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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 Kelsey (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 Kelsey. 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 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.

Kelsey is located in Mason 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 Mason County: Cass, Fulton, Logan, Menard, Schuyler & Tazewell.

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

  • Mason County     (The home county of Kelsey)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelsey, with the one closest to Kelsey listed first.
    • Long Branch
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Long Branch is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
    • Havana
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Poplar City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Kilbourne
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Bath
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Buzzville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Buzzville is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buzzville
    • Topeka
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Easton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • White City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • White City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
    • Goofy Ridge
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Goofy Ridge is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goofy Ridge
    • Teheran
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Teheran is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
    • Snicarte
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Snicarte is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snicarte
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelsey, with the one closest to Kelsey listed first.
    • Chandlerville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Newmansville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Newmansville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
    • Sylvan ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Sylvan is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
    • Burlingame
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Burlingame is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
    • Philadelphia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Philadelphia is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Jules
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Jules is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
    • Virginia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Gurney ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Gurney is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
    • Bluff Springs
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Ashland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Oak Grove
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Oak Grove is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Beardstown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelsey, with the one closest to Kelsey listed first.
    • Sepo
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Sepo is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sepo
    • Marbletown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Marbletown is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marbletown
    • Liverpool
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Lewistown
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Summum
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Summum is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summum
    • Bryant
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Ipava
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Astoria
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Dunfermline
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Saint David
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Cuba
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Cuba is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,149 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cuba <1>
    • Banner
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelsey, with the one closest to Kelsey listed first.
    • New Holland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Middletown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Emden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • McDonough County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelsey, with the one closest to Kelsey listed first.
    • Adair
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • New Philadelphia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • New Philadelphia is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Philadelphia
    • Industry
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Menard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelsey, with the one closest to Kelsey listed first.
    • Oakford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Greenview
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Petersburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Tallula
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Athens
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Croft
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Croft is located in Menard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelsey, with the one closest to Kelsey listed first.
    • Prentice
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Prentice is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prentice
    • Literberry
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Arcadia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Arcadia is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
  • Peoria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelsey, with the one closest to Kelsey listed first.
    • Glasford
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Kingston Mines
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Mapleton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelsey, with the one closest to Kelsey listed first.
    • Pleasant Plains
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Salisbury
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Salisbury is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
    • Cantrall
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Schuyler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelsey, with the one closest to Kelsey listed first.
    • Bluff City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Bader
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Bader is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
    • Browning
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Frederick
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Rushville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Littleton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelsey, with the one closest to Kelsey listed first.
    • Radville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Radville is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radville
    • Parkland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Parkland is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkland
    • Winkel ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Winkel is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkel
    • Green Valley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Talbott
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Talbott is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talbott
    • South Pekin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • South Pekin is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Pekin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,081 people
    • Stoehrs
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Stoehrs is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoehrs
    • Delavan
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Midway
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Midway is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Powerton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Powerton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powerton
    • Crescent
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Crescent is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
    • Hawley ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Hawley is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawley

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

Cemeteries Near Kelsey ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Kelsey.

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

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

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

  • Neteler Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Hancock - Pioneer Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Speckman Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Steging Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Laurel Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Fullerton Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Jones Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Chaney Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Samm's Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Pleasant View Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (369 more) ...
    • Bath Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Kilbourne Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Kilbourne Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Kelsey had railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Matanzas
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Matanzas is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matanzas
  • Havana
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Conover
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Conover is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conover
  • Poplar City
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Bath
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Kilbourne
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Sepo
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Sepo is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sepo
  • Topeka
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Marbletown
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Marbletown is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marbletown
  • Bluff City
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
  • Saidora
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Saidora is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saidora
  • Oakford
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Easton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Liverpool
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Bishop
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Bishop is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop

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

Newspapers Published in Kelsey ...

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 47 newspapers that have been published in the area around Kelsey.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Kelsey, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Kelsey.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Kelsey:

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 Kelsey, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Kelsey) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.