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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 Browns (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 Browns. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

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 north 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.

Browns is located in Edwards 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 Edwards County: Richland, Wabash, Wayne, White & Gibson (IN).

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

  • Edwards County     (The home county of Browns)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Red Top
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Red Top is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Top
    • Bone Gap
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Albion
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Mills Prairie ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Mills Prairie is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills Prairie
    • West Salem
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • West Salem is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salem
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 844 people
    • Ellery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Bennington
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Bennington is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennington
    • Maple Grove
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Maple Grove is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
    • Marion
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Marion is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Camp Travis
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Camp Travis is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Travis
    • Clay City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Bungay
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Bungay is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bungay
    • Jefferson City ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
  • Lawrence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Petersburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Helena
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Helena is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
    • Saint Francisville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Sumner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Billett
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Billett is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billett
    • Bridgeport
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Lawrenceville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Berryville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Berryville is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
    • Parkersburg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Calhoun
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Wynoose
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Wynoose is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
    • Gallagher
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Gallagher is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
    • Claremont
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Olney
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Olney is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olney
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,667 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olney <1>
    • Noble
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Amity
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Amity is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amity
  • Wabash County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Bellmont
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Keensburg
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Mount Carmel
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Lancaster
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Lancaster is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lancaster
    • Patton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Patton is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patton
    • Adams Corner
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Adams Corner is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams Corner
    • Orio
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Orio is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orio
    • Allendale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Golden Gate
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Mount Erie
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Fairfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Barnhill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Enterprise
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Enterprise is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Geff
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Jeffersonville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
    • Boyleston
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
    • Cisne
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Rinard
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Sims
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • White County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Grayville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Calvin
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Calvin is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvin
    • Crossville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Phillipstown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Phillipstown is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipstown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
    • Burnt Prairie
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Mill Shoals
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Carmi
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Maunie
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Springerton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Enfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Emma
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Stokes
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Stokes is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
  • Gibson County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Owensville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Mounts
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Mounts is located in Gibson County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mounts
    • Patoka
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Patoka is located in Gibson County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patoka
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 784 people
    • Princeton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Fort Branch
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Hazleton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Haubstadt
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Douglas
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Douglas is located in Gibson County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas
    • Warrenton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Warrenton is located in Gibson County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrenton
    • Francisco
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Francisco is located in Gibson County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Francisco
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 558 people
    • Giro
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Giro is located in Gibson County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Giro
  • Knox County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Beal
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Beal is located in Knox County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal
    • Decker
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Decker is located in Knox County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decker
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 244 people
  • Pike County (IN)
    • Union
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Union is located in Pike County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
  • Posey County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Griffin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Griffin is located in Posey County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
    • Barrett
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Barrett is located in Posey County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrett
    • Stewartsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Stewartsville is located in Posey County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartsville
    • New Harmony
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Poseyville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Cynthiana
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Wadesville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Springfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Springfield is located in Posey County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
    • Blairsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Blairsville is located in Posey County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsville
    • Hepburn
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Hepburn is located in Posey County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hepburn
    • Oliver
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Oliver is located in Posey County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oliver
    • Saint Wendel
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Saint Wendel is located in Posey County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Wendel
  • Vanderburgh County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Martin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Martin is located in Vanderburgh County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin
    • Armstrong
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Armstrong is located in Vanderburgh County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
    • Stacer
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Stacer is located in Vanderburgh County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stacer
    • Darmstadt
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Darmstadt is located in Vanderburgh County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darmstadt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,442 people
    • Inglefield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Browns ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Browns.

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

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

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

  • Browns Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • McClane Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Union Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Wells Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • James Hean Family Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Johns Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Freidens Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Frieden's Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Graceland Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Baptist Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Gravet Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Gould Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (394 more) ...
    • Fortney Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Wheeler Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Bethel Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)

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 Browns had a population of 275 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Browns had a population of 128 people.

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

  • Red Top
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Red Top is located in Edwards County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Top
  • Bellmont
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Bone Gap
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Albion
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Cowling
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Cowling is located in Wabash County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowling
  • Keensburg
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Maud
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Maud is located in Wabash County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maud
  • Gards Point
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Gards Point is located in Wabash County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gards Point
  • Grayville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Samsville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Samsville is located in Edwards County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samsville
  • Mills Prairie ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Mills Prairie is located in Edwards County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills Prairie
  • West Salem
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • West Salem is located in Edwards County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salem
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 844 people
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Ellery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Calvin
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Calvin is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvin
    • Mount Carmel
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Browns ...

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 77 newspapers that have been published in the area around Browns.

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

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 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 Browns:

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 Browns, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Browns) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.