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 Du Bois (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 Du Bois. 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 doctors and 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.
Du Bois is located in Washington 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 Washington County: Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, Perry, Randolph & Saint Clair.
Below are the counties that are near Du Bois. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Du Bois:
- Washington County (The home county of Du Bois)
- The following are listed by their distance from Du Bois, with the one closest to Du Bois listed first.
- Radom
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Ashley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Posen
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Posen is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posen
- Richview
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Nashville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hoyleton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Irvington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Baldwin Heights
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
- Oakdale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- New Minden
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- New Minden is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Minden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
- Addieville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Elkton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Elkton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Wamac
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Wamac is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wamac
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Du Bois, with the one closest to Du Bois listed first.
- Centralia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Hoffman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Posey
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Posey is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posey
- Bartelso
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Huey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Carlyle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Beckemeyer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Damiansville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Damiansville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damiansville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 484 people
- Germantown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- New Memphis
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Du Bois, with the one closest to Du Bois listed first.
- Sesser
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Valier
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Coello
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- North City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- North City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 566 people
- Mulkeytown
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Rend City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Rend City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rend City
- Buckner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Christopher
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Whittington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Benton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ewing
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- West City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- West City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 626 people
- Steel City
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Steel City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steel City
- Hamilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Du Bois, with the one closest to Du Bois listed first.
- Dahlgren
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Lovilla
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
- Macedonia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Du Bois, with the one closest to Du Bois listed first.
- Dowell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Elkville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Hallidayboro
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Hallidayboro is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallidayboro
- Vergennes
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Oraville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- De Soto
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Ava
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Campbell Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Du Bois, with the one closest to Du Bois listed first.
- Scheller
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Waltonville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Roaches
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Roaches is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaches
- Emerson City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Emerson City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson City
- Dareville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Dareville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dareville
- Woodlawn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fitzgerrell ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fitzgerrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzgerrell
- Marcoe
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Marcoe is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcoe
- Nason
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Jefferson City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Jefferson City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
- Bonnie
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Ina
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- 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>
- Mount Vernon
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Du Bois, with the one closest to Du Bois listed first.
- Walnut Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Central City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- 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
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Junction City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
- Kell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sandoval
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Cartter
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cartter is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
- Odin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Du Bois, with the one closest to Du Bois listed first.
- Tamaroa
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Sunfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Sunfield is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
- Saint Johns
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Saint Johns is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Pinckneyville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Du Quoin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Du Quoin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Quoin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,591 people
- Winkle
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Winkle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkle
- Pyatts
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pyatts is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyatts
- Conant
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Conant is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conant
- Denmark
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Denmark is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Cutler
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Willisville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Du Bois, with the one closest to Du Bois listed first.
- Coulterville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Tilden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Percy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sparta
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Steeleville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Shiloh Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Shiloh Hill is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh Hill
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Du Bois, with the one closest to Du Bois listed first.
- Saint Libory
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Marissa
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Du Bois, with the one closest to Du Bois listed first.
- Bush
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Bush is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
- Population from the 2020 Census: 263 people
- Hurst
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Freeman Spur
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- 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>
- Blairsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Blairsville is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsville
- Colp
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- 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>
- Herrin Junction ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Herrin Junction is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrin Junction
- Cambria
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Herrin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Stiritz
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Stiritz is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiritz
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Du Bois, see our County-by-County Page for Du Bois.
Cemeteries Near Du Bois ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Du Bois.
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 Du Bois - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Du Bois covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Du Bois, with the one closest to Du Bois listed first.
- St. Charles Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Chapel Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Curlee Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Michaels Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Quinn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Minson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Round Prairie Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Antioch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Tamaroa Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bald Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Topping Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Immaculate Conception Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (414 more) ...
- St. Barbara Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Stephens Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Taylor 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.<3>
While we didn't find Du Bois in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Du Bois.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Du Bois, with the one closest to Du Bois listed first.
- Radom
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Tamaroa
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Ashley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Sunfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Sunfield is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
- Roaches
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Roaches is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaches
- Richview
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Fitzgerrell ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fitzgerrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzgerrell
- Nashville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Pinckneyville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Denny
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Denny is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denny
- Saint Johns
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Saint Johns is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Du Quoin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Du Quoin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Quoin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,591 people
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Drivers
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Drivers is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drivers
- Hoyleton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Irvington
(15 miles [24.1 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 Du Bois. See our List of 1890's Communities around Du Bois.
Newspapers Published in Du Bois ...
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 79 newspapers that have been published in the area around Du Bois.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Du Bois, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Du Bois.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Du Bois:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clinton County
- Franklin County
- Hamilton County
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Marion County
- Perry County
- Randolph County
- Saint Clair County
- Williamson 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 Du Bois, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Du Bois) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |