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 Wilbern (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 Wilbern. 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 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.
Wilbern 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 Wilbern. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wilbern:
- Marshall County (The home county of Wilbern)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilbern, with the one closest to Wilbern listed first.
- La Rose
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Lacon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hopewell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Hopewell is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
- Varna
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Sparland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Toluca
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Henry
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Evans ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Evans is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Wenona
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Camp Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Bureau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilbern, with the one closest to Wilbern listed first.
- Milo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Milo is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milo
- Bureau Junction
(23 miles [37 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
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- De Pue
(26 miles [41.8 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
- Ottville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Ottville is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottville
- Spring Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Hollowayville
(28 miles [45.1 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
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Dalzell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Ladd
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Princeton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- La Salle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilbern, with the one closest to Wilbern listed first.
- Rutland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Priscilla ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Priscilla is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Priscilla
- Leeds
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Leeds is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
- Dana
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Lostant
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- 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>
- Tonica
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Point
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Leonore
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Kangley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Kangley is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kangley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- Oglesby
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Vermilionville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Vermilionville is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermilionville
- Deer Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Deer Park is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Park
- Streator
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilbern, with the one closest to Wilbern listed first.
- Long Point
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Ancona
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Flanagan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Munster
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Munster is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munster
- Coalville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Coalville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
- Vermilion City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Vermilion City is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermilion City
- Graymont
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- McLean County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilbern, with the one closest to Wilbern listed first.
- Carlock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Gridley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Danvers
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Danvers is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danvers
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,093 people
- Danvers has also been known as:
- Danver
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Danvers <1>
- Hudson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Meadows
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Meadows is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadows
- Peoria County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilbern, with the one closest to Wilbern listed first.
- Chillicothe
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Rome
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mossville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Edelstein
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- West Hallock
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- West Hallock is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Hallock
- Peoria Heights
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Keller
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Keller is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keller
- Dunlap
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- North Peoria
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- North Peoria is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Peoria
- Orange Prairie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Peoria
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Princeville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Pottstown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Pottstown is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilbern, with the one closest to Wilbern listed first.
- Magnolia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- McNabb
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Putnam
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Mount Palatine
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Palatine is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Palatine
- Hennepin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Granville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Mark
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Standard
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Stark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilbern, with the one closest to Wilbern listed first.
- Speer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Bradford
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Castleton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Wyoming
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Modena
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Modena is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modena
- Toulon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Osceola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Osceola is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilbern, with the one closest to Wilbern listed first.
- Washington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Harvard Hills
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Harvard Hills is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard Hills
- Trailpark Gardens
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Trailpark Gardens is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trailpark Gardens
- Beverly Manor
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Beverly Manor is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly Manor
- Sunnyland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cooper
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Cooper is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
- Robein
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Robein is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robein
- Deer Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Farmdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Farmdale is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmdale
- Crandall ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Crandall is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crandall
- Highway Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Highway Village is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highway Village
- Caldwell
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Caldwell is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caldwell
- East Peoria
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- 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
- Woodford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilbern, with the one closest to Wilbern listed first.
- Washburn
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Metamora
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Benson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Roanoke
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bay View Gardens
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bay View Gardens is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View Gardens
- Population from the 2020 Census: 407 people
- Spring Bay
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Bay is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Bay
- Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
- Germantown Hills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Minonk
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Eureka
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Woodford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Woodford is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
- Secor
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Panola
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Panola is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
- El Paso
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wilbern, see our County-by-County Page for Wilbern.
Cemeteries Near Wilbern ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wilbern.
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 Wilbern - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wilbern covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wilbern, with the one closest to Wilbern listed first.
- Barnes Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Ft. Dever Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- St. Elizabeth Catholic Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Baptist Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lutheran Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Buckingham Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Linn Mt. Vernon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Crow Meadow Presbyterian Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- New Salem Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Strawn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (315 more) ...
- Trinity Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Imhoff Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Russell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
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 Wilbern in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Wilbern.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wilbern, with the one closest to Wilbern listed first.
- Washburn
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Low Point
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Low Point is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Low Point
- La Rose
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Cazenovia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Cazenovia is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cazenovia
- Lacon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Chillicothe
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Varna
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Sparland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rome
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Metamora
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Toluca
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Henry
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Roanoke
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Benson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Bay
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Bay is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Bay
- Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wilbern. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wilbern.
Newspapers Published in Wilbern ...
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 169 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wilbern.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wilbern, 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 Wilbern.
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 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 Wilbern:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Marshall County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bureau County
- La Salle County
- Livingston County
- McLean 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> | 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 Wilbern, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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 from Point A (ie- Wilbern) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |