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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 Loogootee (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 Loogootee. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.

Loogootee is located in Fayette 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 Fayette County: Bond, Clay, Clinton, Effingham, Marion, Montgomery & Shelby.

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

  • Fayette County     (The home county of Loogootee)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Loogootee, with the one closest to Loogootee listed first.
    • Saint Peter
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Farina
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Saint Paul
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
    • La Clede
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • La Clede is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
    • Howards Point ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Howards Point is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howards Point
    • Saint Elmo
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Avena
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Avena is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avena
    • Brownstown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Bluff City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Bluff City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Shobonier
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Vandalia
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Hagarstown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Dressor
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Dressor is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dressor
  • Bond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Loogootee, with the one closest to Loogootee listed first.
    • Mulberry Grove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Pleasant Mound
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
    • Smithboro
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Greenville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Loogootee, with the one closest to Loogootee listed first.
    • Iola
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Louisville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Xenia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Kenner
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Flora
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Ingraham
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Sailor Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Clay City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Loogootee, with the one closest to Loogootee listed first.
    • Boulder
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Boulder is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
    • Keyesport
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Centralia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Effingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Loogootee, with the one closest to Loogootee listed first.
    • Gilmore
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Gilmore is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Edgewood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Altamont
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Mason
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • 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
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Dexter is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
    • Moccasin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Moccasin is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
    • Watson
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Funkhouser
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Funkhouser is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funkhouser
    • Beecher City
      (19 miles [30.6 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
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Heartville is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heartville
    • Effingham
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Shumway
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Teutopolis
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Jasper County
    • Wheeler
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Loogootee, with the one closest to Loogootee listed first.
    • Kinmundy
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Alma
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Omega
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Vernon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Patoka
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bannister
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Salem
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Iuka
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Fairman
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Fairman is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairman
    • Odin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • Sandoval
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Cartter
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
    • Junction City
      (26 miles [41.8 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
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Loogootee, with the one closest to Loogootee listed first.
    • Fillmore
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Chapman
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Chapman is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Loogootee, with the one closest to Loogootee listed first.
    • Herrick
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Cowden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Fancher
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Fancher is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher
    • Mode
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Mode is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mode
    • Stewardson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Lakewood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Lakewood is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Sigel
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Oconee
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Loogootee ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Loogootee.

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

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

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

  • Harris Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Old St. Peter Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • New St. Peter Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Ambuehl Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Old Loogootee Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • German Reformed Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Lovett Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Stein Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Arm Prairie Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Frogtown Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Sidener Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (474 more) ...
    • Farina Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Besing Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Cheshier Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)

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 Loogootee had a population of 85 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Saint James
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Saint James is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint James
  • Wilberton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Wilberton is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilberton
  • Saint Paul
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
  • Farina
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • La Clede
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • La Clede is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
  • Avena
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Avena is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avena
  • Saint Elmo
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Brownstown
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Lester
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Lester is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
  • Kinmundy
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Gilmore
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Gilmore is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
  • Edgewood
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Altamont
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Shobonier
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Mason
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • 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>

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

Newspapers Published in Loogootee ...

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 141 newspapers that have been published in the area around Loogootee.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Loogootee, 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 Loogootee.

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 Loogootee:

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 '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- Loogootee) 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 Loogootee, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.