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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 Pleasant Hill (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 Pleasant Hill. 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 southeast 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 south.

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 south 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.

Pleasant Hill is located in McLean 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 McLean County: Champaign, De Witt, Ford, Livingston, Logan, Piatt, Tazewell & Woodford.

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

  • McLean County     (The home county of Pleasant Hill)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Hill, with the one closest to Pleasant Hill listed first.
    • Lexington
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Cooksville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Colfax
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Merna
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Towanda
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Chenoa
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Meadows
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Meadows is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadows
    • Anchor
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Weston
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Weston is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
    • Gridley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Ellsworth
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Arrowsmith
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Champaign County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Hill, with the one closest to Pleasant Hill listed first.
    • Foosland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Lotus
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Lotus is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lotus
    • Fisher
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Fisher is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,911 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fisher <1>
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Hill, with the one closest to Pleasant Hill listed first.
    • Watkins
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Watkins is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
    • Farmer City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Parnell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Parnell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
    • Fullerton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Fullerton is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
    • De Witt
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • De Witt is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
    • Wapella
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Birkbeck
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
  • Ford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Hill, with the one closest to Pleasant Hill listed first.
    • Sibley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Garber
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Garber is located in Ford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garber
    • Gibson City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Gibson City is located in Ford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,275 people
      • Gibson City has also been known as:
      • Gibson
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gibson City <1>
    • Proctor
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Proctor is located in Ford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proctor
    • Elliott
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Melvin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Roberts
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Piper City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • La Salle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Hill, with the one closest to Pleasant Hill listed first.
    • Dana
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Dana is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dana <1>
    • Rutland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Leeds
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Leeds is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
  • Livingston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Hill, with the one closest to Pleasant Hill listed first.
    • Fairbury
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Avoca ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Avoca is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
    • McDowell
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • McDowell is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
    • Strawn
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Graymont
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Flanagan
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Pontiac
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Pontiac is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pontiac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,176 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pontiac <1>
    • Forrest
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Swygert
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Swygert is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swygert
    • Wing
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Wing is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wing
    • Cayuga
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Cayuga is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga
    • Chatsworth
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Piatt County
    • Mansfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Hill, with the one closest to Pleasant Hill listed first.
    • Lilly
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Lilly is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
    • Deer Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Woodford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Hill, with the one closest to Pleasant Hill listed first.
    • Kappa
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Kappa is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kappa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • El Paso
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Panola
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Panola is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
    • Woodford
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Woodford is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
    • Secor
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Congerville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Benson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Minonk
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Roanoke
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Goodfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Eureka
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Pleasant Hill ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pleasant Hill.

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 Pleasant Hill - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Wiley Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Indian Field Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Scrogin Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Lexington Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Dawson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Lawndale Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Wiley Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Clarksville Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Pennell Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Smith Grove Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (221 more) ...
    • Merna Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Blue Mound Twp. Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)

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 Pleasant Hill in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Pleasant Hill.

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

  • Lexington
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Cooksville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Fletcher
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Fletcher is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fletcher
  • Merna
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Colfax
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Towanda
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Meadows
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Meadows is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadows
  • Chenoa
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Barnes
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Barnes is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes
  • Holder
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Holder is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holder
  • Padua
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Padua is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Padua
  • Ellsworth
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Anchor
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Weston
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Weston is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
    • Gridley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Pleasant Hill ...

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 256 newspapers that have been published in the area around Pleasant Hill.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Pleasant Hill, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Pleasant Hill.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Pleasant Hill:

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 Pleasant Hill, 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' (or 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- Pleasant Hill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.