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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 Baum (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 Baum. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Baum is located in Greene 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 Greene County: Calhoun, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan, Pike & Scott.

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

  • Greene County     (The home county of Baum)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Baum, with the one closest to Baum listed first.
    • Wrights
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Greenfield
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Carrollton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Belltown
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Belltown is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belltown
    • Rockbridge
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • White Hall
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Mid City ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Mid City is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mid City
    • Kane
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Walkerville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Walkerville is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkerville
    • Woody
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Woody is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woody
    • Roodhouse
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Patterson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Eldred
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Baum, with the one closest to Baum listed first.
    • Kampsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Cliffdale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Cliffdale is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffdale
    • Michael
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Hardin
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Hamburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Gilead
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Gilead is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
    • Star City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Star City is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
    • Mozier
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Belleview
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Belleview is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
    • Batchtown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Brussels
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Deer Plain
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Deer Plain is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Plain
  • Jersey County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Baum, with the one closest to Baum listed first.
    • Jerseyville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Fidelity
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Spankey
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Spankey is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spankey
    • Fieldon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Delhi
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Delhi is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi
    • McClusky
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • McClusky is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClusky
    • Otterville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Otterville is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otterville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Dow
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Nutwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Nutwood is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutwood
    • Chautauqua
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Chautauqua is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chautauqua
    • Elsah
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Grafton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
  • Macoupin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Baum, with the one closest to Baum listed first.
    • Hagaman
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Hagaman is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagaman
    • Challacombe
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Challacombe is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challacombe
    • Medora
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Chesterfield
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Hettick
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Summerville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Summerville is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerville
    • Scottville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Piasa
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Comer
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Comer is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
    • Palmyra
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Modesto
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Plainview
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Shipman
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Baum, with the one closest to Baum listed first.
    • Godfrey
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Belmont Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Belmont Village is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont Village
    • Melville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Melville is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melville
    • Altamont
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Dorsey
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Alton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Alton is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 26,049 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alton <1>
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Baum, with the one closest to Baum listed first.
    • Murrayville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Woodson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Lynnville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Lynnville is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 113 people
    • Franklin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Pisgah
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Pisgah is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
    • South Jacksonville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • South Jacksonville is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jacksonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,075 people
    • Waverly
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Arnold
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Arnold is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
    • Jacksonville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Chapin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Morgan City ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Morgan City is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
  • Pike County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Baum, with the one closest to Baum listed first.
    • Bee Creek
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Bee Creek is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee Creek
    • Pearl
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Bedford
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Straut
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Straut is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Straut
    • Milton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Florence
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Florence is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 36 people
    • Nebo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Detroit
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Detroit is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Detroit
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
    • Time
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Time is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Time
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
    • Martinsburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Martinsburg is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsburg
    • Pleasant Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Baum, with the one closest to Baum listed first.
    • Lowder
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Maxwell ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Maxwell is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Baum, with the one closest to Baum listed first.
    • Manchester
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Alsey
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Glasgow
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Glasgow is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
    • Winchester
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Exeter
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Exeter is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
    • Oxville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Oxville is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxville
  • Lincoln County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Baum, with the one closest to Baum listed first.
    • Elsberry
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Elsberry is located in Lincoln County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elsberry
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,098 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elsberry <1>
    • Cap au Gris
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Cap au Gris is located in Lincoln County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cap au Gris
    • Foley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Foley is located in Lincoln County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Foley <1>
  • Pike County (MO)
    • Annada
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Annada is located in Pike County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annada
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 28 people
  • Saint Charles County (MO)
    • Portage Des Sioux
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Baum ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Baum.

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

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

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

  • Hardcastle Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Hardin Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Hickory Grove Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Mitchell Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Rose Hill West Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Pinkerton #1 Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Johns Catholic Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Freer Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Taylor Creek Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Whitlock Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Hudson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Cannedy Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (442 more) ...
    • Weisner Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Oakwood Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Hopewell Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 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.<2>

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

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

  • Wrights
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Berdan
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Berdan is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berdan
  • Carrollton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Greenfield
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Rockbridge
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Kaser
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Kaser is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kaser
  • Fayette
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Fayette is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette
  • White Hall
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Hurricane ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Hurricane is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurricane
  • Kane
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Woody
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Woody is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woody
  • Walkerville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Walkerville is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkerville
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Roodhouse
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Kemper
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Kemper is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemper
    • Athensville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Athensville is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athensville

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

Newspapers Published in Baum ...

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 139 newspapers that have been published in the area around Baum.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Baum, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Baum.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Baum:

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