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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 Wilsman (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 Wilsman. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals 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.

Wilsman is located in La Salle 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 La Salle County: Bureau, DeKalb, Grundy, Kendall, Lee, Livingston, Marshall, Putnam & Woodford.

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

  • La Salle County     (The home county of Wilsman)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wilsman, with the one closest to Wilsman listed first.
    • Leonore
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Kangley
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Kangley is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kangley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
    • Grand Ridge
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Vermilionville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Vermilionville is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermilionville
    • Streator
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Lostant
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • 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
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Kernan
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Kernan is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kernan
    • Hitt
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Hitt is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitt
    • Deer Park
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Deer Park is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Park
    • Oglesby
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Leeds
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Leeds is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
  • Bureau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wilsman, with the one closest to Wilsman listed first.
    • Spring Valley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Dalzell
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Ladd
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Ladd is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladd
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,184 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ladd <1>
    • Ottville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Ottville is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottville
    • De Pue
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • De Pue is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Pue
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,665 people
    • Cherry
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Seatonville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Hollowayville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Hollowayville is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollowayville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 85 people
    • Bureau Junction
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • 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>
    • Arlington
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Zearing
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Zearing is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zearing
    • Malden
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Grundy County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wilsman, with the one closest to Wilsman listed first.
    • Kinsman
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Highland Town ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Highland Town is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Town
    • Verona
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Wauponsee
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Wauponsee is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauponsee
    • Mazon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Nettle Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Nettle Creek is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettle Creek
    • Morris
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Claypool
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Claypool is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool
    • Gaslight Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Gaslight Village is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaslight Village
  • Livingston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wilsman, with the one closest to Wilsman listed first.
    • Munster
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Munster is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munster
    • Coalville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Coalville is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
    • Vermilion City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Vermilion City is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermilion City
    • Ancona
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Long Point
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Missal
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Missal is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missal
    • Blackstone
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Budd
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Budd is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Budd
    • Cornell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Adams ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Adams is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
    • Flanagan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Graymont
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
  • Marshall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wilsman, with the one closest to Wilsman listed first.
    • Wenona
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Evans ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Evans is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
    • Toluca
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Varna
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • La Rose
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Henry
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Henry is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henry
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,230 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Henry <1>
    • Lacon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Lacon is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,713 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lacon <1>
    • Sparland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Hopewell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Hopewell is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
  • McLean County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wilsman, with the one closest to Wilsman listed first.
    • Gridley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Meadows
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Meadows is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadows
  • Putnam County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wilsman, with the one closest to Wilsman listed first.
    • Mount Palatine
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Mount Palatine is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Palatine
    • Standard
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Magnolia
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • McNabb
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Granville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Mark
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Hennepin
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Putnam
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
  • Woodford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wilsman, with the one closest to Wilsman listed first.
    • Minonk
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Woodford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Woodford is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
    • Benson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Washburn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Panola
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Panola is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
    • Roanoke
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • El Paso
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Wilsman ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wilsman.

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

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

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

  • Lostlands Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lostlands Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Lostlands Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 5 miles [8 km]<2> to the northwest of Streator.
    • The Lostlands Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Lost Land Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #106674 <3>
  • Naramoor Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Mackey Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Union Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • St. Casimir Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • River View Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Barnhart Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Old St. Stephen Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Wolf Creek Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (252 more) ...

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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Wilsman had a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Leonore
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Kangley
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Kangley is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kangley
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
  • Farm Ridge
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Farm Ridge is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farm Ridge
  • Richards
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Richards is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richards
  • Lostant
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • 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>
  • Garfield
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Garfield is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield
  • Coalville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Coalville is located in Livingston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
  • Streator
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Vermilionville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Vermilionville is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermilionville
  • Grand Ridge
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Lowell
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Lowell is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
  • Otter ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Otter is located in La Salle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otter
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Ticona
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Ticona is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ticona
    • Tonica
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Reading
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Reading is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reading

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

Newspapers Published in Wilsman ...

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 151 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wilsman.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wilsman, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wilsman.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Wilsman:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Wilsman) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<4>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 Wilsman, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.