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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 Hanks Station (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 Hanks Station. 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.

Name Variations for Hanks Station ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

  • A typical abbreviation for Hanks Station: Hanks Sta. (in Canada, 'Stn.' is the more common abbreviation.)
  • While the name of this community is Hanks Station, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Hanks Station may originally have been Hank's Station.

    Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Hanks Station might be written as Hank Station.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 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.

Hanks Station is located in Greene 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 Greene County: Calhoun, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan, Pike & Scott.

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

  • Greene County     (The home county of Hanks Station)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanks Station, with the one closest to Hanks Station listed first.
    • Patterson
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Wilmington
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Wilmington is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
    • White Hall
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Hillview
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Roodhouse
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Walkerville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Walkerville is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkerville
    • Belltown
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Belltown is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belltown
    • Carrollton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Wrights
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Eldred
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Woody
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Woody is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woody
    • Mid City ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Mid City is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mid City
    • Greenfield
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanks Station, with the one closest to Hanks Station listed first.
    • Cliffdale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Cliffdale is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffdale
    • Kampsville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Michael
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Belleview
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Belleview is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
    • Mozier
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Hamburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Hardin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Star City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Star City is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
    • Gilead
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Gilead is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
    • Batchtown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Cass County
    • Arenzville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Jersey County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanks Station, with the one closest to Hanks Station listed first.
    • Spankey
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Spankey is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spankey
    • Fieldon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Jerseyville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Nutwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Nutwood is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutwood
    • Fidelity
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Otterville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Otterville is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otterville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • McClusky
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • McClusky is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClusky
    • Delhi
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Delhi is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi
  • Macoupin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanks Station, with the one closest to Hanks Station listed first.
    • Scottville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Hagaman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Hagaman is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagaman
    • Hettick
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Palmyra
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Challacombe
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Challacombe is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challacombe
    • Chesterfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Modesto
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Medora
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Summerville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Summerville is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerville
    • Comer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Comer is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
    • Piasa
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanks Station, with the one closest to Hanks Station listed first.
    • Murrayville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Lynnville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Lynnville is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 113 people
    • Woodson
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Chapin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Morgan City ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Morgan City is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
    • South Jacksonville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • South Jacksonville is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jacksonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,075 people
    • Jacksonville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Pisgah
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Pisgah is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
    • Concord
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Arnold
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Arnold is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
    • Franklin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Meredosia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Arcadia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Arcadia is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
  • Pike County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanks Station, with the one closest to Hanks Station listed first.
    • Bedford
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Pearl
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Bee Creek
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Bee Creek is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee Creek
    • Milton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Straut
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Straut is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Straut
    • Florence
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Florence is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 36 people
    • Detroit
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Detroit is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Detroit
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
    • Time
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Time is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Time
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
    • Nebo
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Valley City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Valley City is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
    • Pittsfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Martinsburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Martinsburg is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsburg
    • Griggsville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanks Station, with the one closest to Hanks Station listed first.
    • Glasgow
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Glasgow is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
    • Alsey
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Manchester
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Winchester
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Oxville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Oxville is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxville
    • Exeter
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Exeter is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
    • Bluffs
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Naples
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
  • Lincoln County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanks Station, with the one closest to Hanks Station listed first.
    • Elsberry
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Elsberry is located in Lincoln County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elsberry
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,098 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elsberry <2>
    • New Hope
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • New Hope is located in Lincoln County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
  • Pike County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanks Station, with the one closest to Hanks Station listed first.
    • Annada
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Annada is located in Pike County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annada
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 28 people
    • Clarksville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Paynesville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Paynesville is located in Pike County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
    • Sledd
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Sledd is located in Pike County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sledd
    • Calumet
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Calumet is located in Pike County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calumet
    • Louisiana
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Hanks Station ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hanks Station.

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 Hanks Station - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Hanks Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Pinetree Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Hicks Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Wilmington Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Johnson Burial Ground
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Parr Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • William Wood Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Rawlins Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Bluefield Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • North Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (475 more) ...
    • Kinser Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Highstreet Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • White Hall Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)

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>

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

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

  • Patterson
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • White Hall
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Barrow
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Barrow is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrow
  • Walkerville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Walkerville is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkerville
  • Roodhouse
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Glasgow
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Glasgow is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
  • Berdan
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Berdan is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berdan
  • Alsey
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Bedford
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Montezuma
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Montezuma is located in Pike County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montezuma
  • Pearl
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Bee Creek
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Bee Creek is located in Pike County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee Creek
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Manchester
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Cliffdale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Cliffdale is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffdale
    • Hurricane ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Hurricane is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurricane

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

Newspapers Published in Hanks Station ...

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 110 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hanks Station.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hanks Station, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Hanks Station.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Hanks Station:

Footnotes ...

<1>It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties).
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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 Hanks Station, 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' (or 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- Hanks Station) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.