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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 Willow 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 Willow 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 northwest 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 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.

Willow Hill is located in Jasper 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 Jasper County: Clark, Clay, Crawford, Cumberland, Effingham, Lawrence & Richland.

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

  • Jasper County     (The home county of Willow Hill)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
    • Hunt City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Hunt City is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunt City
    • Sainte Marie
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Falmouth
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Falmouth is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth
    • Newton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Yale
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Rose Hill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Rose Hill is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
    • West Liberty
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • West Liberty is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Liberty
    • Hidalgo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Bogota
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Bogota is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogota
    • Lis
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Lis is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lis
    • Wheeler
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
  • Clark County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
    • Hogue Town
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Hogue Town is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hogue Town
    • Oak Point
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Oak Point is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Point
    • Melrose
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Melrose is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
    • Casey
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Cumberland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Cumberland is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
    • York
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • York is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
    • Martinsville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • West Union
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • West Union is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union
    • Oilfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Oilfield is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oilfield
    • Snyder
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Snyder is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snyder
    • Clark Center
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Clark Center is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark Center
    • Cleone
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Cleone is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleone
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
    • Ingraham
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Sailor Springs
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Clay City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Camp Travis
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Camp Travis is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Travis
    • Louisville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Coles County
    • Hutton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Hutton is located in Coles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutton
  • Crawford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
    • Oblong
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Kibbie ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Kibbie is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kibbie
    • Dogwood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Dogwood is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood
    • Green Brier
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Green Brier is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Brier
    • Oil Center
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Oil Center is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil Center
    • Stoy
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Stoy is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Stoy <1>
    • Bellair
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Bellair is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellair
    • Hardinville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Hardinville is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardinville
    • Landes
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Landes is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landes
    • New Hebron
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • New Hebron is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hebron
    • Robinson
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Annapolis
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Cumberland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
    • Hazel Dell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Hazel Dell is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazel Dell
    • Walla Walla
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Walla Walla is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walla Walla
    • Greenup
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Jewett
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Timothy
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Timothy is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timothy
    • Toledo
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Toledo is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toledo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,185 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Toledo <1>
    • Union Center
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Union Center is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Center
    • Bradbury
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Bradbury is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradbury
    • Diona
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Diona is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diona
    • Janesville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Johnstown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Johnstown is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnstown
  • Effingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
    • Dieterich
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Montrose
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Montrose is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
    • Teutopolis
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Heartville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Heartville is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heartville
    • Effingham
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Watson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Green Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Green Creek is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Creek
  • Lawrence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
    • Birds
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Sumner
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Bridgeport
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Lawrenceville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Helena
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Helena is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
    • Russellville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Petersburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Billett
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Billett is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billett
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
    • Dundas
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Amity
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Amity is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amity
    • Wakefield
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Wakefield is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakefield
    • Olney
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Olney is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olney
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,667 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olney <1>
    • Passport
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Passport is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passport
    • Claremont
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Calhoun
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Noble
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Gallagher
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Gallagher is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
    • Berryville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Berryville is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
    • Parkersburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Wynoose
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Wynoose is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
  • Shelby County
    • Sigel
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Sullivan County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
    • Merom
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Merom is located in Sullivan County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merom
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Merom <1>
    • Graysville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Graysville is located in Sullivan County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graysville
    • New Lebanon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Fairbanks
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Fairbanks is located in Sullivan County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairbanks

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

Cemeteries Near Willow Hill ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Willow 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 Willow Hill - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Todd Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Edison Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Shiloh Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Miller Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Mound Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Ste. Marie City Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Brockville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • New St. Peters Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Old St. Peters Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Assumption Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Ste. Valentine Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Sand Rock Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (435 more) ...
    • Baily Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Vanderhoof Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Madison Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Willow Hill had a population of 320 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Willow Hill had a population of 224 people.

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

  • Sainte Marie
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Oblong
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Kibbie ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Kibbie is located in Crawford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kibbie
  • Falmouth
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Falmouth is located in Jasper County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth
  • Newton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Yale
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Rafetown
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Rafetown is located in Jasper County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rafetown
  • West Liberty
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • West Liberty is located in Jasper County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Liberty
  • Stoy
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Stoy is located in Crawford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoy
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Stoy <1>
  • Bellair
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Bellair is located in Crawford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellair
  • Rose Hill
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Rose Hill is located in Jasper County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
  • Dundas
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Stringtown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Stringtown is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
    • Advance
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Advance is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Advance
    • Landes
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Landes is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landes

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Willow 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 159 newspapers that have been published in the area around Willow Hill.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Willow Hill. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Willow Hill and those printed in the larger area surrounding Willow Hill.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3> of Willow Hill.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Willow Hill:

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 Willow Hill, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Willow Hill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.