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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 Divide (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 Divide. 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 southwest 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 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.

Divide is located in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Franklin, Hamilton, Marion, Perry, Washington & Wayne.

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

  • Jefferson County     (The home county of Divide)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Divide, with the one closest to Divide listed first.
    • Texico
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Pigeon ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
    • Dix
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Dix is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dix
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dix <1>
    • Shields
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Shields is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
    • Idlewood
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
    • Marlow
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Marlow is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
    • Summersville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Summersville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summersville
    • Bluford
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Markham City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Markham City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham City
    • Mount Vernon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Jefferson City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Jefferson City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
    • Opdyke
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Divide, with the one closest to Divide listed first.
    • Xenia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Kenner
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Flora
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Iola
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Louisville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Camp Travis
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Camp Travis is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Travis
    • Clay City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Divide, with the one closest to Divide listed first.
    • Centralia
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Hoffman
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Boulder
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Boulder is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
    • Huey
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Huey is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Huey <1>
    • Posey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Posey is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posey
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Divide, with the one closest to Divide listed first.
    • Farina
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Saint Paul
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
    • Saint Peter
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • La Clede
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • La Clede is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Divide, with the one closest to Divide listed first.
    • Frisco
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Frisco is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
    • Taylor Hill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
    • Ewing
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Whittington
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Sesser
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Benton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Rend City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Rend City is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rend City
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Divide, with the one closest to Divide listed first.
    • Dahlgren
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Belle Prairie City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
    • Lovilla
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
    • Piopolis
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
    • Macedonia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Diamond City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Diamond City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
    • Flint
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Flint is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
    • Jefferson City ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
    • Bungay
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Bungay is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bungay
    • McLeansboro
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Divide, with the one closest to Divide listed first.
    • Hickory Hill
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
    • Kell
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Union Town
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Union Town is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Town
    • Cartter
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
    • Bannister
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Walnut Hill
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Iuka
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Salem
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Odin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Odin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,004 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Odin <1>
    • Omega
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Central City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Central City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
    • Junction City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Junction City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
  • Perry County
    • Tamaroa
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Divide, with the one closest to Divide listed first.
    • Baldwin Heights
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
    • Irvington
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Wamac
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Wamac is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wamac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
    • Richview
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Ashley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Radom
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Radom is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radom
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Radom <1>
    • Hoyleton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Du Bois
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Du Bois is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Bois
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
    • New Minden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • New Minden is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Minden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
    • Posen
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Posen is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posen
    • Nashville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Divide, with the one closest to Divide listed first.
    • Keenes
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Wayne City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Johnsonville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Sims
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Boyleston
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
    • Cisne
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Rinard
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Geff
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Jeffersonville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
    • Fairfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Enterprise
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Enterprise is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Barnhill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
  • White County
    • Mill Shoals
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Divide ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Divide.

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

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

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

  • Old Panther Fork Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Panther Fork Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Union Chapel Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Chapel Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Union Chapel Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<2> to the east of Dix.
    • The Union Chapel Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Union Chapel UMC Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1967474 <3>
  • Hall Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Hickey Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Old Donoho Prairie Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Donoho Prairie Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Byars Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Oak Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Harmony Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Falley Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Blankenship Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (429 more) ...
    • Antioch Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Hopewell Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Wells Chapel 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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Divide had a population of 300 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Pigeon ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
  • Foxville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Foxville is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foxville
  • Hickory Hill
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
  • Dix
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Dix is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dix
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dix <1>
  • Idlewood
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
  • Marlow
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Marlow is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
  • Mount Vernon
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Bluford
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Boyd
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Boyd is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyd
  • Orchardville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Orchardville is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchardville
  • Drivers
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Drivers is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drivers
  • Walnut Hill
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Bannister
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Keenes
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Iuka
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in Divide ...

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 85 newspapers that have been published in the area around Divide.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Divide, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Divide.

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 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 Divide:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Divide) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<4>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 Divide, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.