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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 Barr (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 Barr. 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.

Barr is located in Sangamon 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 Sangamon County: Christian, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery & Morgan.

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

  • Sangamon County     (The home county of Barr)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Barr, with the one closest to Barr listed first.
    • Cantrall
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Sherman
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Williamsville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Salisbury
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Salisbury is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
    • Ridgely
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Ridgely is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgely
    • Grandview
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Grandview is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,369 people
    • Spaulding
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Spaulding is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 836 people
    • Riverton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Hawthorne Place
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Hawthorne Place is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorne Place
    • Leland Grove
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Leland Grove is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,451 people
    • Springfield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Clear Lake
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Clear Lake is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Barr, with the one closest to Barr listed first.
    • Newmansville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Newmansville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
    • Ashland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Gurney ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Gurney is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
    • Sylvan ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Sylvan is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
    • Philadelphia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Philadelphia is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Burlingame
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Burlingame is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
    • Chandlerville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Old Princeton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Old Princeton is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Princeton
    • Virginia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Jules
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Jules is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Barr, with the one closest to Barr listed first.
    • Bolivia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Bolivia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivia
    • Edinburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Mount Auburn
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Grove City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Grove City is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
    • Tovey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Tovey is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tovey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 467 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tovey <1>
    • Bulpitt
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Kincaid
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Jeisyville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Jeisyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeisyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
    • Sharpsburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Sharpsburg is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Barr, with the one closest to Barr listed first.
    • Middletown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Elkhart
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Cornland
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Broadwell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Broadwell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • New Holland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Lake Fork
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Chestervale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
    • Lincoln
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Mount Pulaski
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Bell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Bell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
    • Hartsburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Emden
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Macon County
    • Niantic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Barr, with the one closest to Barr listed first.
    • Mason City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Teheran
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Teheran is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
    • Easton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Natrona
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Natrona is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
    • Kilbourne
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Poplar City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • White City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • White City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
    • San Jose
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Long Branch
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Long Branch is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
    • Bath
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Topeka
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Forest City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Forest City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
  • Menard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Barr, with the one closest to Barr listed first.
    • Athens
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Greenview
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Croft
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Croft is located in Menard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
    • Petersburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Tallula
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Oakford
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Barr, with the one closest to Barr listed first.
    • Prentice
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Prentice is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prentice
    • Alexander
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Literberry
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Arnold
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Arnold is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
    • Franklin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Waverly
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Pisgah
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Pisgah is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
    • Arcadia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Arcadia is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Barr, with the one closest to Barr listed first.
    • Winkel ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Winkel is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkel
    • Delavan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Green Valley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Boynton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Boynton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton

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

Cemeteries Near Barr ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Barr.

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

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

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

  • Joel Hall Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Old West Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old West Cemetery
    • The Old West Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Abner Hall Cemetery
    • Athens Cemetery
    • West Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108804 <2>
  • Indian Point Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Canterbury Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Strode Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Brittin Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Fancy Creek Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Lebanon Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Hornback Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Hopwood Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Kern Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Sugar Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (297 more) ...
    • Stewart Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Baker Prairie #1 Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Hickory Grove Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)

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

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

  • Athens
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Cantrall
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Fancy Prairie
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Fancy Prairie is located in Menard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancy Prairie
  • Tice
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Tice is located in Menard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tice
  • Sherman
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Sweet Water
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Sweet Water is located in Menard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Water
  • Salisbury
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Salisbury is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
  • Williamsville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Loyd
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Loyd is located in Menard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyd
  • Greenview
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Curtis
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Curtis is located in Menard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtis
  • Petersburg
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Bradfordton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Bradfordton is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradfordton
    • Ridgely
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Ridgely is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgely
    • Spaulding
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Spaulding is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 836 people

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

Newspapers Published in Barr ...

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 90 newspapers that have been published in the area around Barr.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Barr, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Barr.

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 either 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 Barr:

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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Barr) 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 Barr, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.