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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 Herrick (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 Herrick. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals 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.

Herrick is located in Shelby 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 Shelby County: Christian, Coles, Cumberland, Effingham, Fayette, Macon, Montgomery & Moultrie.

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

  • Shelby County     (The home county of Herrick)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Herrick, with the one closest to Herrick listed first.
    • Cowden
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Lakewood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Lakewood is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Oconee
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Fancher
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Fancher is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher
    • Tower Hill
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Mode
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Mode is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mode
    • Shelbyville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Stewardson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Middlesworth
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Middlesworth is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesworth
    • Strasburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Yantisville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Yantisville is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville
    • Findlay
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Trowbridge
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Trowbridge is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trowbridge
  • Bond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Herrick, with the one closest to Herrick listed first.
    • Mulberry Grove
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Pleasant Mound
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
    • Smithboro
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Herrick, with the one closest to Herrick listed first.
    • Pana
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Pana is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pana
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,327 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pana <1>
    • Rosamond
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Millersville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Millersville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
    • Assumption
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Owaneco
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Velma
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Velma is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velma
    • Clarksdale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Clarksdale is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksdale
    • Palmer
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Sandersville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Sandersville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandersville
    • Morrisonville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Taylorville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Stonington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Langleyville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Langleyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langleyville
  • Cumberland County
    • Neoga
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Neoga is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neoga
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,585 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Neoga <1>
  • Effingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Herrick, with the one closest to Herrick listed first.
    • Beecher City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Beecher City is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
    • Moccasin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Moccasin is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
    • Altamont
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Shumway
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Dexter
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Dexter is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
    • Funkhouser
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Funkhouser is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funkhouser
    • Gilmore
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Gilmore is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Effingham
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Green Creek
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Green Creek is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Creek
    • Edgewood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Heartville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Heartville is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heartville
    • Mason
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Mason is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 333 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mason <1>
    • Watson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Herrick, with the one closest to Herrick listed first.
    • Dressor
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Dressor is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dressor
    • Holliday
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Holliday is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
    • Ramsey
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Bayle City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Bayle City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayle City
    • Avena
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Avena is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avena
    • Bingham
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Brownstown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Howards Point ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Howards Point is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howards Point
    • Saint Elmo
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Bluff City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Bluff City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Vandalia
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Hagarstown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Loogootee
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
  • Marion County
    • Vernon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Herrick, with the one closest to Herrick listed first.
    • Ohlman
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Wenonah
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Wenonah is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenonah
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
    • Fillmore
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Coalton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Coalton is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 282 people
    • Nokomis
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Chapman
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Chapman is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
    • Witt
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • 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>
    • Irving
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Coffeen
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Schram City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Schram City is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schram City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 542 people
    • Hillsboro
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Taylor Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Butler
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Moultrie County
    • Gays
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Gays is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gays <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Herrick ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Herrick.

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

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

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

  • Myers Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Antioch Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Buchanan Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Beck Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Prairie Union Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Staff Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Oak Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Rhodes Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Corley Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Price Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Pleasant Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Mud Run Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (427 more) ...
    • Mt. Olive Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Mound Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Bateman 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Herrick had a population of 275 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Herrick had a population of 423 people.

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

  • Dressor
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Dressor is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dressor
  • Cowden
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Ramsey
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Holliday
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Holliday is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
  • Lakewood
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Lakewood is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
  • Oconee
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Beecher City
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Beecher City is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher City
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
  • Fancher
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Fancher is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher
  • Tower Hill
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Bayle City
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Bayle City is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayle City
  • Pana
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Pana is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pana
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,327 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pana <1>
  • Moccasin
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Moccasin is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Mode
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Mode is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mode
    • Bingham
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Vera
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Vera is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vera

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Herrick ...

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 120 newspapers that have been published in the area around Herrick.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Herrick. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Herrick and those printed in the larger area surrounding Herrick.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Herrick.

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 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 Herrick:

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>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.
<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 Herrick, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Herrick) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.