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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 Gowins (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 Gowins. 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 and hospitals 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.

Gowins is located in Pope 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 Pope County: Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Saline, Williamson & Livingston (KY).

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

  • Pope County     (The home county of Gowins)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gowins, with the one closest to Gowins listed first.
    • Lusk
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Lusk is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lusk
    • Leisure City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Leisure City is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure City
    • Golconda
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Hartsville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Hartsville is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsville
    • Eddyville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Rock
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Rock is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock
    • Herod
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Oak
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Oak is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak
    • Dixon Springs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Dixon Springs is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon Springs
    • Glendale
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Glendale is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
    • McCormick
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • McCormick is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCormick
    • Bay City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Bay City is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay City
    • Hamletsburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
  • Gallatin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gowins, with the one closest to Gowins listed first.
    • Equality
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Bowlesville ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Bowlesville is located in Gallatin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowlesville
    • Lawler
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Lawler is located in Gallatin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawler
    • Junction
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Shawneetown
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Old Shawneetown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Old Shawneetown is located in Gallatin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Shawneetown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
    • Elba
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Elba is located in Gallatin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
    • Ridgway
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Hardin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gowins, with the one closest to Gowins listed first.
    • Shetlerville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Shetlerville is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shetlerville
    • Mineral City ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Mineral City is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral City
    • Rosiclare
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Elizabethtown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Karbers Ridge
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Rock Creek
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Rock Creek is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
    • Cave-In-Rock
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Cave-In-Rock is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave-In-Rock
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
      • Cave-In-Rock has also been known as:
      • Cave-In-Rock village
    • Lamb
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Lamb is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamb
    • Saline Landing
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Saline Landing is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saline Landing
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gowins, with the one closest to Gowins listed first.
    • Reevesville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Reevesville is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reevesville
    • Grantsburg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Simpson
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Ozark
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Reynoldsburg
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Reynoldsburg is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynoldsburg
    • Wartrace
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Wartrace is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wartrace
    • New Burnside
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Bender ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Bender is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bender
    • Vienna
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Egyptian Hills
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Egyptian Hills is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egyptian Hills
    • Belknap
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Buncombe
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Deer Ridge
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Deer Ridge is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Ridge
  • Massac County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gowins, with the one closest to Gowins listed first.
    • Big Bay
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Big Bay is located in Massac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Bay
    • New Columbia
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • New Columbia is located in Massac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Columbia
    • Shady Grove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Shady Grove is located in Massac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
    • Unionville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Unionville is located in Massac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionville
    • Brookport
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Massac City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Massac City is located in Massac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massac City
    • Metropolis
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Joppa
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Pulaski County
    • Karnak
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Saline County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gowins, with the one closest to Gowins listed first.
    • Mitchellsville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Mitchellsville is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchellsville
    • Stonefort
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Ledford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Ledford is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ledford
    • Carrier Mills
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Carrier Mills is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrier Mills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,527 people
      • Former names for Carrier Mills:
      • Carriers Mills
      • Morrilsville
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Carrier Mills <1>
    • Gaskins City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Gaskins City is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaskins City
    • Harrisburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Liberty
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Liberty is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
    • Buena Vista
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Buena Vista is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
    • Cottage Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Cottage Grove is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Grove
    • Muddy
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Red Bud ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Red Bud is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bud
    • Wasson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Wasson is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasson
    • Eldorado
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
  • Williamson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gowins, with the one closest to Gowins listed first.
    • Creal Springs
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Hartford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Hartford is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartford
    • Lake Crest
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Lake Crest is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Crest
    • Corinth
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Corinth is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
  • Caldwell County (KY)
    • Fredonia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Crittenden County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gowins, with the one closest to Gowins listed first.
    • Tolu
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Tolu is located in Crittenden County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolu
    • Sheridan
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Sheridan is located in Crittenden County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
    • Marion
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Marion is located in Crittenden County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,850 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Marion <1>
    • Crayne
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Crayne is located in Crittenden County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crayne
    • Dycusburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Dycusburg is located in Crittenden County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dycusburg
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 26 people
    • Piney Fork
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Piney Fork is located in Crittenden County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piney Fork
  • Livingston County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gowins, with the one closest to Gowins listed first.
    • Carrsville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Carrsville is located in Livingston County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrsville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
    • Hampton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Hampton is located in Livingston County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampton
    • Lola
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Lola is located in Livingston County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lola
    • Burna
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Burna is located in Livingston County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burna
    • Salem
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Salem is located in Livingston County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 717 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Salem <1>
    • Smithland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Pinckneyville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Pinckneyville is located in Livingston County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinckneyville
    • Tiline
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Tiline is located in Livingston County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiline
    • Ledbetter
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Marshall County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gowins, with the one closest to Gowins listed first.
    • Calvert City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Calvert City is located in Marshall County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvert City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,509 people
      • Calvert City has also been known as:
      • Calvert
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Calvert City <1>
    • Gilbertsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • McCracken County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gowins, with the one closest to Gowins listed first.
    • Paducah
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Paducah is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paducah
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24,883 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Paducah <1>
    • Oakdale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Oakdale is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
    • Grahamville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Grahamville is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grahamville
    • Hendron
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Hendron is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendron
    • Reidland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Reidland is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reidland
    • West Paducah
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lone Oak
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Lone Oak is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Oak
    • Ragland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Ragland is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ragland
  • Union County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gowins, with the one closest to Gowins listed first.
    • Dekoven
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Dekoven is located in Union County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dekoven
    • Grangertown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Grangertown is located in Union County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grangertown
    • Sturgis
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Sturgis is located in Union County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturgis
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,792 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sturgis <1>
    • Sullivan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Sullivan is located in Union County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
    • Raleigh
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Raleigh is located in Union County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raleigh
  • Webster County (KY)
    • Blackford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Blackford is located in Webster County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackford

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

Cemeteries Near Gowins ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gowins.

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

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

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

  • Brown Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Cosby Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Thompson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Parkinson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Vaughn Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Palestine Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Floyd Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Joiner Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Barger Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Dutton Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Sulphur Springs Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Old Grandpierre Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (491 more) ...
    • Loves Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Fulkerson Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Cowsert 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.<2>

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

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

  • Lusk
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Lusk is located in Pope County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lusk
  • Shetlerville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Shetlerville is located in Hardin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shetlerville
  • Raum
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Raum is located in Pope County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raum
  • Golconda
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Waltersburg
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Waltersburg is located in Pope County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waltersburg
  • Carrsville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Carrsville is located in Livingston County (KY)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrsville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
  • Rosiclare
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Hartsville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Hartsville is located in Pope County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsville
  • Eddyville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Rock
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Rock is located in Pope County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock
  • Elizabethtown
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Hicks
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Hicks is located in Hardin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Oak
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Oak is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak
    • Tansill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Tansill is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tansill
    • Allens Spring
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Allens Spring is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Spring

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

Newspapers Published in Gowins ...

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 71 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gowins.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gowins, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Gowins.

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 Gowins:

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>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 Gowins, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Gowins) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.