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 Ferris (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 Ferris. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Ferris 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 Ferris. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ferris:
- Hancock County (The home county of Ferris)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ferris, with the one closest to Ferris listed first.
- Adrian
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Burnside
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Burnside is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Carthage
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Colusa
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Powellton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Powellton is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Elvaston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Basco
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Bentley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Bentley is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
- Fountain Green
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Fountain Green is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Green
- Dallas City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Pontoosuc
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Pontoosuc is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pontoosuc
- Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
- Niota
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hamilton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ferris, with the one closest to Ferris listed first.
- Loraine
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Lima
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- La Prairie
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Golden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Marcelline
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Marcelline is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcelline
- Mendon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Meyer
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Meyer is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
- Blacks
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Blacks is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blacks
- Ursa
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Camp Point
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Coatsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Paloma
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ferris, with the one closest to Ferris listed first.
- Lomax
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Iowa Junction
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- Terre Haute
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
- Carman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Raritan
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Raritan is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raritan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Stronghurst
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Gulf Port
(24 miles [38.6 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
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Olena is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
- Media
(27 miles [43.5 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
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Biggsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Biggsville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- McDonough County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ferris, with the one closest to Ferris listed first.
- VIshnu Springs ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- VIshnu Springs is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for VIshnu Springs
- Blandinsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Colmar
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Colmar is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
- Tennessee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Colchester
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Sciota
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- East Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- East Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
- Lamone Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Lamone Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamone Village
- Macomb
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- University Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- University Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
- Good Hope
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Doddsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Doddsville is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doddsville
- Schuyler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ferris, with the one closest to Ferris listed first.
- Huntsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Camden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wayland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wayland is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Warren County
- Smithshire
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Des Moines County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ferris, with the one closest to Ferris listed first.
- Patterson
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Patterson is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Burlington
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- West Burlington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Middletown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Middletown is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Danville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Danville is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
- Henry County (IA)
- Lowell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lowell is located in Henry County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
- Lee County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ferris, with the one closest to Ferris listed first.
- Galland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Galland is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galland
- Sandusky
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Sandusky is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Keokuk
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Montrose
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Fort Madison
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Wever
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Jeffersonville ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jeffersonville is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
- Sawyer
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Sawyer is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer
- Former names for Sawyer:
- Atlee
- Edwards
- New Boston
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- New Boston is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
- South Augusta
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- South Augusta is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Augusta
- Charleston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Charleston is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charleston
- Denmark
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Clark County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ferris, with the one closest to Ferris listed first.
- Alexandria
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Francisville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Saint Francisville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Francisville
- Wayland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Wayland is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
- Dumas
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Dumas is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumas
- Revere
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Clark City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Clark City is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark City
- Peaksville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Peaksville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaksville
- Saint Patrick
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Patrick is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
- Athens
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Athens is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
- Kahoka
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Lewis County (MO)
- Canton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ferris, see our County-by-County Page for Ferris.
Cemeteries Near Ferris ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ferris.
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 Ferris - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ferris covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ferris, with the one closest to Ferris listed first.
- Woodring Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Barnes Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Moss Ridge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- County Farm Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Old Carthage Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- McKay Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Elvaston Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pilot Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Thornber Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Byley Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Continue List (438 more) ...
- Old Brick Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Webster Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Webster Cemetery is located outside and to the northwest of Webster.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108773 <2>
- Sterns Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Ferris had a population of 305 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Ferris had a population of 143 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ferris, with the one closest to Ferris listed first.
- McCall
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- McCall is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCall
- Adrian
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Carthage
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Burnside
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Burnside is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Elvaston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Colusa
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Powellton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Powellton is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Webster
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Webster is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- La Crosse
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- La Crosse is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Crosse
- Basco
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Bentley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Bentley is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
- Durham
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Durham is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Sonora ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Sonora is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonora
- Fountain Green
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Fountain Green is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Green
- Hamilton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ferris. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ferris.
Newspapers Published in Ferris ...
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 138 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ferris.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ferris, 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 Ferris.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Ferris:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Hancock County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Henderson County
- McDonough County
- Schuyler County
- Warren County
- Des Moines County
- Henry County
- Lee County
- Clark County
- Lewis 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 Ferris, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Ferris) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |