RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Illinois >> Effingham County >> Freenanton >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

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

We've added Freenanton to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Freenanton, 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 Freenanton (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 Freenanton. 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 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 Freenanton is historic, it would have been located within present day Effingham 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 Effingham County: Clay, Cumberland, Fayette, Jasper & Shelby.

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

  • Effingham County     (The home county of Freenanton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Freenanton, with the one closest to Freenanton listed first.
    • Dexter
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Dexter is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
    • Funkhouser
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Funkhouser is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funkhouser
    • Altamont
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Moccasin
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Moccasin is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
    • Gilmore
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Gilmore is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Watson
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Heartville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Heartville is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heartville
    • Shumway
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Effingham
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Mason
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Mason is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 333 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mason <2>
    • Beecher City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Beecher City is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
    • Edgewood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Christian County
    • Pana
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Pana is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pana
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,327 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pana <2>
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Freenanton, with the one closest to Freenanton listed first.
    • Iola
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Louisville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Ingraham
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Sailor Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Flora
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Kenner
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Xenia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Coles County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Freenanton, with the one closest to Freenanton listed first.
    • Trilla
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Magnet
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Magnet is located in Coles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnet
  • Cumberland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Freenanton, with the one closest to Freenanton listed first.
    • Neoga
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Neoga is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neoga
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,585 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Neoga <2>
    • Jewett
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Walla Walla
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Walla Walla is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walla Walla
    • Toledo
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Toledo is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toledo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,185 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Toledo <2>
    • Johnstown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Johnstown is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnstown
    • Bradbury
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Bradbury is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradbury
    • Greenup
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Freenanton, with the one closest to Freenanton listed first.
    • Saint Elmo
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Howards Point ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Howards Point is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howards Point
    • Holliday
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Holliday is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
    • La Clede
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • La Clede is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
    • Avena
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Avena is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avena
    • Loogootee
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Brownstown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Farina
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Saint Peter
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Dressor
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Dressor is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dressor
    • Saint Paul
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
    • Bluff City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Bluff City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Freenanton, with the one closest to Freenanton listed first.
    • Wheeler
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Lis
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Lis is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lis
    • Bogota
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Bogota is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogota
    • Falmouth
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Falmouth is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth
    • Newton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Rose Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Rose Hill is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
    • Hidalgo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Freenanton, with the one closest to Freenanton listed first.
    • Kinmundy
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Omega
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Alma
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Vernon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Moultrie County
    • Gays
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Gays is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gays <2>
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Freenanton, with the one closest to Freenanton listed first.
    • Wakefield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Wakefield is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakefield
    • Passport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Passport is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passport
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Freenanton, with the one closest to Freenanton listed first.
    • Mode
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Mode is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mode
    • Stewardson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Fancher
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Fancher is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher
    • Sigel
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Cowden
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Trowbridge
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Trowbridge is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trowbridge
    • Strasburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Herrick
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Lakewood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Lakewood is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Middlesworth
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Middlesworth is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesworth
    • Sexson Corner
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Sexson Corner is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexson Corner
    • Shelbyville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Freenanton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Freenanton.

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

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

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

  • Fremington Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • McCoy Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Little Prairie Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Miller Chapel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Funkhouser Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • German Methodist Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Porter Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Arborcrest Memorial Park
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • St. Clare Catholic Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Union Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (487 more) ...
    • New Salem Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Old Salem Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Ewington Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)

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 Freenanton in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Freenanton.

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

  • Dexter
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Dexter is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
  • Altamont
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Blue Point
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Blue Point is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Point
  • Funkhouser
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Funkhouser is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funkhouser
  • Gilmore
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Gilmore is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
  • Watson
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Moccasin
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Moccasin is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
  • Effingham
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Shumway
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Mason
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Mason is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 333 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mason <2>
  • Saint Elmo
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Beecher City
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Beecher City is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher City
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Edgewood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Teutopolis
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Saint James
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Saint James is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint James

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

Newspapers Published in Freenanton ...

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 99 newspapers that have been published in the area around Freenanton.

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

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 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 Freenanton:

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