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 Plymouth (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 Plymouth. 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 doctors and 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.
Plymouth is primarily located in Hancock County. A portion of Plymouth extends into McDonough 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 Hancock County: Lee (IA), Adams, Henderson, McDonough, Schuyler, Clark (MO) & Lewis (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Plymouth. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Plymouth:
- Hancock County (The home county of Plymouth)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plymouth, with the one closest to Plymouth listed first.
- Augusta
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Bowen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Joetta
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Joetta is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joetta
- Bentley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Bentley is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
- Chili
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Chili is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chili
- Fountain Green
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Fountain Green is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Green
- Carthage
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- West Point
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- West Point is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Basco
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Burnside
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Burnside is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Ferris
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Elvaston
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plymouth, with the one closest to Plymouth listed first.
- La Prairie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Golden
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Blacks
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Blacks is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blacks
- Clayton
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Loraine
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Camp Point
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Coatsburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mendon
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Paloma
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Columbus
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Columbus is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
- Kellerville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Kellerville is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerville
- Lima
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Brown County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plymouth, with the one closest to Plymouth listed first.
- Mound Station
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Mound Station is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Timewell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Mount Sterling
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Ripley
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Ripley is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Hersman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Hersman is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersman
- Cooperstown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cooperstown is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperstown
- Gilbirds
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Gilbirds is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbirds
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plymouth, with the one closest to Plymouth listed first.
- Vermont
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Table Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Astoria
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plymouth, with the one closest to Plymouth listed first.
- Terre Haute
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
- Lomax
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Iowa Junction
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- Raritan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Raritan is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raritan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- McDonough County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plymouth, with the one closest to Plymouth listed first.
- Colmar
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Colmar is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
- VIshnu Springs ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- VIshnu Springs is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for VIshnu Springs
- Tennessee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Colchester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Doddsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Doddsville is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doddsville
- Industry
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- East Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- East Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
- Lamone Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lamone Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamone Village
- Macomb
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- University Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- University Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
- Blandinsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Sciota
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Schuyler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plymouth, with the one closest to Plymouth listed first.
- Huntsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Camden
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wayland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wayland is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Littleton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Rushville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bader
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Bader is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
- Frederick
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Browning
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Warren County
- Youngstown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Youngstown is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngstown
- Lee County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plymouth, with the one closest to Plymouth listed first.
- Keokuk
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Sandusky
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sandusky is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Galland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Galland is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galland
- Buena Vista ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Buena Vista is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Clark County (MO)
- Alexandria
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Plymouth, see our County-by-County Page for Plymouth.
Cemeteries Near Plymouth ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Plymouth.
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 Plymouth - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Plymouth covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Plymouth, with the one closest to Plymouth listed first.
- Davenport Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Round Prairie Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Trimble Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Irwin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Augusta Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hawkins Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Providence Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Woodland City Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Dron Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Farwell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Markee Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (461 more) ...
- Noel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Pulaski Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Scott Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Plymouth had a population of 710 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Plymouth had a population of 459 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Plymouth, with the one closest to Plymouth listed first.
- Saint Mary
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Saint Mary is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Mary
- Colmar
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Colmar is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
- Augusta
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Birmingham
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Birmingham is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
- Huntsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hills Grove ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Hills Grove is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills Grove
- Bowen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Brooklyn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Brooklyn is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
- Fandon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fandon is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fandon
- Tennessee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Joetta
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Joetta is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joetta
- La Prairie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Bentley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Bentley is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
- Denver
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Denver is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denver
- Chatton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Chatton is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Plymouth. See our List of 1890's Communities around Plymouth.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Plymouth ...
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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Plymouth.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Plymouth. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Plymouth and those printed in the larger area surrounding Plymouth.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Plymouth.
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 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 Plymouth:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Hancock County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Brown County
- Fulton County
- Henderson County
- McDonough County
- Schuyler County
- Warren County
- Lee County
- Clark 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 Plymouth, 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 from Point A (ie- Plymouth) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |