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 Bruce (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 Bruce. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Bruce is located in Moultrie 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 Moultrie County: Coles, Douglas, Macon, Piatt & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near Bruce. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bruce:
- Moultrie County (The home county of Bruce)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Allenville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Allenville is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Sullivan
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Coles
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Coles is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coles
- Gays
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cushman
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Cushman is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
- Dunn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dunn is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
- Cadwell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Cadwell is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadwell
- Bethany
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lovington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Dalton City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lake City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lake City is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
- Champaign County
- Ivesdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Christian County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Assumption
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Pana
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Millersville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Millersville is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
- Sandersville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Sandersville is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandersville
- Coles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Cooks Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cooks Mills is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
- Mattoon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Magnet
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Magnet is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnet
- Dorans
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Dorans is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorans
- Humboldt
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Trilla
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lerna
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Charleston
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Bushton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bushton is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushton
- Rardin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Rardin is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rardin
- Hutton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hutton is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutton
- Ashmore
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Saint Omer ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Saint Omer is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Omer
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Neoga
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Johnstown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Johnstown is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnstown
- Janesville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bradbury
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Bradbury is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradbury
- Toledo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Diona
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Diona is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diona
- Jewett
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Timothy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Timothy is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timothy
- Greenup
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Union Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Union Center is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Center
- Walla Walla
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Walla Walla is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walla Walla
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Arthur
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Chesterville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Chesterville is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
- Arcola
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Garrett
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Garrett is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
- Filson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Filson is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Filson
- Ficklin
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Ficklin is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ficklin
- Kemp
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Kemp is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemp
- Chicken Bristle
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Chicken Bristle is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicken Bristle
- Tuscola
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hindsboro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Patterson Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Patterson Springs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson Springs
- Hayes
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hayes is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
- Camargo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Effingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Green Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Green Creek is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Creek
- Shumway
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Beecher City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Beecher City is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
- Montrose
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Montrose is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Effingham
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Moccasin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Moccasin is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
- Teutopolis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Funkhouser
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Funkhouser is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funkhouser
- Dexter
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Dexter is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
- Fayette County
- Holliday
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Holliday is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Casner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Casner is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casner
- Hervey City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hervey City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hervey City
- Mount Zion
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Long Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Long Creek is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,262 people
- Macon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Turpin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Turpin is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
- Elwin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sangamon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sangamon is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
- Boody
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Decatur
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Blue Mound
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Piatt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Burrowsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
- Hammond
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Lintner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Lintner is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lintner
- Atwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- La Place
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Voorhies
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Voorhies is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Cerro Gordo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Milmine
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Bement
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Windsor
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Findlay
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Sexson Corner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sexson Corner is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexson Corner
- Middlesworth
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Middlesworth is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesworth
- Strasburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Shelbyville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Trowbridge
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Trowbridge is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trowbridge
- Yantisville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Yantisville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville
- Stewardson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Mode
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Mode is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mode
- Fancher
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Fancher is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher
- Sigel
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Lakewood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lakewood is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bruce, see our County-by-County Page for Bruce.
Cemeteries Near Bruce ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bruce.
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 Bruce - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bruce covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Whitfield Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Lynn Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Old Lynn Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ellis Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bruce Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sand Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- French Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Wallis Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Moberley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Hilligoss Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Camfield Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Purvis Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (379 more) ...
- Quigley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bethany Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Sulphur Springs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Bruce had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Allenville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Allenville is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Sullivan
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Gays
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Coles
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Coles is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coles
- Findlay
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Middlesworth
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Middlesworth is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesworth
- Sexson Corner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sexson Corner is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexson Corner
- Dunn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dunn is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
- Todds Point
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Todds Point is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Todds Point
- Cushman
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Cushman is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
- Cooks Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cooks Mills is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
- Strasburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Paradise
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Paradise is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise
- Mattoon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Bethany
(11 miles [17.7 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 Bruce. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bruce.
Newspapers Published in Bruce ...
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 137 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bruce.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bruce, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bruce.
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 Bruce:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Moultrie County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Champaign County
- Christian County
- Coles County
- Cumberland County
- Douglas County
- Effingham County
- Fayette County
- Macon County
- Piatt County
- Shelby 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> | 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 Bruce, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Bruce) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |