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 Sunny Hill (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 Sunny Hill. 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 southwest 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 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 west 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.
Sunny Hill is located in Henry 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 Henry County: Bureau, Knox, Mercer, Rock Island, Stark & Whiteside.
Below are the counties that are near Sunny Hill. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sunny Hill:
- Henry County (The home county of Sunny Hill)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunny Hill, with the one closest to Sunny Hill listed first.
- Orion
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Briar Bluff
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Briar Bluff is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
- Colona
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Green Rock
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Green Rock is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Rock
- Morristown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Morristown is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
- Lynn Center
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Osco
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cleveland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cleveland is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
- Dayton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Dayton is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Andover
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hickory Hills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hickory Hills is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hills
- Ophiem
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Ophiem is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ophiem
- Cambridge
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bureau County
- Mineral
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunny Hill, with the one closest to Sunny Hill listed first.
- Rio
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Altona
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Oneida
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Henderson Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Henderson Grove is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson Grove
- Henderson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Wataga
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Victoria
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mercer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunny Hill, with the one closest to Sunny Hill listed first.
- Sherrard
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Preemption
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Griffin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Griffin is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- New Windsor
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- New Windsor is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Windsor
- Windsor
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Windsor is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 760 people
- Matherville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Shale City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shale City is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
- Viola
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Gilchrist
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
- Marston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Marston is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
- North Henderson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Aledo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Burgess
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Burgess is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
- Rock Island County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunny Hill, with the one closest to Sunny Hill listed first.
- Coal Valley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Carbon Cliff
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Silvis
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- East Moline
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- East Moline is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Moline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 20,473 people
- Coyne Center
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Coyne Center is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyne Center
- Barstow
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Milan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Oak Grove is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
- Moline
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hampton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Rustic Acres
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rustic Acres is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustic Acres
- Rock Island
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rapids City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Stark County
- La Fayette
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunny Hill, with the one closest to Sunny Hill listed first.
- Shanghai City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Shanghai City is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai City
- Utah
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Utah is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
- Gerlaw
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Whiteside County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunny Hill, with the one closest to Sunny Hill listed first.
- Erie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Newton Corners
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Newton Corners is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Corners
- Albany
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Pratt ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pratt is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
- Denrock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Denrock is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denrock
- Fenton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Clinton County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunny Hill, with the one closest to Sunny Hill listed first.
- Folletts
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Folletts is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folletts
- Shaffton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Shaffton is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaffton
- Camanche
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Low Moor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- De Witt
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Muscatine County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunny Hill, with the one closest to Sunny Hill listed first.
- Midway Beach
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Midway Beach is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway Beach
- Pine Mills ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Pine Mills is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
- Fairport
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Fairport is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Pleasant Prairie
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Stockton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Stockton is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Scott County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunny Hill, with the one closest to Sunny Hill listed first.
- Riverdale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Riverdale is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 398 people
- Panorama Park
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Panorama Park is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panorama Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 331 people
- Bettendorf
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Valley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Davenport
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Le Claire
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Buffalo
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Princeton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Blue Grass
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Eldridge
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Park View
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Park View is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park View
- Long Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Maysville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Maysville is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sunny Hill, see our County-by-County Page for Sunny Hill.
Cemeteries Near Sunny Hill ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sunny Hill.
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 Sunny Hill - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sunny Hill covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sunny Hill, with the one closest to Sunny Hill listed first.
- Homestead Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Western Twp. Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western Twp. Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Western Twp. Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northwest of Orion.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108818 <2>
- Rock Island County Fome Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Beulah Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Orion Lutheran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Glennwood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Coal Valley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Oakleaf Memorial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Green Bush Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bush Cemetery
- The Green Bush Cemetery has also been known as:
- Brush Hill Cemetery
- Brushwood Cemetery
- Greenbush Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #105908 <2>
- Rose Lawn Memorial Estates Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Bowlesburg Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (270 more) ...
- Morristown Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Greenview Memorial Gardens
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Rock River View Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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 in 1895, Sunny Hill had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sunny Hill, with the one closest to Sunny Hill listed first.
- Warner
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Warner is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warner
- Orion
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Coal Valley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Briar Bluff
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Briar Bluff is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
- Morristown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Morristown is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
- Carbon Cliff
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Lynn Center
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Osco
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Green River
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Green River is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green River
- Swedona
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Swedona is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swedona
- Cleveland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cleveland is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
- Barstow
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Milan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cable
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cable is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cable
- Andover
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sunny Hill. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sunny Hill.
Newspapers Published in Sunny Hill ...
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 163 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sunny Hill.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sunny Hill, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sunny Hill.
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 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 Sunny Hill:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Henry County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bureau County
- Knox County
- Mercer County
- Rock Island County
- Stark County
- Warren County
- Whiteside County
- Clinton County
- Muscatine County
- Scott 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> | 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 Sunny Hill, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Sunny Hill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |