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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 Willowbrook (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 Willowbrook. 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.

Name Variations for Willowbrook ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Another variation: Willow Brook.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Willowbrook. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Willowbrook.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Willowbrook is located in DuPage 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 DuPage County: Cook, Kane, Kendall & Will.

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

  • DuPage County     (The home county of Willowbrook)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willowbrook, with the one closest to Willowbrook listed first.
    • Clarendon Hills
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Hinsdale
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Westmont
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Darien
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Downers Grove
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Tedens ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Tedens is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tedens
    • Oak Brook
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Woodridge
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Oak Brook Terrace
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Oak Brook Terrace is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Brook Terrace
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,094 people
    • Utopia
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Utopia is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utopia
    • York Center
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • York Center is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York Center
    • Lisle
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Lisle is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 23,153 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lisle <1>
    • Lombard
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Cook County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willowbrook, with the one closest to Willowbrook listed first.
    • Burr Ridge
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Indian Head Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Indian Head Park is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Head Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,680 people
    • Countryside
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Western Springs
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Willow Springs
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Hodgkins
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • La Grange
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Justice
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • La Grange Park
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • McCook
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Brookfield
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hickory Hills
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Lemont
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Grundy County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willowbrook, with the one closest to Willowbrook listed first.
    • Minooka
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Channahon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Kane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willowbrook, with the one closest to Willowbrook listed first.
    • Aurora
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Batavia
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Geneva
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Mooseheart
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • North Aurora
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • North Aurora is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Aurora
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,144 people
    • Saint Charles
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Coleman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Coleman is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
    • Bonnie
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Bonnie is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonnie
      • Bonnie has also been known as:
      • Bonnie Valley
    • South Elgin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • South Elgin is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elgin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24,646 people
    • Elgin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Sugar Grove
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Campton Hills
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Campton Hills is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campton Hills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,063 people
      • Campton Hills has also been known as:
      • Campton Hills village
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Campton Hills <1>
    • Wasco
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Kendall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willowbrook, with the one closest to Willowbrook listed first.
    • Boulder Hill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Boulder Hill is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder Hill
    • Montgomery
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Oswego
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Bristol
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Yorkville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Plattville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Plattville is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plattville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
    • Plano
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Plano is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plano
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,879 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Plano <1>
  • Lake County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willowbrook, with the one closest to Willowbrook listed first.
    • Buffalo Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Aptakisic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Aptakisic is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aptakisic
    • Braeside
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Braeside is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braeside
    • Deer Park
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Deerfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Ravinia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Ravinia is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravinia
    • Riverwoods
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Bannockburn
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Highland Park
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Kildeer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Lincolnshire
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Prairie View
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Prairie View is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie View
    • Lake Zurich
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Will County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willowbrook, with the one closest to Willowbrook listed first.
    • Bolingbrook
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Colonial Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Colonial Village is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
    • Winston Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Winston Village is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winston Village
    • Bloomfield Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Bloomfield Village is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield Village
    • Goodings Grove
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Goodings Grove is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodings Grove
    • Homer Glen
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Homer Glen is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer Glen
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24,281 people
      • Homer Glen has also been known as:
      • Homer Glen village
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Homer Glen <1>
    • Romeoville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lockport
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairmont
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Fairmont is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmont
    • Cherry Hill
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Cherry Hill is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Hill
    • East Joliet
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • East Joliet is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Joliet
    • Gilletts ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Gilletts is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilletts
    • Crest Hill
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Lake County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willowbrook, with the one closest to Willowbrook listed first.
    • Whiting
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Hammond
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Hammond is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 75,342 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hammond <1>
    • East Chicago
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Hessville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Hessville is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hessville
    • Munster
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Munster is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munster
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 22,483 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Munster <1>
    • Dyer
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Dyer is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15,955 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dyer <1>
    • Highland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Hartsdale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Hartsdale is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsdale

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

Cemeteries Near Willowbrook ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Willowbrook.

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

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

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

  • St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Clarendon Hills Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Cass Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • St. John Lutheran Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. John Lutheran Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the St. John Lutheran Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southwest of Hodgkins.
    • The St. John Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
    • St. Johns Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #107905 <2>
  • Fullersburg Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Zion Evangelical Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Bronswood Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Brownswood Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • St. Mary of Gostyn Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Downers Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (396 more) ...
    • St. Patrick Parish Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Patrick Parish Cemetery
      • The St. Patrick Parish Cemetery has also been known as:
      • St. Patricks Catholic Cemetery
    • St. James at Sag Bridge Church Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Fairmount Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)

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 Willowbrook in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Willowbrook.

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

  • Lace
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Lace is located in DuPage County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lace
  • Clarendon Hills
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Hinsdale
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Willow Springs
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Western Springs
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Tedens ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Tedens is located in DuPage County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tedens
  • La Grange
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Fullersburg
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Fullersburg is located in DuPage County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullersburg
  • Downers Grove
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Sag Bridge
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Sag Bridge is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sag Bridge
  • Utopia
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Utopia is located in DuPage County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utopia
  • Lemont
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Summit
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Lyons
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Riverside
      (7 miles [11.3 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 Willowbrook. See our List of 1890's Communities around Willowbrook.

Newspapers Published in Willowbrook ...

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 95 newspapers that have been published in the area around Willowbrook.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Willowbrook, there are papers which were published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Willowbrook.

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 Willowbrook:

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 Willowbrook, 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- Willowbrook) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.