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 Pontoosuc (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 Pontoosuc. 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 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.
Pontoosuc is located in Hancock 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 Pontoosuc. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Pontoosuc:
- Hancock County (The home county of Pontoosuc)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontoosuc, with the one closest to Pontoosuc listed first.
- Dallas City
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Colusa
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Niota
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Adrian
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Powellton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Powellton is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Disco
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Disco is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Disco
- Burnside
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Burnside is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Nauvoo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ferris
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- La Harpe
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- La Harpe is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Harpe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,123 people
- Carthage
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Elvaston
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontoosuc, with the one closest to Pontoosuc listed first.
- Iowa Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- Lomax
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Carman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Terre Haute
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
- Gulf Port
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Gulf Port is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf Port
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Olena
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Olena is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
- Stronghurst
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Raritan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Raritan is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raritan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Gladstone
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Media
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Media is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Biggsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Biggsville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Oquawka
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- McDonough County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontoosuc, with the one closest to Pontoosuc listed first.
- Blandinsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- VIshnu Springs ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- VIshnu Springs is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for VIshnu Springs
- Sciota
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Tennessee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Colchester
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Colmar
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Colmar is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
- Good Hope
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Lamone Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Lamone Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamone Village
- Macomb
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- East Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- East Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
- University Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- University Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontoosuc, with the one closest to Pontoosuc listed first.
- Smithshire
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Roseville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Kirkwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Des Moines County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontoosuc, with the one closest to Pontoosuc listed first.
- Patterson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Patterson is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Burlington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Middletown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Middletown is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- West Burlington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Danville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Danville is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
- Kline
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Kline is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kline
- Dodgeville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Dodgeville is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodgeville
- Sperry
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Sperry is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sperry
- Kingston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Kingston is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Mediapolis
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Yarmouth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Henry County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontoosuc, with the one closest to Pontoosuc listed first.
- Lowell
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Lowell is located in Henry County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
- New London
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Salem
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hillsboro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hillsboro is located in Henry County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
- Mount Pleasant
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oakland Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Oakland Mills is located in Henry County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Mills
- Lee County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontoosuc, with the one closest to Pontoosuc listed first.
- Wever
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Fort Madison
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Sawyer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Sawyer is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer
- Former names for Sawyer:
- Atlee
- Edwards
- South Augusta
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- South Augusta is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Augusta
- Denmark
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Galland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Galland is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galland
- Montrose
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jeffersonville ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Jeffersonville is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
- West Point
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sandusky
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sandusky is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Charleston
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Charleston is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charleston
- Franklin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Franklin is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
- Van Buren County (IA)
- Farmington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Clark County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontoosuc, with the one closest to Pontoosuc listed first.
- Alexandria
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Francisville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Francisville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Francisville
- Dumas
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Dumas is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumas
- Wayland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wayland is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
- Athens
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Athens is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
- Peaksville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Peaksville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaksville
- Revere
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Clark City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Clark City is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark City
- Anson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Anson is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anson
- Kahoka
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Pontoosuc, see our County-by-County Page for Pontoosuc.
Cemeteries Near Pontoosuc ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pontoosuc.
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 Pontoosuc - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Pontoosuc covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Pontoosuc, with the one closest to Pontoosuc listed first.
- Pontoosuc Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Tull Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Myers Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Little Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Harris Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Appanoose Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Alley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Claypoole Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Burton Farm Grounds Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Slack Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hillcrest Memorial Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Iowa State Prison Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (451 more) ...
- Hoffmeister Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Byley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Gethsemans Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
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 Pontoosuc had a population of 249 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Pontoosuc had a population of 132 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Pontoosuc, with the one closest to Pontoosuc listed first.
- Dallas City
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Niota
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Colusa
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wever
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Durham
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Durham is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham
- Fort Madison
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Powellton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Powellton is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Adrian
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Lomax
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Iowa Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- Patterson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Patterson is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Sawyer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Sawyer is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer
- Former names for Sawyer:
- Atlee
- Edwards
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Augusta
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Augusta is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augusta
- Disco
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Disco is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Disco
- Nauvoo
(10 miles [16.1 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 Pontoosuc. See our List of 1890's Communities around Pontoosuc.
Newspapers Published in Pontoosuc ...
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 56 newspapers that have been published in the area around Pontoosuc.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Pontoosuc, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Pontoosuc.
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 Pontoosuc:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Hancock County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Henderson County
- McDonough County
- Warren County
- Des Moines County
- Henry County
- Lee County
- Van Buren 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 Pontoosuc, 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- Pontoosuc) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |