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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 Eckard (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 Eckard. 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 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.

Eckard is located in Mason 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 Mason County: Cass, Fulton, Logan, Menard, Schuyler & Tazewell.

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

  • Mason County     (The home county of Eckard)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Eckard, with the one closest to Eckard listed first.
    • Topeka
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Buzzville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Buzzville is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buzzville
    • Havana
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Goofy Ridge
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Goofy Ridge is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goofy Ridge
    • Poplar City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Long Branch
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Long Branch is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
    • Forest City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Forest City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
    • Easton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Union
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Union is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Kilbourne
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Teheran
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Teheran is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
    • Bath
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Eckard, with the one closest to Eckard listed first.
    • Chandlerville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Newmansville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Newmansville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
    • Sylvan ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Sylvan is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
    • Burlingame
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Burlingame is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
    • Philadelphia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Philadelphia is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Jules
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Jules is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
    • Virginia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Ashland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Gurney ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Gurney is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
    • Bluff Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Oak Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Oak Grove is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Eckard, with the one closest to Eckard listed first.
    • Liverpool
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Sepo
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Sepo is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sepo
    • Lewistown
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Bryant
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Dunfermline
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Saint David
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Marbletown
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Marbletown is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marbletown
    • Banner
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Summum
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Summum is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summum
    • Breeds
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Breeds is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breeds
    • Canton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Cuba
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Cuba is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,149 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cuba <1>
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Eckard, with the one closest to Eckard listed first.
    • New Holland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Middletown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Emden
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Hartsburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • McDonough County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Eckard, with the one closest to Eckard listed first.
    • New Philadelphia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • New Philadelphia is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Philadelphia
    • Adair
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Menard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Eckard, with the one closest to Eckard listed first.
    • Oakford
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Greenview
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Petersburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Tallula
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Athens
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Croft
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Croft is located in Menard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
  • Peoria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Eckard, with the one closest to Eckard listed first.
    • Glasford
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Kingston Mines
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Mapleton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Trivoli
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Hanna City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Bartonville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Maxwell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Maxwell is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
    • Bellevue
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Bellevue is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,037 people
    • Norwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Norwood is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
  • Sangamon County
    • Pleasant Plains
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Schuyler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Eckard, with the one closest to Eckard listed first.
    • Bluff City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Bader
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Bader is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
    • Browning
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Frederick
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Eckard, with the one closest to Eckard listed first.
    • Radville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Radville is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radville
    • Parkland
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Parkland is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkland
    • Talbott
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Talbott is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talbott
    • Winkel ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Winkel is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkel
    • Green Valley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Stoehrs
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Stoehrs is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoehrs
    • South Pekin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • South Pekin is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Pekin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,081 people
    • Hawley ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Hawley is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawley
    • Midway
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Midway is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Powerton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Powerton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powerton
    • Delavan
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Crescent
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Crescent is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent

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

Cemeteries Near Eckard ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Eckard.

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

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

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

  • Laurel Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Quiver Presbyterian Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Rakestraw Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Fullerton Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Steging Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Pleasant View Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Neteler Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Liverpool Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Hancock - Pioneer Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Samm's Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Heater Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (353 more) ...
    • Speckman Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Chaney Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Bishop Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<2>

While we didn't find Eckard in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Eckard.

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

  • Topeka
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Havana
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Liverpool
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Kelsey
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Kelsey is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsey
  • Poplar City
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Bishop
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Bishop is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
  • Maples Mill
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Maples Mill is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maples Mill
  • Sepo
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Sepo is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sepo
  • Matanzas
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Matanzas is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matanzas
  • Forest City
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Forest City is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
  • Easton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Conover
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Conover is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conover
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Union
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Union is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Lewistown
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Kilbourne
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Eckard ...

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 165 newspapers that have been published in the area around Eckard.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Eckard, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Eckard.

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 helpful 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 Eckard:

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 Eckard, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Eckard) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.