A visit to the Downs Cemetery ...
Introduction ...
Note: We have organized the cemeteries in our Gazetteer based on a problem that we had while working on our own genealogy. As an example and without specifying the cemeteries involved, we found an ancestor that we believed to have been buried in one cemetery had actually been buried elsewhere.
We discovered that his burial plans had changed at the last moment and the family had scrambled to make new arrangements. By looking at nearby cemeteries, the surrounding communities and in newspapers of the period, we were finally able to locate his burial site.
Should you find yourself in the same situation, we hope that our Gazetteer helps you discover your lost ancestor.
The Location of the Downs Cemetery ...
We are using the following GPS coordinates (latitude and longitude) for the Downs Cemetery:
37.9198, -88.8131
Note: The GPS location that we are using for the Downs Cemetery can be traced back to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)<1>
The Downs Cemetery is located in Franklin County<2>.
The county seat for Franklin County is located in Benton. Benton lies just to the northwest of the Downs Cemetery .
Open a Google Map centered on the Downs Cemetery.
List of nearby cemeteries ...
Based on our list of cemeteries, we know of 32 that are within 7 miles [11.3 km]<3> of the Downs Cemetery.<4>
We've listed the following cemeteries based on their distance from Downs Cemetery, with the nearest first.
- Melvin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- The Melvin Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin Cemetery
- Crawford Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- The Crawford Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford Cemetery
- East Fork Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- The East Fork Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fork Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the East Fork Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<3> to the southwest of Thompsonville.
- The East Fork Cemetery has also been known as:
- East Fork Baptist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1989982 <5>
- Clem Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- The Clem Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clem Cemetery
- Jones Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Neal Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- The Neal Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neal Cemetery
- Swofford Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- The Swofford Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swofford Cemetery
- Isaacs Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- The Isaacs Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isaacs Cemetery
- Joplin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- The Joplin Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joplin Cemetery
- Neal Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- The Neal Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neal Cemetery
- Franklin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- The Franklin Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin Cemetery
- Baxter Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- The Baxter Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter Cemetery
- Continue List (20 more) ...
- Tower Heights Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- The Tower Heights Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tower Heights Cemetery
- The Tower Heights Cemetery has also been known as:
- Tower Height Cemetery
- Oddfellow Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- The Oddfellow Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oddfellow Cemetery
- Trinity Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- The Trinity Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity Cemetery
- Williams Prairie Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Stilley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- The Stilley Cemetery is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stilley Cemetery
- The Stilley Cemetery has also been known as:
- William D. Stilley Family Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108407 <5>
- County Farm Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- The County Farm Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for County Farm Cemetery
- Rea Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- The Rea Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rea Cemetery
- New Union Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- The New Union Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Union Cemetery
- Bonner Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- The Bonner Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonner Cemetery
- St. Johns Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Boner Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- The Boner Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boner Cemetery
- The Boner Cemetery has also been known as:
- Boner Chapel Cemetery
- Clayton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- The Clayton Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton Cemetery
- County Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- The County Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for County Cemetery
- Lithuanian Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- The Lithuanian Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lithuanian Cemetery
- Murphey Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- The Murphey Cemetery is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murphey Cemetery
- Harris Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- The Harris Cemetery is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Cemetery
- Locust Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- The Locust Grove Cemetery is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Grove Cemetery
- Brady Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- The Brady Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brady Cemetery
- Manion Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- The Manion Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manion Cemetery
- Otterson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- The Otterson Cemetery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otterson Cemetery
For an expanded list with details, please visit our List of cemeteries.
List of neighboring communities ...
The following 26 communities are within 10 miles [16.1 km]<3> of the Downs Cemetery.
We've listed the following communities based on their distance from Downs Cemetery, with the nearest first:
- Parrish
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Parrish is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrish
- Fitt's Hill ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Fitt's Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitt's Hill
- Hanaford
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hanaford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanaford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 316 people
- Thompsonville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Smothersville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Smothersville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smothersville
- Deering City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Deering City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deering City
- Akin
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- West Frankfort
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- West Frankfort is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Frankfort
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,733 people
- Steel City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Steel City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steel City
- Corinth
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Corinth is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Benton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- West City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- West City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 626 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Orient
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Stiritz
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Stiritz is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiritz
- Johnston City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Plumfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Plumfield is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plumfield
- Freeman Spur
(10 miles [16.1 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 <6>
- Whiteash
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Whiteash is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteash
- Estimated population in 2014: 240 people
- Pittsburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Cornerville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Cornerville is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerville
- Macedonia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cambon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Cambon is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambon
- Ewing
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hartford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hartford is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartford
- Rend City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rend City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rend City
- Buckner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
For the full list of neighboring communities with details, please visit our extended List of Communities.
Nearby communities with newspapers ...
The following communities are those where newspapers have been published and are located in the vicinity of the Downs Cemetery. Unless otherwise noted, the following communities are located in Franklin County.
More information can be found on our list of Local Newspapers for The Downs Cemetery.
We've listed the following communities alphabetically.
- Benton
- Johnston City
- West Frankfort
Websites to help with your research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 websites are open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that might help with the Downs Cemetery:
- Pages specific to Illinois:
- Pages specific to Franklin County:
- Genealogy information for nearby counties:
- Cemetery Information and Directories:
Miscellaneous References and Mentions ...
Our approach is to add the name of a cemetery whenever we see it mentioned - usually from newspapers, old books and maps. Typically we have little information to start with, but we continue to add detail as we find it.
We've created the following list to keep track of the sources that we found useful for the Downs Cemetery:
- Referenced GNIS Record ...
- GNIS ID #407370 (Downs Cemetery)
- Note: In 2021, GNIS record #407370 was archived by the USGS. It is no longer maintained by the USGS, nor can it be retrieved from their website. In the past, the GNIS record contained the following information:
- BGN Class: cemetery
- County: Franklin
- Est. Elev: 134 (in feet)
- Topo Map Name: Thompsonville
- Location given for Downs Cemetery:
- Lat: 37.9197713 Lon: -88.8131194
- Open a Google Map centered on the above location.
Footnotes ...
| <1> | The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required. |
| <2> | If you're interested in how the shape of Illinois' counties, including Franklin, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Downs Cemetery) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | While we have an extensive database of cemeteries (with over 200,000 entries), be assured that it's not complete and we're still searching for cemeteries to add. |
| <5> | 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. |
| <6> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |