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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 Emery (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 Emery. 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 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.

Emery is located in Macon 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 Macon County: Christian, De Witt, Logan, Moultrie, Piatt, Sangamon & Shelby.

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

  • Macon County     (The home county of Emery)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Emery, with the one closest to Emery listed first.
    • Forsyth
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Maroa
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Oreana
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Bearsdale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Bearsdale is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
    • Warrensburg
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Argenta
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Decatur
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Sangamon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Sangamon is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
    • Harristown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Long Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Long Creek is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,262 people
    • Elwin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Turpin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Turpin is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
    • Mount Zion
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
  • Champaign County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Emery, with the one closest to Emery listed first.
    • Ivesdale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Seymour
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Emery, with the one closest to Emery listed first.
    • Mount Auburn
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Bolivia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Bolivia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivia
    • Grove City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Grove City is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
    • Stonington
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Sandersville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Sandersville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandersville
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Emery, with the one closest to Emery listed first.
    • Rowell
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Rowell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowell
    • Kenney
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Clinton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Lane
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Birkbeck
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
    • Weldon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Hallsville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
    • Midland City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Midland City is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
    • Wapella
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • De Witt
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • De Witt is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
    • Tabor
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Tabor is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
    • Fullerton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Fullerton is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
    • Parnell
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Parnell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
  • Douglas County
    • Garrett
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Garrett is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Emery, with the one closest to Emery listed first.
    • Latham
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Chestnut
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Beason
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Pulaski
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Chestervale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
    • Lake Fork
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Atlanta
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Lawndale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Lincoln
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Cornland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Broadwell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Broadwell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Bell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Bell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
    • Evans
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Evans is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
  • McLean County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Emery, with the one closest to Emery listed first.
    • Heyworth
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • McLean
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Le Roy
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Downs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Gillum
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Gillum is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
    • Kumler
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Kumler is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kumler
    • Shirley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Moultrie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Emery, with the one closest to Emery listed first.
    • Dalton City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake City is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
    • Lovington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Bethany
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Dunn
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Dunn is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
    • Cushman
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Cushman is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
    • Cadwell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Cadwell is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadwell
  • Piatt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Emery, with the one closest to Emery listed first.
    • Cisco
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Cerro Gordo
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Milmine
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • La Place
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • De Land
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Lintner
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Lintner is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lintner
    • Bement
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Monticello
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Burrowsville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
    • Voorhies
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Voorhies is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
    • Hammond
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • White Heath
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Atwood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Emery, with the one closest to Emery listed first.
    • Illiopolis
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Buffalo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Mechanicsburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Buffalo Hart
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Buffalo Hart is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Hart
    • Dawson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Emery, with the one closest to Emery listed first.
    • Moweaqua
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Yantisville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Yantisville is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville

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

Cemeteries Near Emery ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Emery.

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

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

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

  • Maroa Twp. Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Upper Ridge Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Garver Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Union Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Boiling Springs Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Friends Creek Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Illini Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Graceland Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Wheeler Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Ritchie Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Cross Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (247 more) ...
    • Fairlawn Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Calvary Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Spangler Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 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 Emery had a population of 15 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Forsyth
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Maroa
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Oreana
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Warrensburg
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Bearsdale
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bearsdale is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
  • Ospur
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Ospur is located in De Witt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ospur
  • Argenta
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Rowell
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Rowell is located in De Witt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowell
  • Decatur
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Wyckles
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Wyckles is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyckles
  • Sangamon
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Sangamon is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
  • Oakley
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Kenney
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Harristown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Clinton
      (11 miles [17.7 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 Emery. See our List of 1890's Communities around Emery.

Newspapers Published in Emery ...

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 91 newspapers that have been published in the area around Emery.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Emery, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Emery.

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 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 Emery:

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 Emery, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Emery) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.