RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Illinois >> Lee County >> Van Petten >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Van Petten (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 Van Petten. 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 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.

Van Petten is located in Lee 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 Lee County: Bureau, DeKalb, La Salle, Ogle & Whiteside.

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

  • Lee County     (The home county of Van Petten)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Petten, with the one closest to Van Petten listed first.
    • Harmon
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Nelson
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Prairieville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Prairieville is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
    • Eldena
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Dixon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Amboy
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Nachusa
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Lee Center
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Inlet
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Inlet is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
    • Franklin Grove
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Sublette
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Ashton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • West Brooklyn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
  • Bureau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Petten, with the one closest to Van Petten listed first.
    • Walnut
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Ohio
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • New Bedford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Yorktown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Yorktown is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
    • Kasbeer
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Limerick
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Limerick is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limerick
    • Manlius
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Van Orin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Greenoak
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Greenoak is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenoak
    • La Moille
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Dover
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Wyanet
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Malden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
  • Carroll County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Petten, with the one closest to Van Petten listed first.
    • Hazelhurst
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Hazelhurst is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelhurst
    • South Elkhorn
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • South Elkhorn is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elkhorn
    • Milledgeville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Hitt
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Hitt is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitt
    • Elkhorn Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Elkhorn Grove is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn Grove
    • Fair Haven
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Fair Haven is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Haven
    • Chadwick
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Ideal
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Ideal is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ideal
    • Daggett ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Daggett is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daggett
    • Lanark
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Argo Fay
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Argo Fay is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argo Fay
    • Thomson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Henry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Petten, with the one closest to Van Petten listed first.
    • Hooppole
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Annawan
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Atkinson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • La Salle County
    • Mendota
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Ogle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Petten, with the one closest to Van Petten listed first.
    • Woosung
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Buffalo Grove
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Buffalo Grove is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Grove
    • Polo
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Carthage
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Carthage is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
    • Brookville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Brookville is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookville
    • Haldane
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Haldane is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haldane
    • Maryland
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Maryland is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maryland
    • Mount Morris
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Watertown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Watertown is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watertown
    • Honey Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Honey Creek is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
    • Oregon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Chana
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Flagg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Flagg is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg
  • Rock Island County
    • Hillsdale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Whiteside County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Petten, with the one closest to Van Petten listed first.
    • Rock Falls
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Sterling
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Deer Grove
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Galt
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Tampico
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Penrose
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Penrose is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penrose
    • Lyndon
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Coleta
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Prophetstown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Malvern
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Malvern is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malvern
    • Denrock
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Denrock is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denrock
    • Morrison
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Pratt ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Pratt is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
  • Clinton County (IA)
    • Clinton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Clinton is located in Clinton County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 25,039 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clinton <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Van Petten ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Van Petten.

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 Van Petten - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Centenary Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Golder Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Odd Fellows Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Nelson Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Pine Grove Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Science Ridge Mennonite Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Stevens Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Emanuel Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Como Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (229 more) ...
    • Old Hume Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • St. Marys Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Rock Ridge Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 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.<3>

While we didn't find Van Petten in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Van Petten.

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

  • Harmon
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Rock Falls
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Sterling
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Nelson
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Deer Grove
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Como
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Como is located in Whiteside County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Como
  • Tampico
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Walton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Walton is located in Lee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walton
  • Prairieville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Prairieville is located in Lee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
  • Galt
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Walnut
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Emerson
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Emerson is located in Whiteside County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Eldena
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Penrose
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Penrose is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penrose
    • Dixon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Van Petten ...

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 191 newspapers that have been published in the area around Van Petten.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Van Petten, 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 Van Petten.

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 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 Van Petten:

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 Van Petten, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Van Petten) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.