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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 Berry (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 Berry. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.

Berry 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 Berry. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Berry:

  • Sangamon County     (The home county of Berry)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berry, with the one closest to Berry listed first.
    • Rochester
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • New City
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • New City is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New City
    • Mechanicsburg
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Clear Lake
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Clear Lake is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
    • Dawson
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Riverton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Buffalo
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Grandview
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Grandview is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,369 people
    • Hawthorne Place
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Hawthorne Place is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorne Place
    • Springfield
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Pawnee
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Southern View
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Southern View is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southern View
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,557 people
  • Cass County
    • Ashland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berry, with the one closest to Berry listed first.
    • Edinburg
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Bolivia
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Bolivia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivia
    • Bulpitt
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Tovey
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • Grove City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Grove City is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
    • Jeisyville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Jeisyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeisyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
    • Kincaid
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Sharpsburg
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Sharpsburg is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
    • Mount Auburn
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Langleyville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Langleyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langleyville
    • Zenobia
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Zenobia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenobia
    • Taylorville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berry, with the one closest to Berry listed first.
    • Cornland
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Lake Fork
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Elkhart
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Mount Pulaski
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Broadwell
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Broadwell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Latham
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Chestervale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
    • Middletown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Chestnut
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Lincoln
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berry, with the one closest to Berry listed first.
    • Blue Mound
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Niantic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Boody
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Harristown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Macon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Elwin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Warrensburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Bearsdale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Bearsdale is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
    • Decatur
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Turpin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Turpin is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
    • Forsyth
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Macoupin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berry, with the one closest to Berry listed first.
    • Virden
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Girard
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Nilwood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Standard City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Standard City is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standard City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
  • Menard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berry, with the one closest to Berry listed first.
    • Athens
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Croft
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Croft is located in Menard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
    • Petersburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Greenview
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Tallula
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berry, with the one closest to Berry listed first.
    • White Oak
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • White Oak is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
    • Farmersville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Harvel
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Waggoner
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Raymond
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Wenonah
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Wenonah is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenonah
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
    • Ohlman
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Coalton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Coalton is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 282 people
    • Nokomis
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berry, with the one closest to Berry listed first.
    • Waverly
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Alexander
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Shelby County
    • Moweaqua
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Berry ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Berry.

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

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

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

  • South Fork Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Breckenridge Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Taylor Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Furrow Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Motterville Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Vigal Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Finley Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Edinburg Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Rochester Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Brunk Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Zion Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (258 more) ...
    • Bethany Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Hinckle Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Newcomer 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Berry had a population of 125 people in 1895 with railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Breckenridge
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Breckenridge is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breckenridge
  • New City
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • New City is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New City
  • Rochester
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Edinburg
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Bolivia
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Bolivia is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivia
  • Mechanicsburg
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Cotton Hill
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Cotton Hill is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Hill
  • Sharpsburg
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Sharpsburg is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
  • Riverton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Grove City
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Grove City is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
  • Dawson
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Pawnee
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Buffalo
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Springfield
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Glenarm
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Berry ...

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 237 newspapers that have been published in the area around Berry.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Berry, 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 Berry.

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 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 Berry:

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 Berry, 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' (or 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- Berry) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.