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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 San Jose (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 San Jose. 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.

San Jose is primarily located in Mason County. A portion of San Jose extends into Logan 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 Mason County: Cass, Fulton, Logan, Menard, Schuyler & Tazewell.

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

  • Mason County     (The home county of San Jose)
    • The following are listed by their distance from San Jose, with the one closest to San Jose listed first.
    • Natrona
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Natrona is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
    • Mason City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Teheran
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Teheran is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
    • Manito
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Union
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Union is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Forest City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Forest City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
    • Easton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Topeka
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Goofy Ridge
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Goofy Ridge is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goofy Ridge
    • Poplar City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Buzzville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Buzzville is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buzzville
    • Kilbourne
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
  • Cass County
    • Newmansville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Newmansville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from San Jose, with the one closest to San Jose listed first.
    • Waynesville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Tabor
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Tabor is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
    • Midland City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Midland City is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
    • Hallsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
    • Kenney
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from San Jose, with the one closest to San Jose listed first.
    • Banner
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Liverpool
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Breeds
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Breeds is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breeds
    • Dunfermline
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint David
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Sepo
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Sepo is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sepo
    • Bryant
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Canton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Lewistown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Brereton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Brereton is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brereton
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from San Jose, with the one closest to San Jose listed first.
    • Emden
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • New Holland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Hartsburg
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Bell
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Bell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
    • Middletown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Evans
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Evans is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
    • Lincoln
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Lawndale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Broadwell
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Broadwell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Atlanta
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Elkhart
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Chestervale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
  • McLean County
    • The following are listed by their distance from San Jose, with the one closest to San Jose listed first.
    • McLean
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Stanford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Danvers
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Danvers is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danvers
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,093 people
      • Danvers has also been known as:
      • Danver
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Danvers <1>
    • Shirley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Menard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from San Jose, with the one closest to San Jose listed first.
    • Greenview
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Croft
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Croft is located in Menard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
    • Oakford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Athens
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Petersburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Tallula
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Peoria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from San Jose, with the one closest to San Jose listed first.
    • Mapleton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Kingston Mines
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Glasford
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Bartonville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Bellevue
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Bellevue is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,037 people
    • Maxwell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Maxwell is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
    • Peoria
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • West Peoria
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Hanna City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • North Peoria
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • North Peoria is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Peoria
    • Norwood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Norwood is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
    • Pottstown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Pottstown is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from San Jose, with the one closest to San Jose listed first.
    • Williamsville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Cantrall
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Buffalo Hart
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Buffalo Hart is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Hart
    • Sherman
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Salisbury
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Salisbury is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
    • Spaulding
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Spaulding is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 836 people
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from San Jose, with the one closest to San Jose listed first.
    • Winkel ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Winkel is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkel
    • Delavan
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Green Valley
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Boynton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Boynton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
    • Brownwood ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Brownwood is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
    • Burt
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Burt is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
    • Richmond
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Richmond is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
    • Dillon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Dillon is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillon
    • Hopedale
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • South Pekin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • South Pekin is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Pekin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,081 people
    • Sutter ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Sutter is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
    • Parkland
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Parkland is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkland
  • Woodford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from San Jose, with the one closest to San Jose listed first.
    • Goodfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Congerville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near San Jose ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of San Jose.

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 San Jose - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Greenhill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Bratt Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bratt Cemetery
    • The Bratt Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Old Sand Hill Cemetery
    • Pleasant Valley Cemetery
  • Thomas Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Allens Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Cherry Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Grove Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Cherry Grove Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<2> to the northeast of Mason City.
    • The Cherry Grove Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Green Mound Cemetery
    • Greenmound Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #105119 <3>
  • Patterson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Prairie Rest Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Green Valley Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Stephen's Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Albright Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Mason City Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (319 more) ...

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 San Jose had a population of 307 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, San Jose had a population of 587 people.

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

  • Natrona
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Natrona is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
  • Delavan
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Emden
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Green Valley
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Mason City
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • New Holland
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Hartsburg
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Boynton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Boynton is located in Tazewell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
  • Teheran
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Teheran is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
  • Burton View
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Burton View is located in Logan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton View
  • Hopedale
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Dillon
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Dillon is located in Tazewell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillon
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Manito
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Union
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Union is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Forest City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Forest City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people

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

Newspapers Published in San Jose ...

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 207 newspapers that have been published in the area around San Jose.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of San Jose, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for San Jose.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we 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 San Jose:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- San Jose) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<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 San Jose, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.