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- New Windsor is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Windsor
- Windsor
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Windsor is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 760 people
- Aledo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Burgess
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Burgess is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Shanghai City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Shanghai City is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai City
- Gerlaw
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Little York
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Utah
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Utah is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
- Eleanor
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Eleanor is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
- Whiteside County
- Erie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Sunbury
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sunbury is located in Cedar County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbury
- Bennett
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bennett is located in Cedar County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Lime City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lime City is located in Cedar County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime City
- Former names for Lime City:
- Lime Kilns
- Munn
- Clinton County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Folletts
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Folletts is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folletts
- Shaffton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shaffton is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaffton
- De Witt
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Grand Mound
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Low Moor
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Calamus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Calamus is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calamus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 397 people
- Camanche
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Muscatine County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Midway Beach
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Midway Beach is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway Beach
- Pine Mills ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Pine Mills is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
- Pleasant Prairie
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Fairport
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Fairport is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Stockton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Stockton is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Muscatine
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- South Towne Park
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- South Towne Park is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Towne Park
- Wilton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wilton is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,800 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wilton <1>
- Moscow
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Moscow is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Fruitland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- 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 Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Davenport
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bettendorf
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Riverdale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Riverdale is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 398 people
- Buffalo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Panorama Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Panorama Park is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panorama Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 331 people
- Blue Grass
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Valley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Eldridge
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Le Claire
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Walcott
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Maysville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Maysville is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Hickory Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hickory Grove is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Oak Grove, see our County-by-County Page for Oak Grove.
Cemeteries Near Oak Grove ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oak Grove.
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 Oak Grove - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Oak Grove covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Chapel Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dickson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Memorial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Calvary Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Woods Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Chippiannock Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- William Carr Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hebrew Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Schoening Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Oakleaf Memorial Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Rock Island County Fome Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Coal Valley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (276 more) ...
- Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Preemption Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Friends 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 Oak Grove in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Oak Grove.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Milan
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Taylor Ridge
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Rock Island
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Preemption
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Coal Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Reynolds
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Moline
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Andalusia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Davenport
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Sunny Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Sunny Hill is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Hill
- Jamestown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Jamestown is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Cable
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Cable is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cable
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Edgington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Edgington is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgington
- Hamlet
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hamlet is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlet
- Warner
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Warner is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warner
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Oak Grove. See our List of 1890's Communities around Oak Grove.
Newspapers Published in Oak Grove ...
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 51 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oak Grove.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oak Grove, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Oak Grove.
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 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 Oak Grove:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Rock Island County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Henry County
- Knox County
- Mercer County
- Warren County
- Whiteside County
- Cedar County
- Clinton County
- Muscatine County
- Scott 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 Oak Grove, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Oak Grove) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |