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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 Stark (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 Stark. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.

Stark is located in Stark 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 Stark County: Bureau, Henry, Knox, Marshall & Peoria.

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

  • Stark County     (The home county of Stark)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stark, with the one closest to Stark listed first.
    • Speer
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Wyoming
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Castleton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Modena
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Modena is located in Stark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modena
    • Toulon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • West Jersey
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • West Jersey is located in Stark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Jersey
    • Bradford
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • La Fayette
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Osceola
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Osceola is located in Stark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
  • Bureau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stark, with the one closest to Stark listed first.
    • Milo
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Milo is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milo
    • Neponset
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Buda
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Tiskilwa
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Sheffield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Wyanet
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Mineral
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Bureau Junction
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • 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>
    • Princeton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stark, with the one closest to Stark listed first.
    • Farmington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Norris
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Brereton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Brereton is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brereton
  • Henry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stark, with the one closest to Stark listed first.
    • Galva
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Kewanee
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Bishop Hill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Annawan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stark, with the one closest to Stark listed first.
    • Williamsfield
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Victoria
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Dahinda
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Yates City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Appleton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Appleton is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
    • Altona
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Maquon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Gilson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Oneida
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Knox
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Knox is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
    • Wataga
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Knoxville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • East Galesburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • East Galesburg is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Galesburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
  • Marshall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stark, with the one closest to Stark listed first.
    • Camp Grove
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Hopewell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Hopewell is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
    • Sparland
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Lacon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Lacon is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,713 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lacon <1>
    • Henry
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Henry is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henry
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,230 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Henry <1>
    • La Rose
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Varna
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Peoria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stark, with the one closest to Stark listed first.
    • Princeville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Monica
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Monica is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monica
    • Edelstein
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • West Hallock
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • West Hallock is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Hallock
    • Dunlap
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Laura
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Elmore
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Elmore is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmore
    • Brimfield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Chillicothe
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Rome
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Orange Prairie
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Mossville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Edwards
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
  • Putnam County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stark, with the one closest to Stark listed first.
    • Putnam
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Hennepin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Magnolia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • McNabb
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stark, with the one closest to Stark listed first.
    • Trailpark Gardens
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Trailpark Gardens is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trailpark Gardens
    • Harvard Hills
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Harvard Hills is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard Hills
    • East Peoria
      (24 miles [38.6 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
    • Wesley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Wesley is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
    • Highway Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Highway Village is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highway Village
    • Robein
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Robein is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robein
    • Sunnyland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Creve Coeur
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Creve Coeur is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creve Coeur
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,109 people
      • Former name for Creve Coeur:
      • Wesley City
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Creve Coeur <1>
    • Beverly Manor
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Beverly Manor is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly Manor
    • Farmdale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Farmdale is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmdale
    • North Pekin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • North Pekin is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Pekin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,530 people
      • Former name for North Pekin:
      • Radio City
    • Washington
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Caldwell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Caldwell is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caldwell
  • Woodford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stark, with the one closest to Stark listed first.
    • Spring Bay
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • 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
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Bay View Gardens is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View Gardens
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 407 people
    • Germantown Hills
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Washburn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Metamora
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Stark ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Stark.

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

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

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

  • Schiebel Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Streitmatter Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Woertz Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Princeville Twp. Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Apostolic Christian Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Ertley Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Wyoming Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Sheets Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Dominic Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Lawn Ridge Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Pleasant Valley Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (299 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Stark had a population of 62 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Duncan
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Duncan is located in Stark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
  • Princeville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Wyoming
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Monica
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Monica is located in Peoria County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monica
  • Lawn Ridge
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Lawn Ridge is located in Marshall County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawn Ridge
  • Akron
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Akron is located in Peoria County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron
  • West Hallock
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • West Hallock is located in Peoria County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Hallock
  • Edelstein
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Castleton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Waldron ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Waldron is located in Stark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldron
  • Toulon
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Modena
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Modena is located in Stark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modena
  • Continue List   (21 more) ...
    • West Jersey
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • West Jersey is located in Stark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Jersey
    • Laura
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Dunlap
      (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 Stark. See our List of 1890's Communities around Stark.

Newspapers Published in Stark ...

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 215 newspapers that have been published in the area around Stark.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Stark, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Stark.

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 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 Stark:

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>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 Stark, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Stark) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.