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 Rocky Ford (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 Rocky Ford. 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 Rocky Ford ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Rocky Ford: Rocky Frd.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Rocky Ford. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Rocky Ford.
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 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.
Rocky Ford is located in Cumberland 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 Cumberland County: Clark, Coles, Crawford, Effingham, Jasper & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near Rocky Ford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rocky Ford:
- Cumberland County (The home county of Rocky Ford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Timothy
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Timothy is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timothy
- Bradbury
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Bradbury is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradbury
- Union Center
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Union Center is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Center
- Diona
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Diona is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diona
- Greenup
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Toledo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Janesville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Johnstown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Johnstown is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnstown
- Walla Walla
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Walla Walla is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walla Walla
- Jewett
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hazel Dell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hazel Dell is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazel Dell
- Neoga
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Clark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Casey
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Cumberland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Cumberland is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Oilfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Oilfield is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oilfield
- Oak Point
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Point is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Point
- Westfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Martinsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Hogue Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hogue Town is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hogue Town
- Cleone
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cleone is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleone
- Clark Center
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Clark Center is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark Center
- Melrose
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Melrose is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Clarksville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Clarksville is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksville
- Marshall
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Coles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Hutton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hutton is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutton
- Lerna
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Trilla
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Charleston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Magnet
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Magnet is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnet
- Mattoon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ashmore
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dorans
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Dorans is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorans
- Bushton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Bushton is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushton
- Saint Omer ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Saint Omer is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Omer
- Rardin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Rardin is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rardin
- Humboldt
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Bellair
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bellair is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellair
- Kibbie ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kibbie is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kibbie
- Annapolis
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Dogwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Dogwood is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood
- Oblong
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- West York
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Stoy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Oil Center
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oil Center is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil Center
- Hutsonville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Hindsboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Arcola
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Filson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Filson is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Filson
- Kemp
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Kemp is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemp
- Chesterville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Chesterville is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
- Edgar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Kansas
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Grandview
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Grandview is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Bell Ridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bell Ridge is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Ridge
- Borton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Borton is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borton
- Conlogue
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Conlogue is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conlogue
- Oliver
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Oliver is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oliver
- Redmon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Brocton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Effingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Montrose
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Montrose is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Dieterich
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Green Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Green Creek is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Creek
- Teutopolis
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Effingham
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Heartville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Heartville is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heartville
- Shumway
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Funkhouser
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Funkhouser is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funkhouser
- Watson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Hidalgo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Rose Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Rose Hill is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
- Yale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Falmouth
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Falmouth is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth
- Hunt City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hunt City is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunt City
- Lis
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Lis is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lis
- Wheeler
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Newton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Willow Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Bogota
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Bogota is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogota
- Sainte Marie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Moultrie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Gays
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Coles
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Coles is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coles
- Allenville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Allenville is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Sullivan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Sigel
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Trowbridge
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Trowbridge is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trowbridge
- Sexson Corner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Sexson Corner is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexson Corner
- Stewardson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Strasburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Windsor
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Middlesworth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Middlesworth is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesworth
- Mode
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Mode is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mode
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rocky Ford, see our County-by-County Page for Rocky Ford.
Cemeteries Near Rocky Ford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rocky Ford.
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 Rocky Ford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rocky Ford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Reeds Woods Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Tippett Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Friends Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Peach Orchard Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Harmony Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jack Oak Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Neal Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Boots Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Decker Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Bell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Toledo Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Greenup Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (431 more) ...
- Nebo Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nebo Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Nebo Cemetery is located 7 miles [11.3 km]<3> to the northeast of Greenup.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #288168 <2>
- Haggins Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Upper Berry 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.<4>
While we didn't find Rocky Ford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rocky Ford.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Timothy
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Timothy is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timothy
- Bradbury
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Bradbury is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradbury
- Toledo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Greenup
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Union Center
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Union Center is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Center
- Diona
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Diona is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diona
- Janesville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Campbell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Campbell is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell
- Walla Walla
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Walla Walla is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walla Walla
- Johnstown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Johnstown is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnstown
- Jewett
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hutton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hutton is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutton
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Casey
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Lerna
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hidalgo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rocky Ford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rocky Ford.
Newspapers Published in Rocky Ford ...
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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rocky Ford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rocky Ford, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rocky Ford.
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 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 Rocky Ford:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Cumberland County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clark County
- Coles County
- Crawford County
- Douglas County
- Edgar County
- Effingham County
- Jasper County
- Moultrie County
- Shelby 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 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Rocky Ford) 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 Rocky Ford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |