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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 Kemper (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 Kemper. 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.

Kemper is located in Jersey 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 Jersey County: Calhoun, Greene, Macoupin, Madison & Saint Charles (MO).

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

  • Jersey County     (The home county of Kemper)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kemper, with the one closest to Kemper listed first.
    • Fidelity
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Jerseyville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Delhi
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Delhi is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi
    • McClusky
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • McClusky is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClusky
    • Dow
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Otterville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Otterville is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otterville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Fieldon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Elsah
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Spankey
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Spankey is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spankey
    • Chautauqua
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Chautauqua is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chautauqua
    • Grafton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Nutwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Nutwood is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutwood
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kemper, with the one closest to Kemper listed first.
    • Hardin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Kampsville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Michael
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Cliffdale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Cliffdale is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffdale
    • Gilead
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Gilead is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
    • Star City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Star City is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
    • Deer Plain
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Deer Plain is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Plain
    • Batchtown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Brussels
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Hamburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kemper, with the one closest to Kemper listed first.
    • Rockbridge
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Greenfield
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Kane
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Mid City ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Mid City is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mid City
    • Wrights
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Carrollton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Belltown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Belltown is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belltown
    • Woody
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Woody is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woody
    • White Hall
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Roodhouse
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Walkerville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Walkerville is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkerville
    • Eldred
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
  • Macoupin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kemper, with the one closest to Kemper listed first.
    • Challacombe
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Challacombe is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challacombe
    • Summerville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Summerville is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerville
    • Medora
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Chesterfield
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hagaman
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Hagaman is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagaman
    • Piasa
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Shipman
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Plainview
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Miles Station
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Miles Station is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miles Station
    • Comer
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Comer is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
    • Hettick
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Brighton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kemper, with the one closest to Kemper listed first.
    • Belmont Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Belmont Village is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont Village
    • Godfrey
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Dorsey
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Melville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Melville is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melville
    • Altamont
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Moro
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Prairietown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Prairietown is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairietown
    • Alton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Alton is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 26,049 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alton <1>
    • Bethalto
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Cottage Hills
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Cottage Hills is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Hills
    • East Alton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • East Alton is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Alton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,922 people
    • Rosewood Heights
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Rosewood Heights is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosewood Heights
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kemper, with the one closest to Kemper listed first.
    • Litchfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Honey Bend
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Honey Bend is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Bend
    • Shop Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Shop Creek is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shop Creek
    • Waggoner
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Walshville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kemper, with the one closest to Kemper listed first.
    • Murrayville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Franklin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Woodson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Waverly
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Pike County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kemper, with the one closest to Kemper listed first.
    • Bee Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Bee Creek is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee Creek
    • Pearl
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Sangamon County
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kemper, with the one closest to Kemper listed first.
    • Manchester
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Alsey
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Glasgow
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Glasgow is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
  • Saint Charles County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kemper, with the one closest to Kemper listed first.
    • Portage Des Sioux
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • West Alton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • West Alton is located in Saint Charles County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Alton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 529 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for West Alton <1>
  • Saint Louis County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kemper, with the one closest to Kemper listed first.
    • Black Jack
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Black Jack is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Jack
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,921 people
    • Spanish Lake
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Spanish Lake is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spanish Lake
    • Florissant
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Florissant is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florissant
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 50,795 people

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

Cemeteries Near Kemper ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Kemper.

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

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

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

  • Kemper Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Elliott Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Oakland Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Medora Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Roads Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Chism Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Witt Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Witt #1 Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Pruitt Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Longwill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Gelder Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Keller Family Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (415 more) ...
    • Rives Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Moore Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Whitlock Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Kemper had a population of 105 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Challacombe
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Challacombe is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challacombe
  • Medora
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Fidelity
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Rockbridge
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Chesterfield
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Piasa
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Hagaman
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Hagaman is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagaman
  • Fayette
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Fayette is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette
  • Greenfield
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Shipman
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Reader
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Reader is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reader
  • Kane
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Jerseyville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Miles Station
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Miles Station is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miles Station
    • Plainview
      (10 miles [16.1 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 Kemper. See our List of 1890's Communities around Kemper.

Newspapers Published in Kemper ...

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 77 newspapers that have been published in the area around Kemper.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Kemper, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Kemper.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Kemper:

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 Kemper, 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- Kemper) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.