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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Fransonia. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Fransonia to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Fransonia, please Contact Us.

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 Fransonia (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 Fransonia. 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 doctors and 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Fransonia is historic, it would have been located within present day Richland 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 Richland County: Clay, Crawford, Edwards, Jasper, Lawrence, Wabash & Wayne.

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

  • Richland County     (The home county of Fransonia)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fransonia, with the one closest to Fransonia listed first.
    • Gallagher
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Gallagher is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
    • Wynoose
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Wynoose is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
    • Noble
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Calhoun
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Parkersburg
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Olney
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Olney is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olney
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,667 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olney <2>
    • Passport
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Passport is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passport
    • Claremont
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Berryville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Berryville is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
    • Dundas
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Wakefield
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Wakefield is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakefield
    • Amity
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Amity is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amity
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fransonia, with the one closest to Fransonia listed first.
    • Camp Travis
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Camp Travis is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Travis
    • Clay City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Sailor Springs
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Ingraham
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Flora
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Louisville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Kenner
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Xenia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Iola
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Crawford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fransonia, with the one closest to Fransonia listed first.
    • Landes
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Landes is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landes
    • Green Brier
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Green Brier is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Brier
    • Hardinville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Hardinville is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardinville
    • Villas
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Villas is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villas
    • Oblong
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Oil Center
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Oil Center is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil Center
    • Stoy
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Stoy is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Stoy <2>
    • New Hebron
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • New Hebron is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hebron
  • Edwards County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fransonia, with the one closest to Fransonia listed first.
    • Marion
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Marion is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
    • Bennington
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Bennington is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennington
    • Maple Grove
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Maple Grove is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
    • West Salem
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • West Salem is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salem
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 844 people
    • Mills Prairie ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Mills Prairie is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills Prairie
    • Bone Gap
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Albion
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Ellery
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Red Top
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Red Top is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Top
    • Browns
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fransonia, with the one closest to Fransonia listed first.
    • West Liberty
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • West Liberty is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Liberty
    • Bogota
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Bogota is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogota
    • Sainte Marie
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Newton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Willow Hill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Lis
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Lis is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lis
    • Falmouth
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Falmouth is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth
    • Wheeler
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Hunt City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Hunt City is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunt City
  • Lawrence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fransonia, with the one closest to Fransonia listed first.
    • Helena
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Helena is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
    • Sumner
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Petersburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Bridgeport
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Lawrenceville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Billett
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Billett is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billett
    • Saint Francisville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Birds
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Wabash County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fransonia, with the one closest to Fransonia listed first.
    • Lancaster
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Lancaster is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lancaster
    • Orio
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Orio is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orio
    • Bellmont
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Adams Corner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Adams Corner is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams Corner
    • Patton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Patton is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patton
    • Allendale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Keensburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Mount Carmel
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fransonia, with the one closest to Fransonia listed first.
    • Mount Erie
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Enterprise
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Enterprise is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Cisne
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Rinard
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Golden Gate
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Geff
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Jeffersonville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
    • Fairfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Johnsonville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Boyleston
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
    • Barnhill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Sims
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • White County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fransonia, with the one closest to Fransonia listed first.
    • Burnt Prairie
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Grayville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Mill Shoals
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Knox County (IN)
    • Beal
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Beal is located in Knox County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal

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

Cemeteries Near Fransonia ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fransonia.

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

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

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

  • Olive Branch Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Carson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Gallagher Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Shields Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Decker Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Johnson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Bethel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Ebenezer Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Richland Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Liberty Lawn Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Noble Prairie Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Village of Noble Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (424 more) ...
    • Green Hill Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Shiloh #2 Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Blain Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)

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.

While we didn't find Fransonia in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Fransonia.

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

  • Gallagher
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Gallagher is located in Richland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
  • Wynoose
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Wynoose is located in Richland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
  • Noble
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Parkersburg
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Calhoun
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Olney
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Olney is located in Richland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olney
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,667 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olney <2>
  • Maple Grove
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Maple Grove is located in Edwards County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
  • Mount Erie
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Passport
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Passport is located in Richland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passport
  • Clay City
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • West Salem
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • West Salem is located in Edwards County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salem
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 844 people
  • Claremont
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Samsville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Samsville is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samsville
    • Berryville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Berryville is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
    • Enterprise
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Enterprise is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise

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

Newspapers Published in Fransonia ...

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 92 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fransonia.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Fransonia, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Fransonia.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Fransonia:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Fransonia, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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.
<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 drawn from Point A (ie- Fransonia) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.