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 Luther (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 Luther. 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.
Luther is located in Mason 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 Mason County: Cass, Fulton, Logan, Menard, Schuyler & Tazewell.
Below are the counties that are near Luther. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Luther:
- Mason County (The home county of Luther)
- The following are listed by their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
- Mason City
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Natrona
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Natrona is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
- San Jose
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Teheran
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Teheran is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
- Easton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Forest City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Forest City is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
- Union
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Union is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Poplar City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Manito
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Topeka
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Kilbourne
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Goofy Ridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Goofy Ridge is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goofy Ridge
- Long Branch
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Long Branch is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
- Newmansville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Newmansville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
- Sylvan ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sylvan is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
- Ashland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Chandlerville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Gurney ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Gurney is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
- Philadelphia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Philadelphia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- De Witt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
- Midland City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Midland City is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
- Tabor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Tabor is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
- Waynesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hallsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Hallsville is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
- Kenney
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
- Liverpool
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Banner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sepo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sepo is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sepo
- Breeds
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Breeds is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breeds
- Dunfermline
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Marbletown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Marbletown is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marbletown
- Bryant
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lewistown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Saint David
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Logan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
- New Holland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Middletown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hartsburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Emden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Bell is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
- Broadwell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Broadwell is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Elkhart
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Evans
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Evans is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Lincoln
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Chestervale
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Chestervale is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
- Lawndale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Atlanta
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Cornland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- McLean County
- The following are listed by their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
- McLean
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Stanford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Menard County
- The following are listed by their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
- Greenview
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Croft
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Croft is located in Menard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
- Athens
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Petersburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oakford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Tallula
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Peoria County
- The following are listed by their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
- Kingston Mines
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Mapleton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Glasford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Sangamon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
- Cantrall
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Williamsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Sherman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Salisbury
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Salisbury is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
- Buffalo Hart
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Buffalo Hart is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Hart
- Spaulding
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Spaulding is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
- Population from the 2020 Census: 836 people
- Riverton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Ridgely
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Ridgely is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgely
- Dawson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Clear Lake
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Clear Lake is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Grandview
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Grandview is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,369 people
- Buffalo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Plains
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Schuyler County
- Bluff City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
- Winkel ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Winkel is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkel
- Delavan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Green Valley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Boynton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Boynton is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
- Brownwood ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brownwood is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
- Burt
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Burt is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
- Richmond
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Richmond is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Parkland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Parkland is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkland
- Dillon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Dillon is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillon
- South Pekin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- South Pekin is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Pekin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,081 people
- Armington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hopedale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sutter ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sutter is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Luther, see our County-by-County Page for Luther.
Cemeteries Near Luther ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Luther.
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 Luther - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Luther covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
- Swing Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Mason City Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Richmond Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Cherry Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Grove Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Cherry Grove Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<3> to the northeast of Mason City.
- The Cherry Grove Cemetery has also been known as:
- Green Mound Cemetery
- Greenmound Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #105119 <2>
- Stephen's Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Valley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Thomas Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Crites Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Big Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Allens Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Pool Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Irish Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (304 more) ...
- Greenhill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bratt Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bratt Cemetery
- The Bratt Cemetery has also been known as:
- Old Sand Hill Cemetery
- Pleasant Valley Cemetery
- Leveldale Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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>
While we didn't find Luther in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Luther.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
- Mason City
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- New Holland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Natrona
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Natrona is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
- Middletown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Greenview
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- San Jose
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Teheran
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Teheran is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
- Sweet Water
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Sweet Water is located in Menard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Water
- Burton View
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Burton View is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton View
- Easton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Curtis
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Curtis is located in Menard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtis
- Hartsburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Emden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fancy Prairie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Fancy Prairie is located in Menard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancy Prairie
- Delavan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Luther. See our List of 1890's Communities around Luther.
Newspapers Published in Luther ...
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 202 newspapers that have been published in the area around Luther.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Luther, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Luther.
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 Luther:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Mason County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cass County
- De Witt County
- Fulton County
- Logan County
- McLean County
- Menard County
- Peoria County
- Sangamon County
- Schuyler County
- Tazewell 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> | 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Luther) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Luther, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |