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 Sparland (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 Sparland. 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 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 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.
Sparland is located in Marshall 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 Marshall County: Bureau, La Salle, Peoria, Putnam, Stark & Woodford.
Below are the counties that are near Sparland. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sparland:
- Marshall County (The home county of Sparland)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sparland, with the one closest to Sparland listed first.
- Lacon
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Hopewell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hopewell is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
- Henry
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Camp Grove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- La Rose
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Varna
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Toluca
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Evans ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Evans is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Wenona
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Bureau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sparland, with the one closest to Sparland listed first.
- Milo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Milo is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milo
- Bureau Junction
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Bureau Junction is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bureau Junction
- Population from the 2020 Census: 297 people
- Bureau Junction has also been known as:
- Bureau
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bureau Junction <1>
- Tiskilwa
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- De Pue
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- De Pue is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Pue
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,665 people
- Princeton
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Ottville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Ottville is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottville
- Hollowayville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Hollowayville is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollowayville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 85 people
- Seatonville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Wyanet
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Spring Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Buda
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Neponset
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Henry County
- Kewanee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Knox County
- Williamsfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- La Salle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sparland, with the one closest to Sparland listed first.
- Priscilla ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Priscilla is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Priscilla
- Lostant
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Lostant is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lostant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 477 people
- Lostant has also been known as:
- Lost Ant
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lostant <1>
- Rutland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Leeds
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Leeds is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
- Cedar Point
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Tonica
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Dana
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Leonore
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Oglesby
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Deer Park
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Deer Park is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Park
- Peru
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Vermilionville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Vermilionville is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermilionville
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sparland, with the one closest to Sparland listed first.
- Long Point
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Munster
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Munster is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munster
- Ancona
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Coalville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Coalville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
- Peoria County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sparland, with the one closest to Sparland listed first.
- Chillicothe
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Rome
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Edelstein
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- West Hallock
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- West Hallock is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Hallock
- Mossville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dunlap
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Princeville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Peoria Heights
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Keller
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Keller is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keller
- Orange Prairie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Monica
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Monica is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monica
- North Peoria
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- North Peoria is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Peoria
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sparland, with the one closest to Sparland listed first.
- Putnam
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Magnolia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- McNabb
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hennepin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Palatine
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Palatine is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Palatine
- Granville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Mark
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Standard
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Stark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sparland, with the one closest to Sparland listed first.
- Speer
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Bradford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Castleton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wyoming
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Modena
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Modena is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modena
- Osceola
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Osceola is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Toulon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- West Jersey
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- West Jersey is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Jersey
- La Fayette
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sparland, with the one closest to Sparland listed first.
- Harvard Hills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Harvard Hills is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard Hills
- Trailpark Gardens
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Trailpark Gardens is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trailpark Gardens
- Washington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Beverly Manor
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Beverly Manor is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly Manor
- Robein
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Robein is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robein
- Sunnyland
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Cooper
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Cooper is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
- East Peoria
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- East Peoria is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peoria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 22,344 people
- Former name for East Peoria:
- Hilton
- Farmdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Farmdale is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmdale
- Highway Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Highway Village is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highway Village
- Caldwell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Caldwell is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caldwell
- Crandall ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Crandall is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crandall
- Woodford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sparland, with the one closest to Sparland listed first.
- Washburn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Bay
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Spring Bay is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Bay
- Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
- Bay View Gardens
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Bay View Gardens is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View Gardens
- Population from the 2020 Census: 407 people
- Metamora
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Germantown Hills
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Benson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Roanoke
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Minonk
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Eureka
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Woodford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Woodford is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
- Secor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Panola
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Panola is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sparland, see our County-by-County Page for Sparland.
Cemeteries Near Sparland ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sparland.
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 Sparland - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sparland covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sparland, with the one closest to Sparland listed first.
- Nighswonger Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Bonham Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Jason & Broadus Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Greeves Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Yankee Lane Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Babb Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Strawn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Russell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hammett Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Harris Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mansfield Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- New Salem Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (289 more) ...
- Forbes Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sawyer Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Sparland had a population of 471 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Sparland had a population of 357 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sparland, with the one closest to Sparland listed first.
- Lacon
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Chillicothe
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Henry
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Whitefield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Whitefield is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitefield
- Lawn Ridge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Lawn Ridge is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawn Ridge
- Rome
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Washburn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Putnam
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Edelstein
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- La Rose
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Varna
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- West Hallock
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- West Hallock is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Hallock
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Low Point
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Low Point is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Low Point
- Cazenovia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cazenovia is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cazenovia
- Milo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Milo is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milo
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sparland. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sparland.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Sparland ...
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 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sparland.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Sparland. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Sparland and those printed in the larger area surrounding Sparland.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3> of Sparland.
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 helpful 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 Sparland:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Marshall County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bureau County
- Henry County
- Knox County
- La Salle County
- Livingston County
- Peoria County
- Putnam County
- Stark County
- Tazewell County
- Woodford 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> | 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 Sparland, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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- Sparland) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |