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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 Keenesville (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 Keenesville. 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 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.

Keenesville is located in Wayne 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 Wayne County: Clay, Edwards, Hamilton, Jefferson, Marion, Richland & White.

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

  • Wayne County     (The home county of Keenesville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Keenesville, with the one closest to Keenesville listed first.
    • Keenes
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Wayne City
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Sims
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Johnsonville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Boyleston
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
    • Geff
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Jeffersonville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
    • Cisne
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Fairfield
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Rinard
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Enterprise
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Enterprise is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Barnhill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Mount Erie
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Keenesville, with the one closest to Keenesville listed first.
    • Xenia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Kenner
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Flora
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Camp Travis
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Camp Travis is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Travis
    • Clay City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Louisville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Iola
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Sailor Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Clinton County
    • Centralia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Edwards County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Keenesville, with the one closest to Keenesville listed first.
    • Ellery
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Bennington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Bennington is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennington
    • Marion
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Marion is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
  • Fayette County
    • Farina
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Keenesville, with the one closest to Keenesville listed first.
    • Frisco
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Frisco is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
    • Taylor Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
    • Ewing
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Whittington
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Akin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Benton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Sesser
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Steel City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Steel City is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steel City
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Keenesville, with the one closest to Keenesville listed first.
    • Belle Prairie City
      (13 miles [20.9 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
    • Dahlgren
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Piopolis
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
    • Lovilla
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
    • Bungay
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Bungay is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bungay
    • Jefferson City ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
    • Diamond City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Diamond City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
    • McLeansboro
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Flint
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Flint is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
    • Macedonia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Dale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Keenesville, with the one closest to Keenesville listed first.
    • Shields
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Shields is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
    • Pigeon ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
    • Markham City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Markham City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham City
    • Bluford
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Marlow
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Marlow is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
    • Belle Rive
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Opdyke
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Summersville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Summersville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summersville
    • Texico
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Idlewood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
    • Mount Vernon
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Dix
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Dix is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dix
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dix <1>
    • Bonnie
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Keenesville, with the one closest to Keenesville listed first.
    • Hickory Hill
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
    • Union Town
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Union Town is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Town
    • Kell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Iuka
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Cartter
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
    • Bannister
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Omega
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Salem
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Walnut Hill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Alma
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Odin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Odin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,004 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Odin <1>
    • Kinmundy
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Central City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Central City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Keenesville, with the one closest to Keenesville listed first.
    • Wynoose
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Wynoose is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
    • Gallagher
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Gallagher is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
    • Noble
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Keenesville, with the one closest to Keenesville listed first.
    • Baldwin Heights
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
    • Irvington
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Wamac
      (27 miles [43.5 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
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Ashley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Radom
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Radom is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radom
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Radom <1>
  • White County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Keenesville, with the one closest to Keenesville listed first.
    • Mill Shoals
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Springerton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Burnt Prairie
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Enfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Keenesville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Keenesville.

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

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

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

  • Atteberry Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Tyler Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Crask Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Ten Post Oak Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Dobbs Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Mifflin Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Wood Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Bruce Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Bradford Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Anderson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Garrison Temple Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Egbert Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (429 more) ...
    • Thomason Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Hopewell Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Greenwalt 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.<2>

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

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

  • Keenes
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Wayne City
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Pigeon ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
  • Sims
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Orchardville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Orchardville is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchardville
  • Bluford
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Hickory Hill
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
  • Marlow
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Marlow is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
  • Mayberry
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Mayberry is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayberry
  • Johnsonville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Divide
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Divide is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Divide
  • Boyleston
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Opdyke
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Belle Rive
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Geff
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Keenesville ...

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 116 newspapers that have been published in the area around Keenesville.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Keenesville, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Keenesville.

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 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 Keenesville:

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>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 Keenesville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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- Keenesville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.