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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 Woodvale (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 Woodvale. 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 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.

Woodvale is located in Warren 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 Warren County: Fulton, Henderson, Knox, McDonough & Mercer.

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

  • Warren County     (The home county of Woodvale)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Woodvale, with the one closest to Woodvale listed first.
    • Gerlaw
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Eleanor
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Eleanor is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
    • Little York
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Shanghai City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Shanghai City is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai City
    • Monmouth
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Utah
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Utah is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
    • Cameron
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Surrey
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Surrey is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surrey
    • Kirkwood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Berwick
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Smithshire
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Roseville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Woodvale, with the one closest to Woodvale listed first.
    • Avon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • London Mills
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Henderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Woodvale, with the one closest to Woodvale listed first.
    • Rozetta
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Rozetta is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rozetta
    • Milroy
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Milroy is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
    • Biggsville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Biggsville is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
    • Oquawka
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Gladstone
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Media
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Media is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
    • Olena
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Olena is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
    • Stronghurst
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Raritan
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Raritan is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raritan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
    • Gulf Port
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Gulf Port is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf Port
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
    • Carman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Terre Haute
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
  • Henry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Woodvale, with the one closest to Woodvale listed first.
    • Alpha
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Woodhull
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Ophiem
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Ophiem is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ophiem
    • Lynn Center
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Andover
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Orion
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Bishop Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Osco
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Cambridge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Morristown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Morristown is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Woodvale, with the one closest to Woodvale listed first.
    • Henderson Grove
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Henderson Grove is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson Grove
    • Rio
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Galesburg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Henderson
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • East Galesburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • East Galesburg is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Galesburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
    • Wataga
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Abingdon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Knoxville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Knox
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Knox is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
    • Oneida
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • De Long
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • De Long is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Long
    • Saint Augustine
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
  • McDonough County
    • Prairie City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Prairie City is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
  • Mercer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Woodvale, with the one closest to Woodvale listed first.
    • Norwood
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Norwood is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
    • Alexis
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Burgess
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Burgess is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
    • Sunbeam
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Sunbeam is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbeam
    • North Henderson
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Seaton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Gilchrist
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
    • Viola
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Shale City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Shale City is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
    • Aledo
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Griffin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Griffin is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
    • Keithsburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
  • Rock Island County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Woodvale, with the one closest to Woodvale listed first.
    • Reynolds
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Buffalo Prairie
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Edgington
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Edgington is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgington
    • Taylor Ridge
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Coyne Center
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Coyne Center is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyne Center
    • Oak Grove
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Oak Grove is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
    • Andalusia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Milan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Milan is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,945 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Milan <1>
    • Illinois City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Illinois City is located in Rock Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinois City
    • Coal Valley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Des Moines County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Woodvale, with the one closest to Woodvale listed first.
    • Kingston
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Kingston is located in Des Moines County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
    • Mediapolis
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Sperry
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Sperry is located in Des Moines County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sperry
    • Burlington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Burlington is located in Des Moines County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24,516 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Burlington <1>
    • Dodgeville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Dodgeville is located in Des Moines County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodgeville
    • Kline
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Kline is located in Des Moines County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kline
  • Louisa County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Woodvale, with the one closest to Woodvale listed first.
    • Oakville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Elrick Junction
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Elrick Junction is located in Louisa County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrick Junction
    • Wapello
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Wapello is located in Louisa County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapello
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,999 people
  • Scott County (IA)
    • Buffalo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Buffalo is located in Scott County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,257 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Buffalo <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Woodvale ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Woodvale.

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

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

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

  • Spring Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Spring Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Brownlee Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Gerlaw Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Norwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Norwood Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<3> to the northwest of Alexis.
    • The Norwood Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Norwood Presbyterian Church Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1998078 <2>
  • Cedar Creek Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Sugar Tree Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Alexis Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexis Cemetery
    • The Alexis Cemetery has also been known as:
    • St. Mary's Cemetery
  • Little York Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Warren County Memorial Park
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Mosher Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Mary's Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (298 more) ...
    • Pioneer Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Monmouth City Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Terpening Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)

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

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

  • Eleanor
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Eleanor is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
  • Gerlaw
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Norwood
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Norwood is located in Mercer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
  • Alexis
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Little York
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Monmouth
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Coldbrook
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Coldbrook is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldbrook
  • Utah
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Utah is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
  • Sunbeam
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Sunbeam is located in Mercer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbeam
  • North Henderson
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Seaton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Ormonde
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Ormonde is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ormonde
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Cameron
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Surrey
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Surrey is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surrey
    • Rozetta
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Rozetta is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rozetta

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

Newspapers Published in Woodvale ...

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 77 newspapers that have been published in the area around Woodvale.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Woodvale, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Woodvale.

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 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 Woodvale:

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 '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- Woodvale) 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 Woodvale, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.