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 Harmony (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 Harmony. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.
Harmony is located in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Franklin, Hamilton, Marion, Perry, Washington & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Harmony. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Harmony:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Harmony)
- The following are listed by their distance from Harmony, with the one closest to Harmony listed first.
- Pigeon ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Shields
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Shields is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
- Marlow
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Marlow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
- Bluford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Markham City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Markham City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham City
- Summersville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Summersville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summersville
- Texico
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Idlewood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
- Mount Vernon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Dix
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Opdyke
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Belle Rive
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harmony, with the one closest to Harmony listed first.
- Xenia
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Kenner
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kenner is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
- Flora
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Louisville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Iola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Camp Travis
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Camp Travis is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Travis
- Clay City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harmony, with the one closest to Harmony listed first.
- Centralia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hoffman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Boulder
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Boulder is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
- Huey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fayette County
- Farina
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harmony, with the one closest to Harmony listed first.
- Frisco
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Frisco is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
- Taylor Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
- Ewing
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Whittington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Sesser
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Benton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Rend City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Rend City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rend City
- Steel City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Steel City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steel City
- Akin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- West City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- West City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 626 people
- Valier
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hamilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harmony, with the one closest to Harmony listed first.
- Dahlgren
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lovilla
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
- Belle Prairie City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
- Piopolis
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
- Macedonia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Flint
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Flint is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
- Diamond City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Diamond City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
- Jefferson City ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
- Bungay
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bungay is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bungay
- McLeansboro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harmony, with the one closest to Harmony listed first.
- Hickory Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
- Union Town
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Union Town is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Town
- Kell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cartter
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cartter is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
- Iuka
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Walnut Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Bannister
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Bannister is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
- Salem
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Omega
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Omega is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
- Central City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Central City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
- Odin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Junction City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Junction City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
- Perry County
- Tamaroa
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harmony, with the one closest to Harmony listed first.
- Baldwin Heights
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
- Irvington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Wamac
(20 miles [32.2 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
- Richview
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Ashley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Radom
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Hoyleton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Du Bois
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Du Bois is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Bois
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harmony, with the one closest to Harmony listed first.
- Keenes
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wayne City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sims
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Johnsonville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Boyleston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Boyleston is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
- Cisne
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Geff
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Jeffersonville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
- Rinard
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fairfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Barnhill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Enterprise
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Enterprise is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- White County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harmony, with the one closest to Harmony listed first.
- Mill Shoals
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Springerton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Burnt Prairie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Harmony, see our County-by-County Page for Harmony.
Cemeteries Near Harmony ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Harmony.
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 Harmony - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Harmony covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Harmony, with the one closest to Harmony listed first.
- Harmony Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Clark Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- East Salem Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Atkinson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Dale Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Falley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Union Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Chapel Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Union Chapel Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<2> to the east of Dix.
- The Union Chapel Cemetery has also been known as:
- Union Chapel UMC Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1967474 <3>
- Hopewell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Newton Farm Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- East Hickory Hill MB Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Greenwalt Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (437 more) ...
- Wells Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hall Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Old Panther Fork Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Harmony in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Harmony.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Harmony, with the one closest to Harmony listed first.
- Pigeon ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Divide
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Divide is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Divide
- Marlow
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Marlow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
- Bluford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hickory Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
- Idlewood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
- Mount Vernon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Dix
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Keenes
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Foxville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Foxville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foxville
- Opdyke
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Orchardville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Orchardville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchardville
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Wayne City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Boyd
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Boyd is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyd
- Drivers
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Drivers is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drivers
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Harmony. See our List of 1890's Communities around Harmony.
Newspapers Published in Harmony ...
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 88 newspapers that have been published in the area around Harmony.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Harmony, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Harmony.
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 Harmony:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clay County
- Clinton County
- Fayette County
- Franklin County
- Hamilton County
- Marion County
- Perry County
- Washington County
- Wayne County
- White 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> | 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- Harmony) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Harmony, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |