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 Braden (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 Braden. 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.
Braden is located in Hamilton 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 Hamilton County: Franklin, Gallatin, Jefferson, Saline, Wayne, White & Williamson.
Below are the counties that are near Braden. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Braden:
- Hamilton County (The home county of Braden)
- The following are listed by their distance from Braden, with the one closest to Braden listed first.
- Flint
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Flint is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
- Walpole
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Walpole is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walpole
- Dale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Macedonia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Diamond City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Diamond City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
- McLeansboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Broughton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lovilla
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
- Piopolis
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
- Jefferson City ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
- Dahlgren
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Belle Prairie City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Braden, with the one closest to Braden listed first.
- Akin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Thompsonville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Frisco
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Frisco is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
- Parrish
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Parrish is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrish
- Taylor Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
- Hanaford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Hanaford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanaford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 316 people
- Smothersville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Smothersville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smothersville
- Fitt's Hill ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Fitt's Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitt's Hill
- Ewing
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Steel City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Steel City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steel City
- Benton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Deering City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Deering City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deering City
- Gallatin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Braden, with the one closest to Braden listed first.
- Omaha
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Elba
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Elba is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Equality
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Ridgway
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Lawler
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lawler is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawler
- Inman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Inman is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inman
- New Haven
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Shawneetown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Braden, with the one closest to Braden listed first.
- Belle Rive
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ina
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Ina is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,279 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ina <1>
- Opdyke
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bonnie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Nason
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bluford
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Markham City
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Markham City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham City
- Fitzgerrell ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Fitzgerrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzgerrell
- Dareville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Dareville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dareville
- Marlow
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Marlow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
- Emerson City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Emerson City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson City
- Marcoe
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Marcoe is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcoe
- Johnson County
- New Burnside
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Pope County
- The following are listed by their distance from Braden, with the one closest to Braden listed first.
- Herod
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- McCormick
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- McCormick is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCormick
- Oak
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Oak is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak
- Saline County
- The following are listed by their distance from Braden, with the one closest to Braden listed first.
- Cornerville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Cornerville is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerville
- Long Branch
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Long Branch is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
- Galatia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Raleigh
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Texas City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Texas City is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Texas City
- Eldorado
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Saline City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Saline City is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saline City
- Muddy
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Wasson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wasson is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasson
- Buena Vista
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Buena Vista is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Gaskins City
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Gaskins City is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaskins City
- Harrisburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Braden, with the one closest to Braden listed first.
- Keenes
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Wayne City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Barnhill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sims
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Boyleston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Boyleston is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
- Fairfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- White County
- The following are listed by their distance from Braden, with the one closest to Braden listed first.
- Norris City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Enfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Stokes
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Stokes is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
- Roland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Roland is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roland
- Springerton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Mill Shoals
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Herald
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Carmi
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Burnt Prairie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Emma
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Braden, with the one closest to Braden listed first.
- Hartford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Hartford is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartford
- Corinth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Corinth is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Pittsburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Johnston City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Stiritz
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Stiritz is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiritz
- Freeman Spur
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Freeman Spur is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman Spur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 276 people
- Freeman Spur has also been known as:
- Freeman Spur village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Freeman Spur <1>
- Whiteash
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Whiteash is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteash
- Estimated population in 2014: 240 people
- Spillertown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Spillertown is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spillertown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
- Herrin Junction ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Herrin Junction is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrin Junction
- Marion
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Herrin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Energy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Braden, see our County-by-County Page for Braden.
Cemeteries Near Braden ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Braden.
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 Braden - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Braden covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Braden, with the one closest to Braden listed first.
- Cartwright Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Knights Prairie Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hayes Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lampley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Marys Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Presley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Good Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cook Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Brady Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Bright Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Winn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Digby Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (476 more) ...
- Gunter Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- McFarland Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hall Town Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Braden had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Braden, with the one closest to Braden listed first.
- Olga
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Olga is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olga
- Rural Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rural Hill is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rural Hill
- Flint
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Flint is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
- Walpole
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Walpole is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walpole
- Dale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Hoodville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hoodville is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoodville
- Macedonia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Long Branch
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Long Branch is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
- McLeansboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Akin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- West End
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- West End is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West End
- Thompsonville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Broughton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Locust Grove ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Locust Grove is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Grove
- Galatia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Braden. See our List of 1890's Communities around Braden.
Newspapers Published in Braden ...
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 70 newspapers that have been published in the area around Braden.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Braden, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Braden.
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 helpful 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 Braden:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Hamilton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Gallatin County
- Jefferson County
- Johnson County
- Pope County
- Saline County
- Wayne County
- White County
- Williamson County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Illinois
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> | 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 Braden, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Braden) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |