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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 Galton (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 Galton. 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 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 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.

Galton is located in Douglas 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 Douglas County: Champaign, Coles, Edgar, Moultrie, Piatt & Vermilion.

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

  • Douglas County     (The home county of Galton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Galton, with the one closest to Galton listed first.
    • Arcola
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Tuscola
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Filson
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Filson is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Filson
    • Ficklin
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Ficklin is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ficklin
    • Chesterville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Chesterville is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
    • Patterson Springs
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Patterson Springs is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson Springs
    • Kemp
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Kemp is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemp
    • Chicken Bristle
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Chicken Bristle is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicken Bristle
    • Garrett
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Garrett is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
    • Hayes
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Hayes is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
    • Camargo
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Arthur
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Champaign County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Galton, with the one closest to Galton listed first.
    • Pesotum
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Sadorus
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Longview
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Ivesdale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Tolono
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Tolono is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolono
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,349 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tolono <1>
    • Philo
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Philo is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,378 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Philo <1>
    • Broadlands
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Savoy
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Savoy is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savoy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,364 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Savoy <1>
    • Rutherford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Rutherford is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutherford
    • Sidney
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Sidney is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sidney
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,172 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sidney <1>
    • Mira
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Mira is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mira
    • Staley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Staley is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Staley
  • Clark County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Galton, with the one closest to Galton listed first.
    • Westfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Oilfield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Oilfield is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oilfield
    • Cleone
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Cleone is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleone
  • Coles County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Galton, with the one closest to Galton listed first.
    • Humboldt
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Cooks Mills
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Cooks Mills is located in Coles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
    • Dorans
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Dorans is located in Coles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorans
    • Bushton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Bushton is located in Coles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushton
    • Rardin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Rardin is located in Coles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rardin
    • Oakland
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Charleston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Mattoon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Saint Omer ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Saint Omer is located in Coles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Omer
    • Ashmore
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Magnet
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Magnet is located in Coles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnet
    • Lerna
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
  • Cumberland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Galton, with the one closest to Galton listed first.
    • Janesville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Johnstown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Johnstown is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnstown
    • Diona
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Diona is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diona
    • Bradbury
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Bradbury is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradbury
    • Neoga
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • 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 <1>
    • Union Center
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Union Center is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Center
  • Edgar County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Galton, with the one closest to Galton listed first.
    • Brocton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Borton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Borton is located in Edgar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borton
    • Hume
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Palermo
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Palermo is located in Edgar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palermo
    • Kansas
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Redmon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Metcalf
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Grandview
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Grandview is located in Edgar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
    • Conlogue
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Conlogue is located in Edgar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conlogue
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Galton, with the one closest to Galton listed first.
    • Casner
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Casner is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casner
    • Hervey City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Hervey City is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hervey City
    • Long Creek
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Long Creek is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,262 people
    • Sangamon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Sangamon is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
  • Moultrie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Galton, with the one closest to Galton listed first.
    • Cadwell
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Cadwell is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadwell
    • Allenville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Allenville is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
    • Coles
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Coles is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coles
    • Lovington
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Cushman
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Cushman is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
    • Sullivan
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Gays
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • 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 <1>
    • Dunn
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Dunn is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
    • Lake City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Lake City is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
    • Bethany
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Dalton City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
  • Piatt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Galton, with the one closest to Galton listed first.
    • Atwood
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Hammond
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Voorhies
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Voorhies is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
    • Burrowsville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
    • Bement
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Lintner
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Lintner is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lintner
    • Milmine
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • La Place
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Monticello
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Cerro Gordo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • White Heath
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Cisco
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Galton, with the one closest to Galton listed first.
    • Windsor
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Sexson Corner
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Sexson Corner is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexson Corner
    • Findlay
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Vermilion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Galton, with the one closest to Galton listed first.
    • Allerton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Archie
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Archie is located in Vermilion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archie
    • Sidell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Galton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Galton.

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

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

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

  • Tuscola Twp. Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuscola Twp. Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Tuscola Twp. Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Tuscola.
    • The Tuscola Twp. Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Tuscola Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #548143 <2>
  • Township Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Lower Lester Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Bourbon Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Fillmore Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Campbell Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Broadus Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Upper Lester Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Miller Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Gardner Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • East Humboldt Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Pleasant View Church Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (314 more) ...
    • Brann Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Mt. Zion Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Yoder 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 in 1895, Galton had a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Arcola
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Filson
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Filson is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Filson
  • Tuscola
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Bourbon
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Bourbon is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bourbon
  • Chesterville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Chesterville is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
  • Ficklin
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Ficklin is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ficklin
  • Kemp
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Kemp is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemp
  • West Ridge
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • West Ridge is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ridge
  • Garrett
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Garrett is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
  • Hugo
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Hugo is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hugo
  • Camargo
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Hayes
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Hayes is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Arthur
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Humboldt
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Hindsboro
      (9 miles [14.5 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 Galton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Galton.

Newspapers Published in Galton ...

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 80 newspapers that have been published in the area around Galton.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Galton, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Galton.

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 Galton:

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 Galton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Galton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.