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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 Larkdale (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 Larkdale. 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.

Larkdale is located in Macon 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 Macon County: Christian, De Witt, Logan, Moultrie, Piatt, Sangamon & Shelby.

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

  • Macon County     (The home county of Larkdale)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Larkdale, with the one closest to Larkdale listed first.
    • Decatur
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Forsyth
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Sangamon
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Sangamon is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
    • Oreana
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Bearsdale
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Bearsdale is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
    • Turpin
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Turpin is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
    • Long Creek
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • 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
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Argenta
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Elwin
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Harristown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Warrensburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Champaign County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Larkdale, with the one closest to Larkdale listed first.
    • Ivesdale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Seymour
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Sadorus
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Larkdale, with the one closest to Larkdale listed first.
    • Mount Auburn
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Stonington
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Grove City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Grove City is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
    • Sandersville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Sandersville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandersville
    • Bolivia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Bolivia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivia
    • Assumption
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Edinburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Sharpsburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Sharpsburg is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
    • Taylorville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Velma
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Velma is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velma
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Larkdale, with the one closest to Larkdale listed first.
    • Rowell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Rowell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowell
    • Lane
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Kenney
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Clinton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Weldon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Birkbeck
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
    • Hallsville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
    • De Witt
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • De Witt is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
    • Midland City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Midland City is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
    • Fullerton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Fullerton is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
    • Wapella
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Tabor
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Tabor is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
  • Douglas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Larkdale, with the one closest to Larkdale listed first.
    • Garrett
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Garrett is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
    • Arthur
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Chicken Bristle
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Chicken Bristle is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicken Bristle
    • Ficklin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Ficklin is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ficklin
    • Chesterville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Chesterville is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Larkdale, with the one closest to Larkdale listed first.
    • Latham
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Chestnut
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Pulaski
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Beason
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Lake Fork
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Chestervale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
    • Cornland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Lincoln
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Atlanta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Broadwell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Broadwell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Lawndale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • McLean County
    • Heyworth
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Moultrie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Larkdale, with the one closest to Larkdale listed first.
    • Dalton City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake City is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
    • Bethany
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Lovington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Dunn
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Dunn is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
    • Cushman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Cushman is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
    • Cadwell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Cadwell is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadwell
    • Sullivan
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Allenville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Allenville is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
  • Piatt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Larkdale, with the one closest to Larkdale listed first.
    • Cerro Gordo
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • La Place
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Milmine
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Cisco
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Lintner
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Lintner is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lintner
    • Burrowsville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
    • Voorhies
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Voorhies is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
    • Bement
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Hammond
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Monticello
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • De Land
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Atwood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Larkdale, with the one closest to Larkdale listed first.
    • Illiopolis
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Buffalo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Mechanicsburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Buffalo Hart
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Buffalo Hart is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Hart
    • Dawson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Larkdale, with the one closest to Larkdale listed first.
    • Moweaqua
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Yantisville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Yantisville is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville
    • Findlay
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Larkdale ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Larkdale.

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

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

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

  • St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Spangler Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Wheeler Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Garver Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Graceland Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • North Fork Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Ritchie Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Fairlawn Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Cross Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Union Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (257 more) ...
    • Boiling Springs Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Sharon Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Walnut Grove Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)

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>

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

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

  • Decatur
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Sangamon
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Sangamon is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
  • Forsyth
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Oreana
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Oakley
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Bearsdale
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Bearsdale is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
  • Wyckles
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Wyckles is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyckles
  • Turpin
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Turpin is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
  • Emery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Emery is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emery
  • Long Creek
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • 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
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Harristown
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Elwin
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Argenta
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Warrensburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Larkdale ...

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 94 newspapers that have been published in the area around Larkdale.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Larkdale, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Larkdale.

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 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 Larkdale:

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