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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 Solomon (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 Solomon. 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 hospitals and 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.

Solomon is located in De Witt 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 De Witt County: Logan, Macon, McLean & Piatt.

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

  • De Witt County     (The home county of Solomon)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solomon, with the one closest to Solomon listed first.
    • De Witt
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • De Witt is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
    • Fullerton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Fullerton is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
    • Parnell
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Parnell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
    • Birkbeck
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
    • Watkins
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Watkins is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
    • Wapella
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Lane
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Farmer City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Weldon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Clinton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Hallsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
    • Waynesville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
  • Champaign County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solomon, with the one closest to Solomon listed first.
    • Lotus
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Lotus is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lotus
    • Foosland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Mahomet
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Seymour
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake of the Woods
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Lake of the Woods is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake of the Woods
    • Bondville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Fisher
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • 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>
    • Dewey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Staley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Staley is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Staley
    • Ivesdale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Ford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solomon, with the one closest to Solomon listed first.
    • Proctor
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Proctor is located in Ford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proctor
    • Gibson City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • 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>
    • Garber
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Garber is located in Ford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garber
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solomon, with the one closest to Solomon listed first.
    • Beason
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Atlanta
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Chestnut
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Lawndale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Latham
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Chestervale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
    • Evans
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Evans is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
    • Mount Pulaski
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lincoln
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Bell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Bell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solomon, with the one closest to Solomon listed first.
    • Maroa
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Argenta
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Oreana
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Forsyth
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Warrensburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Bearsdale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Bearsdale is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
    • Sangamon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Sangamon is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
    • Decatur
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Long Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Long Creek is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,262 people
    • Harristown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • McLean County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solomon, with the one closest to Solomon listed first.
    • Le Roy
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Heyworth
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Downs
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Gillum
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Gillum is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
    • Kumler
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Kumler is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kumler
    • Glen Avon
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Glen Avon is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Avon
    • Brokaw
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Brokaw is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
    • Ellsworth
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Laurette
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Laurette is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurette
    • Bellflower
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Shirley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Arrowsmith
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Piatt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solomon, with the one closest to Solomon listed first.
    • De Land
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Mansfield
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Cisco
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Monticello
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • White Heath
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Cerro Gordo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Milmine
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Bement
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Voorhies
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Voorhies is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solomon, with the one closest to Solomon listed first.
    • Armington
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Minier
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Burt
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Burt is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
    • Richmond
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Richmond is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
    • Sutter ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Sutter is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter

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

Cemeteries Near Solomon ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Solomon.

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 Solomon - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Walden Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Walters Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Johnson Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Griffith Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • De Witt Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • McCord Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Willmore Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Barnes Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Gilmore Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Sugar Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Rutledge Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Lisenby Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (237 more) ...
    • Campground Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Howard Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Oak Grove Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)

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 in 1895, Solomon had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • De Witt
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • De Witt is located in De Witt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
  • Fullerton
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Fullerton is located in De Witt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
  • Birkbeck
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
  • Wapella
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Empire
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Empire is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire
  • Le Roy
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Lane
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Weldon
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Farmer City
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Heyworth
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Clinton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Downs
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Gillum
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Gillum is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
    • Weedman
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Weedman is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weedman
    • Sabina
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Sabina is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sabina

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

Newspapers Published in Solomon ...

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 80 newspapers that have been published in the area around Solomon.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Solomon, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Solomon.

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 either 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 Solomon:

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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Solomon) 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 Solomon, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.