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 Osborn (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 Osborn. 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 Osborn ...
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: Osborne.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Osborn. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Osborn.
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 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.
Osborn 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 Osborn. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Osborn:
- Rock Island County (The home county of Osborn)
- The following are listed by their distance from Osborn, with the one closest to Osborn listed first.
- Rustic Acres
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Rustic Acres is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustic Acres
- Joslin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Joslin is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joslin
- Barstow
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Rapids City
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Port Byron
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Carbon Cliff
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Hillsdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hampton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Silvis
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- East Moline
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- East Moline is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Moline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 20,473 people
- Cordova
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Coal Valley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Moline
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Bureau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Osborn, with the one closest to Osborn listed first.
- Yorktown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Yorktown is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
- Mineral
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- New Bedford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Neponset
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sheffield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Osborn, with the one closest to Osborn listed first.
- Hickory Hills
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hickory Hills is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hills
- Cleveland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cleveland is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
- Dayton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dayton is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Colona
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Green Rock
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Green Rock is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Rock
- Briar Bluff
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Briar Bluff is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
- Geneseo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Morristown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Morristown is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
- Osco
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Orion
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Andover
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Cambridge
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Atkinson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Osborn, with the one closest to Osborn listed first.
- Altona
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Rio
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Mercer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Osborn, with the one closest to Osborn listed first.
- Sherrard
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Preemption
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Griffin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Griffin is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- New Windsor
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- New Windsor is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Windsor
- Windsor
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Windsor is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 760 people
- Matherville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Viola
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Gilchrist
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
- Shale City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Shale City is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
- Marston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Marston is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
- Whiteside County
- The following are listed by their distance from Osborn, with the one closest to Osborn listed first.
- Erie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Newton Corners
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Newton Corners is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Corners
- Albany
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Pratt ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Pratt is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
- Denrock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Denrock is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denrock
- Fenton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Prophetstown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- East Clinton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- East Clinton is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Clinton
- Lyndon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fulton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Union Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Union Grove is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- Morrison
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Tampico
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Clinton County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Osborn, with the one closest to Osborn listed first.
- Folletts
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Folletts is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folletts
- Shaffton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Shaffton is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaffton
- Camanche
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Low Moor
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Clinton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Elvira
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Elvira is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elvira
- De Witt
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sixmile
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Sixmile is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sixmile
- Grand Mound
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Tenmile
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Tenmile is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenmile
- Bryant
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bryant is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
- Muscatine County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Osborn, with the one closest to Osborn listed first.
- Midway Beach
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Midway Beach is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway Beach
- Pleasant Prairie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Stockton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Stockton is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Scott County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Osborn, with the one closest to Osborn listed first.
- Le Claire
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Panorama Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Panorama Park is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panorama Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 331 people
- Riverdale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Riverdale is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 398 people
- Princeton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Bettendorf
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Davenport
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- McCausland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- McCausland is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCausland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 311 people
- Eldridge
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Park View
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Park View is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park View
- Long Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Noel ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Noel is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noel
- Donahue
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Osborn, see our County-by-County Page for Osborn.
Cemeteries Near Osborn ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Osborn.
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 Osborn - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Osborn covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Osborn, with the one closest to Osborn listed first.
- Hanna Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Colbert Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Dayton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Zuma Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Dana Edwards Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Colona Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Schaefer Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Yost Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Homeland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Edford Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (270 more) ...
- St. John's Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Old Rapids City Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
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 Osborn had a population of 26 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Osborn, with the one closest to Osborn listed first.
- Cleveland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cleveland is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
- Joslin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Joslin is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joslin
- Green River
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Green River is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green River
- Barstow
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Rapids City
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Carbon Cliff
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Briar Bluff
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Briar Bluff is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
- Port Byron
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Le Claire
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hillsdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hampton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Geneseo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Pleasant Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Warner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Warner is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warner
- Morristown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Morristown is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Osborn. See our List of 1890's Communities around Osborn.
Newspapers Published in Osborn ...
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 148 newspapers that have been published in the area around Osborn.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Osborn, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Osborn.
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 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 Osborn:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Rock Island County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bureau County
- Henry County
- Knox County
- Mercer County
- Whiteside 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> | 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 from Point A (ie- Osborn) 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 Osborn, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |