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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 Woodcrest (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 Woodcrest. 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 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.

Woodcrest is located in Henry 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 Henry County: Bureau, Knox, Mercer, Rock Island, Stark & Whiteside.

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

  • Henry County     (The home county of Woodcrest)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Woodcrest, with the one closest to Woodcrest listed first.
    • Hickory Hills
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Hickory Hills is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hills
    • Cleveland
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Cleveland is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
    • Dayton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Dayton is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
    • Geneseo
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Briar Bluff
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Briar Bluff is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
    • Colona
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Green Rock
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Green Rock is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Rock
    • Morristown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Morristown is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
    • Osco
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Orion
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Atkinson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Andover
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Bureau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Woodcrest, with the one closest to Woodcrest listed first.
    • Yorktown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Yorktown is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
    • Mineral
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • New Bedford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Neponset
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Sheffield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Manlius
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Woodcrest, with the one closest to Woodcrest listed first.
    • Altona
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Rio
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Oneida
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Mercer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Woodcrest, with the one closest to Woodcrest listed first.
    • Sherrard
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Griffin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Griffin is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
    • Preemption
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • New Windsor
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • New Windsor is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Windsor
    • Windsor
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Windsor is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 760 people
    • Matherville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Viola
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Gilchrist
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
    • Shale City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Shale City is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
    • North Henderson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Marston
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Marston is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
  • Rock Island County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Woodcrest, with the one closest to Woodcrest listed first.
    • Rustic Acres
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Rustic Acres is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustic Acres
    • Joslin
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Joslin is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joslin
    • Barstow
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Rapids City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Carbon Cliff
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Silvis
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Silvis is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silvis
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,473 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Silvis <1>
    • Hillsdale
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Hampton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Hampton is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,738 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hampton <1>
    • Port Byron
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Coal Valley
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • East Moline
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • East Moline is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Moline
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 20,473 people
    • Cordova
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Stark County
    • La Fayette
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Whiteside County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Woodcrest, with the one closest to Woodcrest listed first.
    • Erie
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Erie is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,482 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Erie <1>
    • Newton Corners
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Newton Corners is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Corners
    • Pratt ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Pratt is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
    • Albany
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Denrock
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Denrock is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denrock
    • Fenton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Prophetstown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Lyndon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • East Clinton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • East Clinton is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Clinton
    • Fulton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Fulton is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,285 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fulton <1>
    • Morrison
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Tampico
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Clinton County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Woodcrest, with the one closest to Woodcrest listed first.
    • Folletts
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Folletts is located in Clinton County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folletts
    • Shaffton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Shaffton is located in Clinton County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaffton
    • Camanche
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Camanche is located in Clinton County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camanche
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,368 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Camanche <1>
    • Low Moor
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Clinton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • 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>
    • Elvira
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Elvira is located in Clinton County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elvira
    • De Witt
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • De Witt is located in Clinton County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,222 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for De Witt <1>
    • Sixmile
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Sixmile is located in Clinton County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sixmile
    • Grand Mound
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Muscatine County (IA)
    • Midway Beach
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Midway Beach is located in Muscatine County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway Beach
  • Scott County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Woodcrest, with the one closest to Woodcrest listed first.
    • Le Claire
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Pleasant Valley
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Panorama Park
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Panorama Park is located in Scott County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panorama Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 331 people
    • Riverdale
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Riverdale is located in Scott County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverdale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 398 people
    • Princeton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Bettendorf
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Davenport
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Eldridge
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • McCausland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • McCausland is located in Scott County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCausland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 311 people
    • Park View
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Park View is located in Scott County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park View
    • Long Grove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Donahue
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Woodcrest ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Woodcrest.

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

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

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

  • Colbert Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Hanna Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Edford Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Dayton Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Colona Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • North Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Ebenezer Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Dana Edwards Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Homeland Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Zuma Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (263 more) ...
    • Morristown Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Schaefer Family Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Oakwood Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<4>

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

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

  • Osborn
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Osborn is located in Rock Island County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborn
  • Green River
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Green River is located in Henry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green River
  • Cleveland
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Cleveland is located in Henry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
  • Joslin
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Joslin is located in Rock Island County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joslin
  • Briar Bluff
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Briar Bluff is located in Henry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
  • Geneseo
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Barstow
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Morristown
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Morristown is located in Henry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
  • Rapids City
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Carbon Cliff
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Warner
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Warner is located in Henry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warner
  • Le Claire
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Osco
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Port Byron
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Hillsdale
      (9 miles [14.5 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 Woodcrest. See our List of 1890's Communities around Woodcrest.

Newspapers Published in Woodcrest ...

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 Woodcrest.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Woodcrest, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Woodcrest.

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 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 Woodcrest:

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>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- Woodcrest) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Woodcrest, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.