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 Durham (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 Durham. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Durham is located in Hancock 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 Hancock County: Lee (IA), Adams, Henderson, McDonough, Schuyler, Clark (MO) & Lewis (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Durham. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Durham:
- Hancock County (The home county of Durham)
- The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Disco
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Disco is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Disco
- Dallas City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Colusa
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- La Harpe
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- La Harpe is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Harpe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,123 people
- Burnside
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Burnside is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Adrian
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pontoosuc
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Pontoosuc is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pontoosuc
- Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
- Ferris
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fountain Green
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Fountain Green is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Green
- Powellton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Powellton is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Niota
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Carthage
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Lomax
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Iowa Junction
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- Terre Haute
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
- Carman
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Stronghurst
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Gulf Port
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Gulf Port is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf Port
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Olena
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Olena is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
- Raritan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Raritan is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raritan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Media
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Media is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Gladstone
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Biggsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Biggsville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Oquawka
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- McDonough County
- The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Blandinsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- VIshnu Springs ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- VIshnu Springs is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for VIshnu Springs
- Sciota
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Tennessee
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Colchester
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Colmar
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Colmar is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
- Good Hope
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Lamone Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Lamone Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamone Village
- East Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- East Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
- Macomb
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- University Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- University Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
- Bardolph
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Schuyler County
- Huntsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Smithshire
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Roseville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Youngstown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Youngstown is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngstown
- Kirkwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Des Moines County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Patterson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Patterson is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Burlington
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- West Burlington
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Middletown
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Middletown is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Danville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Danville is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
- Kline
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Kline is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kline
- Dodgeville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Dodgeville is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodgeville
- Sperry
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Sperry is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sperry
- Kingston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Kingston is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Mediapolis
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Henry County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Lowell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lowell is located in Henry County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
- New London
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lee County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Wever
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Fort Madison
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- South Augusta
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- South Augusta is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Augusta
- Sawyer
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Sawyer is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer
- Former names for Sawyer:
- Atlee
- Edwards
- Denmark
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Galland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Galland is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galland
- Montrose
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Sandusky
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Sandusky is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Jeffersonville ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Jeffersonville is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
- West Point
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Keokuk
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- New Boston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- New Boston is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
- Clark County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Alexandria
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Francisville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Saint Francisville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Francisville
- Wayland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wayland is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
- Dumas
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Dumas is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumas
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Durham, see our County-by-County Page for Durham.
Cemeteries Near Durham ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Durham.
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 Durham - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Durham covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Durham Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Byley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Vandruff Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Gittings Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Pilot Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Gittings Mound Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shaw Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Harris Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Myers Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- La Harpe Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Harpe Cemetery
- The La Harpe Cemetery has also been known as:
- La Harpe City Cemetery
- La Harpe Twp. Cemetery
- LaHarpe Cemetery
- LaHarpe City Cemetery
- LaHarpe Twp. Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #228978 <2>
- Crane Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Pontoosuc Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (431 more) ...
- Little Family Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Rock Creek Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- McKay Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
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 in 1895, Durham had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Disco
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Disco is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Disco
- Colusa
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Dallas City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- La Crosse
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- La Crosse is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Crosse
- Lomax
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Adrian
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Burnside
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Burnside is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- La Harpe
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- La Harpe is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Harpe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,123 people
- Iowa Junction
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- Pontoosuc
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Pontoosuc is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pontoosuc
- Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
- Terre Haute
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
- Ferris
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Powellton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Powellton is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Patterson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Patterson is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Webster
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Webster is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Durham. See our List of 1890's Communities around Durham.
Newspapers Published in Durham ...
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 70 newspapers that have been published in the area around Durham.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Durham, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Durham.
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 either 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 Durham:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Hancock County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Henderson County
- McDonough County
- Schuyler County
- Warren County
- Des Moines County
- Henry County
- Lee County
- Clark 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 Durham, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Durham) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |