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 Erwin (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 Erwin. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.
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 north 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.
Erwin is located in Schuyler 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 Schuyler County: Adams, Brown, Cass, Fulton, Hancock, Mason & McDonough.
Below are the counties that are near Erwin. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Erwin:
- Schuyler County (The home county of Erwin)
- The following are listed by their distance from Erwin, with the one closest to Erwin listed first.
- Camden
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Wayland
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Wayland is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Rushville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Littleton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Huntsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Frederick
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Browning
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Bader
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Bader is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
- Bluff City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erwin, with the one closest to Erwin listed first.
- Clayton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Blacks
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Blacks is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blacks
- La Prairie
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Golden
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Kellerville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Kellerville is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerville
- Camp Point
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Coatsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Columbus
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Columbus is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
- Paloma
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Beverly
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Beverly is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
- Liberty
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Loraine
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Fowler
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Brown County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erwin, with the one closest to Erwin listed first.
- Ripley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ripley is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Mount Sterling
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Hersman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Hersman is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersman
- Cooperstown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cooperstown is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperstown
- Mound Station
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mound Station is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Timewell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gilbirds
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Gilbirds is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbirds
- Versailles
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erwin, with the one closest to Erwin listed first.
- Beardstown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Grove is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Bluff Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hagener
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hagener is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagener
- Arenzville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jules
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jules is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
- Virginia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Chandlerville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erwin, with the one closest to Erwin listed first.
- Vermont
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Astoria
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Table Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Summum
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Summum is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summum
- Ipava
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Marbletown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Marbletown is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marbletown
- Marietta
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erwin, with the one closest to Erwin listed first.
- Augusta
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Plymouth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bowen
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Chili
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Chili is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chili
- Joetta
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Joetta is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joetta
- Bentley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bentley is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
- West Point
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- West Point is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Fountain Green
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fountain Green is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Green
- Basco
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Carthage
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mason County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erwin, with the one closest to Erwin listed first.
- Snicarte
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Snicarte is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snicarte
- Bath
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- McDonough County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erwin, with the one closest to Erwin listed first.
- Doddsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Doddsville is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doddsville
- Industry
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Colmar
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Colmar is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
- Colchester
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Tennessee
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- East Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- East Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
- Adair
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- VIshnu Springs ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- VIshnu Springs is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for VIshnu Springs
- Lamone Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Lamone Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamone Village
- Macomb
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- University Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- University Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
- Bardolph
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- New Philadelphia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- New Philadelphia is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Philadelphia
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erwin, with the one closest to Erwin listed first.
- Meredosia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Concord
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Chapin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan City ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erwin, with the one closest to Erwin listed first.
- Chambersburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Perry
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Baylis
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Griggsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Valley City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Valley City is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- New Salem
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- New Salem is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 131 people
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erwin, with the one closest to Erwin listed first.
- Naples
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Bluffs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Exeter
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Exeter is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
- Oxville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Oxville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Erwin, see our County-by-County Page for Erwin.
Cemeteries Near Erwin ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Erwin.
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 Erwin - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Erwin covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Erwin, with the one closest to Erwin listed first.
- Gray Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Lynn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Marlow Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Kinman Burial Ground
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Greenlief Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Waitman Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Weightman Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Taggart Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Kinney Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Linn - Walker Graves
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hughes Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Hale Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (535 more) ...
- West Camden Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- McHatton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Plunkett Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Erwin had a population of 73 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Erwin, with the one closest to Erwin listed first.
- Camden
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Wayland
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Wayland is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Brooklyn
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Brooklyn is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
- Rushville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Ripley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ripley is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Littleton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Huntsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Sterling
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Birmingham
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Birmingham is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
- Doddsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Doddsville is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doddsville
- Mound Station
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mound Station is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Hersman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Hersman is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersman
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Cooperstown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cooperstown is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperstown
- Fargo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Fargo is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fargo
- Pleasant View
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Pleasant View is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Erwin. See our List of 1890's Communities around Erwin.
Newspapers Published in Erwin ...
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 47 newspapers that have been published in the area around Erwin.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Erwin, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Erwin.
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 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 Erwin:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Schuyler County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Brown County
- Cass County
- Fulton County
- Hancock County
- Mason County
- McDonough County
- Morgan County
- Pike County
- Scott 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> | 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 Erwin, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Erwin) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |