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 De Soto (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 De Soto. 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 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.
De Soto is located in Jackson 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 Jackson County: Franklin, Perry, Randolph, Union, Williamson & Perry (MO).
Below are the counties that are near De Soto. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to De Soto:
- Jackson County (The home county of De Soto)
- The following are listed by their distance from De Soto, with the one closest to De Soto listed first.
- Hallidayboro
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hallidayboro is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallidayboro
- Elkville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Carbondale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Murphysboro
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dowell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Vergennes
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Oraville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Makanda
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Pomona
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Gorham
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ava
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Jacob
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from De Soto, with the one closest to De Soto listed first.
- Royalton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Zeigler
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mulkeytown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cambon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cambon is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambon
- Plumfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Plumfield is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plumfield
- Christopher
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Coello
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- North City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- North City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 566 people
- Orient
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Buckner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- West Frankfort
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- West Frankfort is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Frankfort
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,733 people
- Valier
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from De Soto, with the one closest to De Soto listed first.
- Emerson City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Emerson City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson City
- Fitzgerrell ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Fitzgerrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzgerrell
- Scheller
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Nason
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Waltonville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Dareville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dareville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dareville
- Ina
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ina is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,279 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ina <1>
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from De Soto, with the one closest to De Soto listed first.
- Deer Ridge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Deer Ridge is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Ridge
- Eagle Point Bay
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Eagle Point Bay is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Point Bay
- Goreville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Egyptian Hills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Egyptian Hills is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egyptian Hills
- Buncombe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- New Burnside
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from De Soto, with the one closest to De Soto listed first.
- Du Quoin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Du Quoin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Quoin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,591 people
- Saint Johns
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Saint Johns is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Pyatts
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pyatts is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyatts
- Sunfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Sunfield is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
- Denmark
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Denmark is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Pinckneyville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Conant
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Conant is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conant
- Tamaroa
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Willisville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cutler
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Winkle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Winkle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkle
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from De Soto, with the one closest to De Soto listed first.
- Shiloh Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Shiloh Hill is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh Hill
- Percy
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Leanderville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Leanderville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leanderville
- Rockwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Steeleville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Welge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Welge is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welge
- Bremen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from De Soto, with the one closest to De Soto listed first.
- Alto Pass
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Water Valley
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Water Valley is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Valley
- Cobden
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Lick Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lick Creek is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lick Creek
- Anna
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Wolf Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Jonesboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Mount Pleasant
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Dutch Mills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Dutch Mills is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutch Mills
- Washington County
- Du Bois
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Du Bois is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Bois
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from De Soto, with the one closest to De Soto listed first.
- Hurst
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Blairsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Blairsville is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsville
- Bush
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Bush is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
- Population from the 2020 Census: 263 people
- Cambria
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Colp
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Colp is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colp
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Former name for Colp:
- Colpville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Colp <1>
- Dewmaine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Dewmaine is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewmaine
- Carterville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Herrin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Crainville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Crainville is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crainville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,419 people
- Energy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Herrin Junction ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Herrin Junction is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrin Junction
- Freeman Spur
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- 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 <1>
- Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from De Soto, with the one closest to De Soto listed first.
- Shawneetown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shawneetown is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawneetown
- Old Appleton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Old Appleton is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Appleton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Perry County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from De Soto, with the one closest to De Soto listed first.
- Altenburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Frohna
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Frohna is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frohna
- Population from the 2020 Census: 241 people
- Brazeau
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Brazeau is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazeau
- Farrar
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Farrar is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farrar
- Eureka
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Eureka is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Uniontown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Uniontown is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to De Soto, see our County-by-County Page for De Soto.
Cemeteries Near De Soto ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of De Soto.
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 De Soto - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for De Soto covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from De Soto, with the one closest to De Soto listed first.
- De Soto Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Beasley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Indian Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Dillinger Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Howard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Central - Crews Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Zion Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Murdale Gardens of Memory
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rees Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hall Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Oakland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (431 more) ...
- Wilson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Blairsville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Greer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
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 De Soto had a population of 376 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, De Soto had a population of 1,503 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from De Soto, with the one closest to De Soto listed first.
- Blairsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Blairsville is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsville
- Grange Hall
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Grange Hall is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grange Hall
- Harrison
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Harrison is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Murphysboro
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Carbondale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Fredonia ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fredonia is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Elkville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Vergennes
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Carterville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Oraville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Boskydell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Boskydell is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boskydell
- Crainville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Crainville is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crainville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,419 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Grubbs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Grubbs is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grubbs
- Sand Ridge
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sand Ridge is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Ridge
- Mulkeytown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around De Soto. See our List of 1890's Communities around De Soto.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of De Soto ...
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 156 newspapers that have been published in the area around De Soto.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of De Soto. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of De Soto and those printed in the larger area surrounding De Soto.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4> of De Soto.
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 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 De Soto:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Jackson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Jefferson County
- Johnson County
- Perry County
- Randolph County
- Union County
- Washington County
- Williamson County
- Cape Girardeau County
- Perry 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> | 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 De Soto, 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- De Soto) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |