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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 Broadwell (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 Broadwell. 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 and hospitals 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.

Broadwell is located in Logan 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 Logan County: De Witt, Macon, Mason, McLean, Menard, Sangamon & Tazewell.

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

  • Logan County     (The home county of Broadwell)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Broadwell, with the one closest to Broadwell listed first.
    • Elkhart
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Chestervale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
    • Lincoln
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake Fork
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Middletown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Bell
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Bell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
    • Cornland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Mount Pulaski
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • New Holland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Evans
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Evans is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
    • Hartsburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Chestnut
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Cass County
    • Newmansville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Newmansville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Broadwell, with the one closest to Broadwell listed first.
    • Bolivia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Bolivia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivia
    • Mount Auburn
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Grove City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Grove City is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
    • Edinburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Broadwell, with the one closest to Broadwell listed first.
    • Midland City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Midland City is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
    • Tabor
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Tabor is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
    • Hallsville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
    • Kenney
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Waynesville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Rowell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Rowell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowell
    • Clinton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Wapella
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Broadwell, with the one closest to Broadwell listed first.
    • Niantic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Warrensburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Maroa
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Bearsdale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Bearsdale is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
    • Harristown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Forsyth
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Boody
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Blue Mound
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Decatur
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Broadwell, with the one closest to Broadwell listed first.
    • Mason City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Natrona
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Natrona is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
    • San Jose
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Teheran
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Teheran is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
    • Easton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Forest City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Forest City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
    • Poplar City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Union
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Union is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Manito
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Kilbourne
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • McLean County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Broadwell, with the one closest to Broadwell listed first.
    • McLean
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Stanford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Heyworth
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Shirley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Menard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Broadwell, with the one closest to Broadwell listed first.
    • Croft
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Croft is located in Menard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
    • Greenview
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Athens
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Petersburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Oakford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Tallula
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Broadwell, with the one closest to Broadwell listed first.
    • Williamsville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Buffalo Hart
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Buffalo Hart is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Hart
    • Buffalo
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Dawson
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Spaulding
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Spaulding is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 836 people
    • Sherman
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Cantrall
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Riverton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Mechanicsburg
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Clear Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Clear Lake is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
    • Illiopolis
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Grandview
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Grandview is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,369 people
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Broadwell, with the one closest to Broadwell listed first.
    • Boynton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Boynton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
    • Burt
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Burt is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
    • Armington
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Richmond
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Richmond is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
    • Delavan
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Brownwood ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Brownwood is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
    • Winkel ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Winkel is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkel
    • Sutter ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Sutter is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
    • Hopedale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Mindale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Mindale is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mindale
    • Green Valley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Fravert ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Fravert is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fravert

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

Cemeteries Near Broadwell ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Broadwell.

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

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

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

  • Foster Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Kline Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Wright Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Goldsmith Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Braucher Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Elkhart Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Latham Thompson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Warrick Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Evans Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Lawrence Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Development Center Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Lucas Chapel Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (293 more) ...
    • Barnes Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • New Union Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Holy Cross Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holy Cross Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Holy Cross Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southwest of Lincoln.
      • The Holy Cross Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Calvary Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #106225 <2>

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 Broadwell had a population of 231 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Broadwell had a population of 135 people.

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

  • Elkhart
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Chestervale
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Chestervale is located in Logan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
  • Burton View
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Burton View is located in Logan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton View
  • Lincoln
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Lake Fork
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Middletown
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Fancy Prairie
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Fancy Prairie is located in Menard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancy Prairie
  • Williamsville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Cornland
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Mount Pulaski
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Bell
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Bell is located in Logan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
  • Buffalo Hart
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Buffalo Hart is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Hart
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • New Holland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Skelton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Skelton is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skelton
    • Hartsburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in Broadwell ...

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 185 newspapers that have been published in the area around Broadwell.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Broadwell, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Broadwell.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Broadwell:

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