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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 Forsyth (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 Forsyth. 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 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.

Forsyth 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 Forsyth. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Forsyth:

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

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

Cemeteries Near Forsyth ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Forsyth.

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

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

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

  • Boiling Springs Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Graceland Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Garver Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Fairlawn Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Union Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Sharon Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Spangler Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Wheeler Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Ritchie Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (251 more) ...
    • Illini Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Macon County Memorial Park
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • North Fork Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)

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 Forsyth had a population of 152 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Forsyth had a population of 3,465 people.

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

  • Bearsdale
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Bearsdale is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
  • Emery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Emery is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emery
  • Decatur
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Oreana
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Warrensburg
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Wyckles
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Wyckles is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyckles
  • Sangamon
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Sangamon is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
  • Harristown
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Maroa
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Oakley
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Argenta
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Turpin
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Turpin is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Elwin
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Rowell
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Rowell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowell
    • Mount Zion
      (10 miles [16.1 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 Forsyth. See our List of 1890's Communities around Forsyth.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Forsyth ...

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 122 newspapers that have been published in the area around Forsyth.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Forsyth. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Forsyth and those printed in the larger area surrounding Forsyth.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4> of Forsyth.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Forsyth:

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 Forsyth, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Forsyth) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.