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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 Harvel (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 Harvel. 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 and hospitals 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.

Harvel is primarily located in Montgomery County. A portion of Harvel extends into Christian 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 Montgomery County: Bond, Christian, Fayette, Macoupin, Madison, Sangamon & Shelby.

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

  • Montgomery County     (The home county of Harvel)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harvel, with the one closest to Harvel listed first.
    • Raymond
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Waggoner
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Farmersville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Honey Bend
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Honey Bend is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Bend
    • Shop Creek
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Shop Creek is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shop Creek
    • White Oak
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • White Oak is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
    • Butler
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Hillsboro
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Irving
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Witt
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Witt is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 833 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Witt <1>
    • Coalton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Coalton is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 282 people
    • Nokomis
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Schram City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Schram City is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schram City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 542 people
  • Bond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harvel, with the one closest to Harvel listed first.
    • Sorento
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Reno
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Reno is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harvel, with the one closest to Harvel listed first.
    • Morrisonville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Palmer
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Zenobia
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Zenobia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenobia
    • Clarksdale
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Clarksdale is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksdale
    • Kincaid
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Tovey
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Tovey is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tovey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 467 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tovey <1>
    • Jeisyville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Jeisyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeisyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
    • Langleyville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Langleyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langleyville
    • Bulpitt
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Taylorville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Rosamond
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Owaneco
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Velma
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Velma is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velma
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harvel, with the one closest to Harvel listed first.
    • Bingham
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Bayle City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Bayle City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayle City
    • Ramsey
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Dressor
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Dressor is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dressor
  • Macoupin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harvel, with the one closest to Harvel listed first.
    • Standard City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Standard City is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standard City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
    • Girard
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Nilwood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Virden
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Hornsby
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Hornsby is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornsby
    • Carlinville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Eagarville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • East Gillespie
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • East Gillespie is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gillespie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
    • Lake Ka-ho
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Lake Ka-ho is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Ka-ho
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
      • Lake Ka-ho has also been known as:
      • Lake Ka-Ho village
    • Gillespie
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Mount Olive
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Benld
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Benld is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benld
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,406 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Benld <1>
    • Comer
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Comer is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harvel, with the one closest to Harvel listed first.
    • New Douglas
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Williamson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Livingston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Morgan County
    • Waverly
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harvel, with the one closest to Harvel listed first.
    • Divernon
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Commanche Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Commanche Village is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commanche Village
    • Pawnee
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Thayer
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Glenarm
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Auburn
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • New City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • New City is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New City
    • Lowder
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Chatham
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Woodside
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Woodside is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodside
    • Rochester
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Loami
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Maxwell ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Maxwell is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harvel, with the one closest to Harvel listed first.
    • Oconee
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Herrick
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Tower Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Harvel ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Harvel.

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

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

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

  • Harvel Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Raymond City Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Asbury Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asbury Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Asbury Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<2> to the south of Raymond.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #104561 <3>
  • St. Raymond Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Raymond Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Raymond Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<2> to the south of Raymond.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108088 <3>
  • St. Maurice Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Morrisonville Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Cass Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Crawford Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Roberts Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Ware's Grove Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Montgomery Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • St. John's Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (330 more) ...
    • Palmer Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Providence Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Rovey Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Harvel had a population of 246 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Harvel had a population of 210 people.

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

  • Raymond
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Morrisonville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Zanesville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Zanesville is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zanesville
  • Waggoner
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Shop Creek
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Shop Creek is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shop Creek
  • Honey Bend
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Honey Bend is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Bend
  • Farmersville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Palmer
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • White Oak
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • White Oak is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
  • Barnett
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Barnett is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
  • Atwater
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Zenobia
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Zenobia is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenobia
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Butler
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Thomasville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Thomasville is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomasville
    • McVey
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • McVey is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McVey

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

Newspapers Published in Harvel ...

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 170 newspapers that have been published in the area around Harvel.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Harvel, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Harvel.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites 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 Harvel:

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 '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- Harvel) 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 Harvel, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.