Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Sonora. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Sonora to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Sonora, please Contact Us.
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 Sonora (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 Sonora. 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Sonora is historic, it would have been located within present day 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 Sonora. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sonora:
- Hancock County (The home county of Sonora)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Nauvoo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Powellton
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Powellton is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Hamilton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Elvaston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ferris
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Niota
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Adrian
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Warsaw
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Colusa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pontoosuc
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pontoosuc is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pontoosuc
- Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
- Carthage
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Burnside
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Burnside is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Dallas City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Lima
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Loraine
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Marcelline
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Marcelline is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcelline
- Meyer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Meyer is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
- Mendon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Ursa
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- La Prairie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Lomax
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Iowa Junction
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- Carman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Terre Haute
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
- Gulf Port
(26 miles [41.8 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
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Olena is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
- Stronghurst
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- McDonough County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- VIshnu Springs ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- VIshnu Springs is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for VIshnu Springs
- Blandinsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Colmar
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Colmar is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
- Tennessee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Colchester
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Des Moines County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Patterson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Patterson is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Middletown
(23 miles [37 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
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Danville
(25 miles [40.2 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
- Burlington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kline
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Kline is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kline
- Henry County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Lowell
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Lowell is located in Henry County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
- Salem
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- New London
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hillsboro
(30 miles [48.3 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
- Lee County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Galland
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Galland is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galland
- Sandusky
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sandusky is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Montrose
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Keokuk
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Buena Vista ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Fort Madison
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Jeffersonville ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Jeffersonville is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
- New Boston
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- New Boston is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
- Charleston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Charleston is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charleston
- Argyle
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Vincennes
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Vincennes is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vincennes
- Sawyer
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Sawyer is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer
- Former names for Sawyer:
- Atlee
- Edwards
- Donnellson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Van Buren County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Farmington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bonaparte
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Clark County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Alexandria
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Francisville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Saint Francisville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Francisville
- Wayland
(13 miles [20.9 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
- Dumas
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Dumas is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumas
- Revere
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Clark City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Clark City is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark City
- Peaksville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Peaksville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaksville
- Athens
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Athens is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
- Kahoka
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Saint Patrick
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Patrick is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
- Anson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Anson is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anson
- Medill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Medill is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medill
- Chambersburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Chambersburg is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambersburg
- Lewis County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Canton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Williamstown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Williamstown is located in Lewis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sonora, see our County-by-County Page for Sonora.
Cemeteries Near Sonora ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sonora.
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 Sonora - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sonora covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Sterns Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Galland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Colvin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sandusky Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Old Nauvoo Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Nauvoo Cemetery
- The Old Nauvoo Cemetery has also been known as:
- Marks Cemetery
- Miller Hill Cemetery
- Old Mormon Cemetery
- Old Pioneer Cemetery
- Parley Street Cemetery
- Pioneer Burial Grounds
- Pioneer Cemetery
- Pioneer Saint Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #107486 <3>
- Smith Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Nauvoo Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nauvoo Cemetery
- The Nauvoo Cemetery has also been known as:
- Nauvoo City Cemetery
- Nauvoo Two Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2177534 <3>
- St.s Peter & Paul Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Nauvoo Old Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Dundey Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Indian Princess Grave
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (418 more) ...
- Montrose Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- St. Barnabas Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Boyd & Peevler Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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.
Sonora itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having a population of 250 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Galland
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Galland is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galland
- Sandusky
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sandusky is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Nauvoo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Montrose
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Summitville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Summitville is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summitville
- Powellton
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Powellton is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Mount Clare
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Mount Clare is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Clare
- Mooar
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mooar is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooar
- Keokuk
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hamilton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Buena Vista ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Bullard
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bullard is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullard
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Elvaston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- McCall
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- McCall is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCall
- Sugar Creek ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sugar Creek is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Creek
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sonora. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sonora.
Newspapers Published in Sonora ...
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 120 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sonora.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sonora, 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 Sonora.
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 Sonora:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Hancock County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Henderson County
- McDonough County
- Des Moines County
- Henry County
- Lee County
- Van Buren County
- Clark County
- Lewis County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Illinois
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Sonora, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Sonora) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |