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 Clear Lake (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 Clear Lake. 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.
Name Variations for Clear Lake ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
Another variation: Clearlake.
- A typical abbreviation for Clear Lake: Clear Lk.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Clear Lake. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Clear Lake.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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.
Clear Lake is located in Cass 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 Cass County: Brown, Mason, Menard, Morgan, Sangamon & Schuyler.
Below are the counties that are near Clear Lake. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Clear Lake:
- Cass County (The home county of Clear Lake)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clear Lake, with the one closest to Clear Lake listed first.
- Bluff Springs
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Oak Grove is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Jules
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jules is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
- Beardstown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Chandlerville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Virginia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hagener
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hagener is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagener
- Burlingame
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Burlingame is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
- Arenzville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Sylvan ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Sylvan is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
- Philadelphia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Philadelphia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Old Princeton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Old Princeton is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Princeton
- Brown County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clear Lake, with the one closest to Clear Lake listed first.
- Cooperstown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Cooperstown is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperstown
- Ripley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Ripley is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Versailles
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gilbirds
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Gilbirds is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbirds
- Hersman
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Hersman is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersman
- Mount Sterling
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Mound Station
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Mound Station is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Timewell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clear Lake, with the one closest to Clear Lake listed first.
- Astoria
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Marbletown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Marbletown is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marbletown
- Summum
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Summum is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summum
- Vermont
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Ipava
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Table Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Sepo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sepo is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sepo
- Lewistown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Liverpool
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Smithfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bryant
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Mason County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clear Lake, with the one closest to Clear Lake listed first.
- Snicarte
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Snicarte is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snicarte
- White City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- White City is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Bath
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Kilbourne
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Long Branch
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Long Branch is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
- Havana
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Poplar City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Buzzville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Buzzville is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buzzville
- Easton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Topeka
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Teheran
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Teheran is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
- Goofy Ridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Goofy Ridge is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goofy Ridge
- McDonough County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clear Lake, with the one closest to Clear Lake listed first.
- Doddsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Doddsville is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doddsville
- Industry
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Adair
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Menard County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clear Lake, with the one closest to Clear Lake listed first.
- Oakford
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Tallula
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Petersburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Greenview
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clear Lake, with the one closest to Clear Lake listed first.
- Literberry
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Arcadia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Arcadia is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
- Concord
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Prentice
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Prentice is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prentice
- Chapin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Morgan City ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Morgan City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
- Meredosia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jacksonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Arnold
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Arnold is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
- South Jacksonville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- South Jacksonville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jacksonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,075 people
- Lynnville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lynnville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 113 people
- Alexander
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clear Lake, with the one closest to Clear Lake listed first.
- Chambersburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Perry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Valley City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Valley City is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Sangamon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clear Lake, with the one closest to Clear Lake listed first.
- Pleasant Plains
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Salisbury
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Salisbury is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
- Berlin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Berlin is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
- New Berlin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Schuyler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clear Lake, with the one closest to Clear Lake listed first.
- Browning
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Frederick
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bader
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Bader is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
- Bluff City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Rushville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Littleton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wayland
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Wayland is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Camden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Huntsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clear Lake, with the one closest to Clear Lake listed first.
- Bluffs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Exeter
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Exeter is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
- Naples
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Oxville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Oxville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxville
- Winchester
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Clear Lake, see our County-by-County Page for Clear Lake.
Cemeteries Near Clear Lake ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Clear Lake.
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 Clear Lake - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Clear Lake covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Clear Lake, with the one closest to Clear Lake listed first.
- Hager Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Wells Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Carr Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Beard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- McLane Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Dupes Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Otgen Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Beardstown City Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Lee Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cauby Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Buck Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (509 more) ...
- Powell Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Roat Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Snicarte Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
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>
While we didn't find Clear Lake in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Clear Lake.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Clear Lake, with the one closest to Clear Lake listed first.
- Bluff Springs
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Beardstown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cass ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Cass is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cass
- Jules
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jules is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
- Snicarte
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Snicarte is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snicarte
- Browning
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Frederick
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Virginia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Chandlerville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Sheldons Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Sheldons Grove is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheldons Grove
- Pleasant View
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant View is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
- Hagener
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hagener is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagener
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Bader
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Bader is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
- Anderson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Anderson is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
- Saidora
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Saidora is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saidora
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Clear Lake. See our List of 1890's Communities around Clear Lake.
Newspapers Published in Clear Lake ...
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 147 newspapers that have been published in the area around Clear Lake.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Clear Lake, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Clear Lake.
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 Clear Lake:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Cass County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Brown County
- Fulton County
- Mason County
- McDonough County
- Menard County
- Morgan County
- Pike County
- Sangamon County
- Schuyler County
- Scott 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 Clear Lake, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Clear Lake) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |