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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 Greathouse Ford (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 Greathouse Ford. 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 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.

Greathouse Ford is located in Wayne 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 Wayne County: Clay, Edwards, Hamilton, Jefferson, Marion, Richland & White.

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

  • Wayne County     (The home county of Greathouse Ford)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Greathouse Ford, with the one closest to Greathouse Ford listed first.
    • Johnsonville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Wayne City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Keenes
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Sims
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Cisne
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Rinard
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Geff
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Jeffersonville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
    • Boyleston
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
    • Enterprise
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Enterprise is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Fairfield
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Barnhill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Greathouse Ford, with the one closest to Greathouse Ford listed first.
    • Xenia
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Kenner
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Flora
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Camp Travis
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Camp Travis is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Travis
    • Clay City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Louisville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Sailor Springs
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Iola
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Ingraham
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Clinton County
    • Centralia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Edwards County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Greathouse Ford, with the one closest to Greathouse Ford listed first.
    • Bennington
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Bennington is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennington
    • Ellery
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Marion
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Marion is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
    • Maple Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Maple Grove is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Greathouse Ford, with the one closest to Greathouse Ford listed first.
    • Farina
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • La Clede
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • La Clede is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
    • Saint Peter
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Greathouse Ford, with the one closest to Greathouse Ford listed first.
    • Frisco
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Frisco is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
    • Taylor Hill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
    • Ewing
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Whittington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Greathouse Ford, with the one closest to Greathouse Ford listed first.
    • Belle Prairie City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
    • Dahlgren
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Piopolis
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
    • Lovilla
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
    • Bungay
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Bungay is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bungay
    • Jefferson City ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
    • Diamond City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Diamond City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
    • McLeansboro
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Flint
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Flint is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
    • Macedonia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Greathouse Ford, with the one closest to Greathouse Ford listed first.
    • Shields
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Shields is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
    • Pigeon ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
    • Bluford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Markham City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Markham City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham City
    • Marlow
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Marlow is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
    • Texico
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Summersville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Summersville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summersville
    • Belle Rive
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Opdyke
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Dix
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Dix is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dix
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dix <1>
    • Idlewood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
    • Mount Vernon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Greathouse Ford, with the one closest to Greathouse Ford listed first.
    • Union Town
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Union Town is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Town
    • Hickory Hill
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
    • Iuka
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Kell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Bannister
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Cartter
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
    • Omega
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Salem
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Walnut Hill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Alma
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Kinmundy
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Odin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Odin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,004 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Odin <1>
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Greathouse Ford, with the one closest to Greathouse Ford listed first.
    • Wynoose
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Wynoose is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
    • Gallagher
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Gallagher is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
    • Noble
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Passport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Passport is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passport
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Greathouse Ford, with the one closest to Greathouse Ford listed first.
    • Baldwin Heights
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
    • Wamac
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Wamac is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wamac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
    • Irvington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Richview
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • White County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Greathouse Ford, with the one closest to Greathouse Ford listed first.
    • Mill Shoals
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Burnt Prairie
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Springerton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Enfield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Greathouse Ford ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Greathouse Ford.

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 Greathouse Ford - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Wolfe Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Bradford Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Dobbs Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Ten Post Oak Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Jacob Chapel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Forth Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Garrison Temple Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Crask Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Atteberry Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Anderson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Greenwalt Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Tyler Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (438 more) ...
    • Wesley Chapel Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Lee Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 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.<2>

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

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

  • Orchardville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Orchardville is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchardville
  • Johnsonville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Wayne City
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Hickory Hill
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
  • Pigeon ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
  • Keenes
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Sims
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Bluford
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Divide
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Divide is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Divide
  • Cisne
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Rinard
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Marlow
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Marlow is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Xenia
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Boyleston
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
    • Geff
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Greathouse Ford ...

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 106 newspapers that have been published in the area around Greathouse Ford.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Greathouse Ford, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Greathouse Ford.

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 Greathouse Ford:

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 Greathouse Ford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Greathouse Ford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.