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 Kirksville (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 Kirksville. 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.
Kirksville is located in Moultrie 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 Moultrie County: Coles, Douglas, Macon, Piatt & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near Kirksville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Kirksville:
- Moultrie County (The home county of Kirksville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirksville, with the one closest to Kirksville listed first.
- Sullivan
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dunn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Dunn is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
- Allenville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Allenville is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Cushman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Cushman is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
- Bethany
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lovington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Cadwell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cadwell is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadwell
- Coles
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Coles is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coles
- Dalton City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gays
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lake City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Lake City is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
- Champaign County
- Ivesdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Christian County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirksville, with the one closest to Kirksville listed first.
- Assumption
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Pana
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sandersville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Sandersville is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandersville
- Millersville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Millersville is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
- Owaneco
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Stonington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Rosamond
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Velma
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Velma is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velma
- Coles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirksville, with the one closest to Kirksville listed first.
- Cooks Mills
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Cooks Mills is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
- Mattoon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Dorans
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Dorans is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorans
- Magnet
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Magnet is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnet
- Humboldt
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Trilla
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lerna
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Charleston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Bushton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Bushton is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushton
- Rardin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Rardin is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rardin
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirksville, with the one closest to Kirksville listed first.
- Neoga
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Johnstown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Johnstown is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnstown
- Janesville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bradbury
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bradbury is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradbury
- Toledo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirksville, with the one closest to Kirksville listed first.
- Arthur
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Chesterville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Chesterville is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
- Arcola
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Garrett
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Garrett is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
- Ficklin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ficklin is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ficklin
- Filson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Filson is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Filson
- Chicken Bristle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Chicken Bristle is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicken Bristle
- Tuscola
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kemp
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Kemp is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemp
- Hayes
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hayes is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
- Hindsboro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Patterson Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Patterson Springs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson Springs
- Effingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirksville, with the one closest to Kirksville listed first.
- Green Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Green Creek is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Creek
- Shumway
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Beecher City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Beecher City is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
- Moccasin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Moccasin is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
- Fayette County
- Holliday
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Holliday is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirksville, with the one closest to Kirksville listed first.
- Hervey City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hervey City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hervey City
- Casner
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Casner is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casner
- Long Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Long Creek is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,262 people
- Mount Zion
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Macon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Turpin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Turpin is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
- Elwin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sangamon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sangamon is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
- Boody
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Decatur
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Blue Mound
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Oreana
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Piatt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirksville, with the one closest to Kirksville listed first.
- Burrowsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
- Lintner
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Lintner is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lintner
- Hammond
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- La Place
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Atwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Voorhies
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Voorhies is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Cerro Gordo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Milmine
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Bement
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Cisco
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kirksville, with the one closest to Kirksville listed first.
- Findlay
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Windsor
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Middlesworth
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Middlesworth is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesworth
- Yantisville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Yantisville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville
- Shelbyville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sexson Corner
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sexson Corner is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexson Corner
- Strasburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Trowbridge
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Trowbridge is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trowbridge
- Moweaqua
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Lakewood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lakewood is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Tower Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Fancher
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Fancher is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Kirksville, see our County-by-County Page for Kirksville.
Cemeteries Near Kirksville ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Kirksville.
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 Kirksville - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Kirksville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Kirksville, with the one closest to Kirksville listed first.
- Camfield Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Ellis Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Wright Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hampton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Welborn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Moultrie County Memorial Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Greenhill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Thomason Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Souther Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Henderson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Findlay Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (348 more) ...
- Quigley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Mitchell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Purvis Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
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 Kirksville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Kirksville.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Kirksville, with the one closest to Kirksville listed first.
- Sullivan
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dunn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Dunn is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
- Findlay
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bruce
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Bruce is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruce
- Todds Point
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Todds Point is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Todds Point
- Allenville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Allenville is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Cushman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Cushman is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
- Bethany
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lovington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Yantisville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Yantisville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville
- Middlesworth
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Middlesworth is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesworth
- Coles
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Coles is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coles
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Williamsburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Williamsburg is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
- Ullrich
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Ullrich is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ullrich
- Gays
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Kirksville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Kirksville.
Newspapers Published in Kirksville ...
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 Kirksville.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Kirksville, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Kirksville.
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 Kirksville:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Moultrie County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Champaign County
- Christian County
- Coles County
- Cumberland County
- Douglas County
- Effingham County
- Fayette County
- Macon County
- Piatt County
- Shelby County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Illinois
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 Kirksville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- Kirksville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |