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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 Heman (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 Heman. 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.

Heman is located in Macon 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 Macon County: Christian, De Witt, Logan, Moultrie, Piatt, Sangamon & Shelby.

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

  • Macon County     (The home county of Heman)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heman, with the one closest to Heman listed first.
    • Warrensburg
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Bearsdale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Bearsdale is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
    • Forsyth
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Harristown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Niantic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Maroa
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Decatur
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Oreana
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Boody
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Elwin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Sangamon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Sangamon is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
    • Turpin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Turpin is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heman, with the one closest to Heman listed first.
    • Mount Auburn
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Bolivia
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Bolivia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivia
    • Grove City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Grove City is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
    • Stonington
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Sandersville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Sandersville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandersville
    • Edinburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Sharpsburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Sharpsburg is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
    • Assumption
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Taylorville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Bulpitt
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Kincaid
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Langleyville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Langleyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langleyville
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heman, with the one closest to Heman listed first.
    • Rowell
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Rowell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowell
    • Kenney
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Midland City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Midland City is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
    • Hallsville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
    • Clinton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Tabor
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Tabor is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
    • Lane
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Wapella
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Waynesville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Birkbeck
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
    • Weldon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • De Witt
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • De Witt is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heman, with the one closest to Heman listed first.
    • Latham
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Chestnut
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Pulaski
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Lake Fork
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Beason
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Chestervale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
    • Cornland
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Broadwell
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Broadwell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Lincoln
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Lawndale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Elkhart
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Atlanta
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
  • McLean County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heman, with the one closest to Heman listed first.
    • McLean
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Heyworth
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
  • Menard County
    • Croft
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Croft is located in Menard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
  • Moultrie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heman, with the one closest to Heman listed first.
    • Dalton City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake City is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
    • Bethany
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Lovington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Piatt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heman, with the one closest to Heman listed first.
    • Cerro Gordo
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Cisco
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • La Place
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Milmine
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Lintner
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Lintner is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lintner
    • Burrowsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
    • De Land
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Bement
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Monticello
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Voorhies
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Voorhies is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
    • Hammond
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heman, with the one closest to Heman listed first.
    • Illiopolis
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Buffalo
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Mechanicsburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Buffalo Hart
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Buffalo Hart is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Hart
    • Dawson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Spaulding
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Spaulding is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 836 people
    • Williamsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Riverton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Rochester
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Clear Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Clear Lake is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
    • Sherman
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Grandview
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Grandview is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,369 people
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heman, with the one closest to Heman listed first.
    • Moweaqua
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Yantisville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Yantisville is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heman, with the one closest to Heman listed first.
    • Armington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Burt
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Burt is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt

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

Cemeteries Near Heman ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Heman.

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

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

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

  • Illini Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Two Mile Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Emery Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Lake Bank Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Bank Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Lake Bank Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<2> to the west of Latham.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #106512 <3>
  • Harristown Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Macon County Memorial Park
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Boiling Springs Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Upper Ridge Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Long Point Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Crum Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Sharon Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Bell Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (255 more) ...
    • Whitley Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Fairlawn Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Calvary Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 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.<4>

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

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

  • Warrensburg
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Latham
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Bearsdale
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Bearsdale is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
  • Niantic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Harristown
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Wyckles
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Wyckles is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyckles
  • Forsyth
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Emery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Emery is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emery
  • Chestnut
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Illiopolis
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Rowell
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Rowell is located in De Witt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowell
  • Decatur
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Maroa
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Kenney
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Mount Pulaski
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Heman ...

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 173 newspapers that have been published in the area around Heman.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Heman, 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 Heman.

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 Heman:

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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Heman) 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 Heman, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.