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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 Ontario (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 Ontario. 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 hospitals 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.

Ontario is located in Knox 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 Knox County: Fulton, Henry, Mercer, Peoria, Stark & Warren.

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

  • Knox County     (The home county of Ontario)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ontario, with the one closest to Ontario listed first.
    • Oneida
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Wataga
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Henderson
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Rio
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Henderson Grove
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Henderson Grove is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson Grove
    • Altona
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • East Galesburg
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • East Galesburg is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Galesburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
    • Galesburg
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Knox
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Knox is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
    • Victoria
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Knoxville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Appleton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Appleton is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
    • Dahinda
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Bureau County
    • Neponset
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ontario, with the one closest to Ontario listed first.
    • London Mills
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Avon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Farmington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Henderson County
    • Rozetta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Rozetta is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rozetta
  • Henry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ontario, with the one closest to Ontario listed first.
    • Woodhull
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Alpha
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Ophiem
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Ophiem is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ophiem
    • Bishop Hill
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Andover
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Lynn Center
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Galva
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Cambridge
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Osco
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Orion
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Morristown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Morristown is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
    • Kewanee
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Briar Bluff
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Briar Bluff is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
  • Mercer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ontario, with the one closest to Ontario listed first.
    • North Henderson
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • New Windsor
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • New Windsor is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Windsor
    • Windsor
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Windsor is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 760 people
    • Alexis
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Griffin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Griffin is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
    • Viola
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Burgess
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Burgess is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
    • Norwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Norwood is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
    • Gilchrist
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
    • Matherville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Shale City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Shale City is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
    • Sherrard
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Preemption
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Peoria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ontario, with the one closest to Ontario listed first.
    • Elmore
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Elmore is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmore
    • Laura
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Monica
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Monica is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monica
    • Brimfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Elmwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Princeville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Rock Island County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ontario, with the one closest to Ontario listed first.
    • Reynolds
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Coal Valley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Coyne Center
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Coyne Center is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyne Center
    • Oak Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Oak Grove is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
    • Taylor Ridge
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Carbon Cliff
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Rustic Acres
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Rustic Acres is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustic Acres
    • Silvis
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Silvis is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silvis
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,473 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Silvis <1>
    • Milan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Milan is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,945 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Milan <1>
    • Barstow
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • East Moline
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • East Moline is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Moline
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 20,473 people
  • Stark County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ontario, with the one closest to Ontario listed first.
    • La Fayette
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • West Jersey
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • West Jersey is located in Stark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Jersey
    • Toulon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Wyoming
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Modena
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Modena is located in Stark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modena
    • Osceola
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Osceola is located in Stark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
  • Warren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ontario, with the one closest to Ontario listed first.
    • Shanghai City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Shanghai City is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai City
    • Utah
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Utah is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
    • Surrey
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Surrey is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surrey
    • Gerlaw
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Cameron
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Monmouth
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Eleanor
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Eleanor is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
    • Berwick
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Little York
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Kirkwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Roseville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Ontario ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ontario.

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

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

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

  • Ontario Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Robbins Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Bruner Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Junk Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Rice - Blue Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Henderson Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Wataga Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Rio Baptist Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rio Baptist Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Rio Baptist Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<3> to the south of Rio.
    • The Rio Baptist Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Robertson Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #104621 <2>
  • Deatherage Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Gum Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • State of Illinois Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State of Illinois Cemetery
    • The State of Illinois Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Galesburg Research Cemetery
  • Oneida Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (278 more) ...

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 Ontario had a population of 1,225 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Henderson
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Wataga
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Oneida
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Rio
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Altona
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Alpha
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Nekoma
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Nekoma is located in Henry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nekoma
  • North Henderson
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Galesburg
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Knox
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Knox is located in Knox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
  • Utah
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Utah is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
  • Knoxville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Victoria
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • New Windsor
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • New Windsor is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Windsor
    • Appleton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Appleton is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton

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

Newspapers Published in Ontario ...

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 222 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ontario.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ontario, 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 Ontario.

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 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 Ontario:

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 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Ontario) 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 Ontario, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.