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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 Lester (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 Lester. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Lester is located in Marion 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 Marion County: Clay, Clinton, Fayette, Jefferson, Washington & Wayne.

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

  • Marion County     (The home county of Lester)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
    • Alma
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Vernon
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Kinmundy
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Patoka
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairman
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Fairman is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairman
    • Salem
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Omega
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Odin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • Bannister
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Sandoval
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Iuka
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Junction City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Junction City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
    • Cartter
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
  • Bond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
    • Mulberry Grove
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Pleasant Mound
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
    • Smithboro
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Greenville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Pocahontas
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
    • Iola
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Xenia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Kenner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Louisville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Flora
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
    • Boulder
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Boulder is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
    • Keyesport
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Centralia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Huey
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Huey is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Huey <1>
    • Marydale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Marydale is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marydale
    • Hoffman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Carlyle
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Posey
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Posey is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posey
    • Beckemeyer
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Effingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
    • Edgewood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Gilmore
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Gilmore is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Altamont
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Mason
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Mason is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 333 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mason <1>
    • Dexter
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Dexter is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
    • Moccasin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Moccasin is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
    • Watson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Funkhouser
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Funkhouser is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funkhouser
    • Beecher City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Beecher City is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
    • Heartville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Heartville is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heartville
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
    • Saint Paul
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
    • Shobonier
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint Peter
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Loogootee
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Farina
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Bluff City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Bluff City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Brownstown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Vandalia
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Avena
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Avena is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avena
    • Hagarstown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • La Clede
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • La Clede is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
    • Howards Point ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Howards Point is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howards Point
    • Saint Elmo
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
    • Dix
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • Texico
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Shields
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Shields is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
    • Idlewood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
    • Jefferson City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Jefferson City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
    • Pigeon ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
    • Chapman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Chapman is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
    • Fillmore
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Coffeen
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Shelby County
    • Herrick
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
    • Wamac
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Wamac is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wamac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
    • Baldwin Heights
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
    • Irvington
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Hoyleton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Wayne County
    • Johnsonville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Lester ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lester.

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

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

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

  • Conant Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • North Fork Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Riedle Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Crowder Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Doolen Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Holt Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Caldwell Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Jones Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Jones Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<2> to the northwest of Alma.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #106384 <3>
  • Sandy Branch Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Meador Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Martin Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (464 more) ...
    • Augsburg Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Jones Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Lee 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.<4>

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

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

  • Saint Paul
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
  • Wilberton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Wilberton is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilberton
  • Alma
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Vernon
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Patoka
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Kinmundy
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Shobonier
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Tonti
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Tonti is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tonti
  • Loogootee
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Fairman
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairman is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairman
  • Farina
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Salem
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Omega
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Saint James
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Saint James is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint James
    • Odin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • 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>

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

Newspapers Published in Lester ...

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 114 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lester.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lester, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lester.

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 helpful 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 Lester:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Lester) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<4>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 Lester, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.