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 Old Gilchrist (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 Old Gilchrist. 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 and hospitals 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.
Old Gilchrist is located in 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 Old Gilchrist. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Old Gilchrist:
- Mercer County (The home county of Old Gilchrist)
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Gilchrist, with the one closest to Old Gilchrist listed first.
- Gilchrist
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
- Shale City
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Shale City is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
- Matherville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Viola
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Preemption
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Aledo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Griffin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Griffin is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- Burgess
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Burgess is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
- Sherrard
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- New Windsor
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- New Windsor is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Windsor
- Windsor
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Windsor is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 760 people
- Norwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Norwood is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- Sunbeam
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sunbeam is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbeam
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Gilchrist, with the one closest to Old Gilchrist listed first.
- Milroy
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Milroy is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
- Rozetta
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Rozetta is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rozetta
- Oquawka
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Biggsville
(28 miles [45.1 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
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Gilchrist, with the one closest to Old Gilchrist listed first.
- Alpha
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Ophiem
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Ophiem is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ophiem
- Lynn Center
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Orion
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Woodhull
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Andover
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Osco
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Morristown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Morristown is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
- Briar Bluff
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Briar Bluff is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
- Colona
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Green Rock
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Green Rock is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Rock
- Cambridge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Dayton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Dayton is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Gilchrist, with the one closest to Old Gilchrist listed first.
- Rio
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Henderson Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Henderson Grove is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson Grove
- Henderson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Galesburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Oneida
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Wataga
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Altona
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- East Galesburg
(25 miles [40.2 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
- Knox
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Knox is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
- Knoxville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Victoria
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Island County
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Gilchrist, with the one closest to Old Gilchrist listed first.
- Reynolds
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Taylor Ridge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Coyne Center
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Coyne Center is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyne Center
- Oak Grove
(12 miles [19.3 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
- Edgington
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Edgington is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgington
- Buffalo Prairie
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Andalusia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Milan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Coal Valley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Island
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Illinois City
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Illinois City is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinois City
- Moline
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- East Moline
(21 miles [33.8 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
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Gilchrist, with the one closest to Old Gilchrist listed first.
- Shanghai City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Shanghai City is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai City
- Gerlaw
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Little York
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Eleanor
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Eleanor is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
- Utah
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Utah is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
- Monmouth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Surrey
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Surrey is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surrey
- Cameron
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Kirkwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Berwick
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Des Moines County (IA)
- Kingston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Kingston is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Louisa County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Gilchrist, with the one closest to Old Gilchrist listed first.
- Oakville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Elrick Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Elrick Junction is located in Louisa County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrick Junction
- 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
- Wapello
(29 miles [46.7 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
- Muscatine County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Gilchrist, with the one closest to Old Gilchrist listed first.
- Midway Beach
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Midway Beach is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway Beach
- Fairport
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fairport is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Pine Mills ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Mills is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
- Pleasant Prairie
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Muscatine
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Stockton
(27 miles [43.5 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
- Fruitland
(27 miles [43.5 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 Old Gilchrist, with the one closest to Old Gilchrist listed first.
- Buffalo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Blue Grass
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Bettendorf
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Davenport
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Riverdale
(22 miles [35.4 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
(24 miles [38.6 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
- Pleasant Valley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Walcott
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Eldridge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Maysville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Maysville is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Le Claire
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Durant
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hickory Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- 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 Old Gilchrist, see our County-by-County Page for Old Gilchrist.
Cemeteries Near Old Gilchrist ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Old Gilchrist.
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 Old Gilchrist - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Old Gilchrist covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Old Gilchrist, with the one closest to Old Gilchrist listed first.
- Carnahan Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Graham Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Viola Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- St. John's Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- St. Joseph's Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Farlows Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Corns Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sugar Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Artz Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Aledo Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bridger Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cooper Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (286 more) ...
- Hopewell Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell Cemetery
- The Hopewell Cemetery has also been known as:
- Woodhams Cemetery
- Merryman Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- German Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
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 Old Gilchrist in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Old Gilchrist.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Old Gilchrist, with the one closest to Old Gilchrist listed first.
- Gilchrist
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
- Viola
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Preemption
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Reynolds
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Griffin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Griffin is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- Cable
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cable is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cable
- Hamlet
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hamlet is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlet
- Sunbeam
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sunbeam is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbeam
- Norwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Norwood is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- New Windsor
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- New Windsor is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Windsor
- Swedona
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Swedona is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swedona
- Taylor Ridge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Marston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Marston is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
- Millersburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Millersburg is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
- Seaton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Old Gilchrist. See our List of 1890's Communities around Old Gilchrist.
Newspapers Published in Old Gilchrist ...
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 Old Gilchrist.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Old Gilchrist, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Old Gilchrist.
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 Old Gilchrist:
- 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> | 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 Old Gilchrist, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Old Gilchrist) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |