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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 Fargo (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 Fargo. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.

Fargo is located in Brown 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 Brown County: Adams, Cass, Morgan, Pike & Schuyler.

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

  • Brown County     (The home county of Fargo)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fargo, with the one closest to Fargo listed first.
    • Mound Station
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Mound Station is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Station
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Timewell
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Sterling
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Hersman
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Hersman is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersman
    • Gilbirds
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Gilbirds is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbirds
    • Ripley
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Ripley is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
    • Versailles
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Cooperstown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Cooperstown is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperstown
  • Adams County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fargo, with the one closest to Fargo listed first.
    • Kellerville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Kellerville is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerville
    • Clayton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Blacks
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Blacks is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blacks
    • Golden
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Camp Point
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • La Prairie
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Beverly
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Beverly is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
    • Liberty
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Columbus
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Columbus is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
    • Coatsburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Paloma
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Adams
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Adams is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fargo, with the one closest to Fargo listed first.
    • Beardstown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Oak Grove
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Oak Grove is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Hagener
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Hagener is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagener
    • Arenzville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Bluff Springs
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
  • Hancock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fargo, with the one closest to Fargo listed first.
    • Augusta
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Bowen
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Plymouth
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Chili
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Chili is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chili
    • West Point
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • West Point is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Point
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
    • Bentley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Bentley is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
    • Basco
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • McDonough County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fargo, with the one closest to Fargo listed first.
    • Doddsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Doddsville is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doddsville
    • Colmar
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Colmar is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
    • Industry
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Tennessee
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fargo, with the one closest to Fargo listed first.
    • Meredosia
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Morgan City ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Morgan City is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
    • Concord
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Chapin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Pike County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fargo, with the one closest to Fargo listed first.
    • Perry
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Chambersburg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Baylis
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • New Salem
      (18 miles [29 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
    • Griggsville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Hadley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Hadley is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hadley
    • Valley City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Valley City is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
    • Barry
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Kinderhook
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • El Dara
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Pittsfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Hull
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Schuyler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fargo, with the one closest to Fargo listed first.
    • Camden
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Huntsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Wayland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Wayland is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
    • Rushville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Littleton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Frederick
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Browning
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Bader
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Bader is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fargo, with the one closest to Fargo listed first.
    • Naples
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Bluffs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Oxville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Oxville is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxville
    • Exeter
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Exeter is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people

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

Cemeteries Near Fargo ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fargo.

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

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

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

  • Fargo Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Cleaves Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Buckhorn Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Ausmus Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Lee Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Linn Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Mounds Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Orton Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Dunkard Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Dobey Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Keifer Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Mt. Sterling Catholic Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (571 more) ...
    • Means Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Gristy Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Howe Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)

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, Fargo had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Buckhorn
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Buckhorn is located in Brown County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
  • Mound Station
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Mound Station is located in Brown County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Station
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
  • Mount Sterling
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Kellerville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Kellerville is located in Adams County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerville
  • Siloam
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Siloam is located in Brown County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siloam
  • White Oak Springs ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • White Oak Springs is located in Brown County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak Springs
  • Hersman
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Hersman is located in Brown County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersman
  • Clayton
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Benville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Benville is located in Brown County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benville
  • Morrelville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Morrelville is located in Brown County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrelville
  • Gilbirds
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Gilbirds is located in Brown County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbirds
  • Blacks
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Blacks is located in Adams County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blacks
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Chestline
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Chestline is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestline
    • Fishhook
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Fishhook is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishhook
    • Versailles
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Fargo ...

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 84 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fargo.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Fargo, 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 Fargo.

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 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 Fargo:

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 Fargo, 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- Fargo) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.