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 Garrett (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 Garrett. 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 and 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.
Garrett 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 Garrett. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Garrett:
- Douglas County (The home county of Garrett)
- The following are listed by their distance from Garrett, with the one closest to Garrett listed first.
- Ficklin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Ficklin is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ficklin
- Chicken Bristle
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Chicken Bristle is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicken Bristle
- Arthur
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Chesterville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Chesterville is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
- Tuscola
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Hayes
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hayes is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
- Arcola
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Patterson Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Patterson Springs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson Springs
- Filson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Filson is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Filson
- Camargo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Villa Grove
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Villa Grove is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,414 people
- Kemp
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Kemp is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemp
- Fairland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Fairland is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairland
- Champaign County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garrett, with the one closest to Garrett listed first.
- Ivesdale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Pesotum
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sadorus
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Tolono
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Longview
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Philo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Savoy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Seymour
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Bondville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Staley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Staley is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Staley
- Broadlands
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Champaign
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Mira
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Mira is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mira
- Coles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garrett, with the one closest to Garrett listed first.
- Cooks Mills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Cooks Mills is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
- Humboldt
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Dorans
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Dorans is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorans
- Bushton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bushton is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushton
- Mattoon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Rardin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rardin is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rardin
- Oakland
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Magnet
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Magnet is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnet
- Charleston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Omer ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Omer is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Omer
- Lerna
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Ashmore
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Trilla
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garrett, with the one closest to Garrett listed first.
- Janesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Johnstown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Johnstown is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnstown
- De Witt County
- Weldon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Edgar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garrett, with the one closest to Garrett listed first.
- Brocton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Borton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Borton is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borton
- Hume
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Palermo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Palermo is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palermo
- Kansas
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garrett, with the one closest to Garrett listed first.
- Casner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Casner is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casner
- Hervey City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Hervey City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hervey City
- Long Creek
(22 miles [35.4 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
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Sangamon is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
- Argenta
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Zion
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Oreana
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Turpin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Turpin is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
- Decatur
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Elwin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Forsyth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Moultrie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garrett, with the one closest to Garrett listed first.
- Cadwell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cadwell is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadwell
- Lovington
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cushman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cushman is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
- Lake City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Lake City is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
- Sullivan
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Allenville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Allenville is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Dunn
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Dunn is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
- Coles
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Coles is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coles
- Bethany
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Dalton City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Gays
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Piatt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garrett, with the one closest to Garrett listed first.
- Atwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Hammond
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Voorhies
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Voorhies is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Bement
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Burrowsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
- Lintner
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Lintner is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lintner
- Milmine
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- La Place
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Cerro Gordo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Monticello
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- White Heath
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Cisco
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- De Land
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Garrett, with the one closest to Garrett listed first.
- Findlay
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Windsor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Sexson Corner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Sexson Corner is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexson Corner
- Middlesworth
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Middlesworth is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesworth
- Yantisville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Yantisville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville
- Vermilion County
- Allerton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Garrett, see our County-by-County Page for Garrett.
Cemeteries Near Garrett ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Garrett.
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 Garrett - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Garrett covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Garrett, with the one closest to Garrett listed first.
- Taylor Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mackville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Lower Lester Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Upper Lester Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Lake Fork Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Moore Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bourbon Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fillmore Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lewis Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Antioch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Yoder Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Miller Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (293 more) ...
- O'Bryan Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tuscola Twp. Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- 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>
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
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 Garrett had a population of 100 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Garrett had a population of 160 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Garrett, with the one closest to Garrett listed first.
- Atwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Ficklin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Ficklin is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ficklin
- Bourbon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bourbon is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bourbon
- Arthur
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Chesterville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Chesterville is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
- Fairbanks
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fairbanks is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairbanks
- Galton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Galton is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galton
- Tuscola
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Hayes
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hayes is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
- Hammond
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Williamsburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Williamsburg is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
- Arcola
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (20 more) ...
- Voorhies
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Voorhies is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Ivesdale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- West Ridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- West Ridge is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ridge
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Garrett. See our List of 1890's Communities around Garrett.
Newspapers Published in Garrett ...
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 95 newspapers that have been published in the area around Garrett.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Garrett, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Garrett.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Garrett:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Douglas County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Champaign County
- Coles County
- Cumberland County
- De Witt County
- Edgar County
- Macon County
- Moultrie County
- Piatt County
- Shelby County
- Vermilion 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 Garrett, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Garrett) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |