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 Breckenridge (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 Breckenridge. 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 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.
Breckenridge is located in Hancock 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 Hancock County: Lee (IA), Adams, Henderson, McDonough, Schuyler, Clark (MO) & Lewis (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Breckenridge. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Breckenridge:
- Hancock County (The home county of Breckenridge)
- The following are listed by their distance from Breckenridge, with the one closest to Breckenridge listed first.
- Sutter
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sutter is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
- West Point
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- West Point is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Chili
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Chili is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chili
- Basco
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Elvaston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Hamilton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Warsaw
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bowen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Bentley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bentley is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
- Carthage
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ferris
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Augusta
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Plymouth
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Breckenridge, with the one closest to Breckenridge listed first.
- Lima
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Loraine
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Marcelline
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Marcelline is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcelline
- Mendon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Ursa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Meyer
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Meyer is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
- Paloma
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Fowler
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Coatsburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Golden
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- La Prairie
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ewbanks
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Ewbanks is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewbanks
- Camp Point
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Brown County
- The following are listed by their distance from Breckenridge, with the one closest to Breckenridge listed first.
- Mound Station
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mound Station is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Timewell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- McDonough County
- The following are listed by their distance from Breckenridge, with the one closest to Breckenridge listed first.
- Colmar
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Colmar is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
- VIshnu Springs ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- VIshnu Springs is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for VIshnu Springs
- Tennessee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Colchester
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Blandinsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Schuyler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Breckenridge, with the one closest to Breckenridge listed first.
- Huntsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Camden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Wayland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Wayland is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Lee County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Breckenridge, with the one closest to Breckenridge listed first.
- Buena Vista ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Keokuk
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sandusky
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Sandusky is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Galland
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Galland is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galland
- Montrose
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Vincennes
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Vincennes is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vincennes
- Argyle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- New Boston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- New Boston is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
- Fort Madison
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Jeffersonville ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Jeffersonville is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
- Charleston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Charleston is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charleston
- Clark County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Breckenridge, with the one closest to Breckenridge listed first.
- Alexandria
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wayland
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Wayland is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
- Saint Patrick
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Saint Patrick is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
- Saint Francisville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Francisville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Francisville
- Clark City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Clark City is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark City
- Kahoka
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dumas
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Dumas is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumas
- Revere
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Neeper
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Neeper is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neeper
- Medill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Medill is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medill
- Peaksville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Peaksville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaksville
- Lewis County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Breckenridge, with the one closest to Breckenridge listed first.
- Canton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- La Grange
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Weber
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Weber is located in Lewis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber
- Sellers
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Sellers is located in Lewis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- Monticello
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Monticello is located in Lewis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Gilead
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gilead is located in Lewis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
- Maywood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Maywood is located in Lewis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
- Williamstown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Williamstown is located in Lewis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
- Durham
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ewing
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lewistown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- New Court Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- New Court Village is located in Lewis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Court Village
- Marion County (MO)
- Taylor
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Breckenridge, see our County-by-County Page for Breckenridge.
Cemeteries Near Breckenridge ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Breckenridge.
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 Breckenridge - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Breckenridge covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Breckenridge, with the one closest to Breckenridge listed first.
- Buckeye Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Webster Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Salem Church - Sutter Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kesler Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Kittle Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Bethany Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Karnes Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bean Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cook Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bethlehem Church of Christ Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Walker Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- West Tioga Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (401 more) ...
- Grant Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Green Plains Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Vernon MB Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
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>
While we didn't find Breckenridge in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Breckenridge.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Breckenridge, with the one closest to Breckenridge listed first.
- Tioga
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Tioga is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tioga
- Sutter
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sutter is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
- Stillwell
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Stillwell is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stillwell
- West Point
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- West Point is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Elderville
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Elderville is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elderville
- Lima
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Woodville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Woodville is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Loraine
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Basco
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Marcelline
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Marcelline is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcelline
- Denver
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Denver is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denver
- Mendon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Hamilton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Elvaston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Warsaw
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Breckenridge. See our List of 1890's Communities around Breckenridge.
Newspapers Published in Breckenridge ...
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 142 newspapers that have been published in the area around Breckenridge.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Breckenridge, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Breckenridge.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Breckenridge:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Hancock County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Brown County
- McDonough County
- Schuyler County
- Lee County
- Clark County
- Lewis County
- Marion 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 Breckenridge, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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 from Point A (ie- Breckenridge) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |