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 Marseilles (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 Marseilles. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Marseilles is located in La Salle 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 La Salle County: Bureau, DeKalb, Grundy, Kendall, Lee, Livingston, Marshall, Putnam & Woodford.
Below are the counties that are near Marseilles. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Marseilles:
- La Salle County (The home county of Marseilles)
- The following are listed by their distance from Marseilles, with the one closest to Marseilles listed first.
- Seneca
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Seneca is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,217 people
- Seneca has also been known as:
- Crotty
- Seneca village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Seneca <1>
- Stavanger
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Stavanger is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stavanger
- Ransom
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Grand Ridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Dayton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dayton is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- South Ottawa ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- South Ottawa is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ottawa
- Kernan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Kernan is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kernan
- Hitt
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Hitt is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitt
- Ottawa
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Naplate
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Naplate is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naplate
- Population from the 2020 Census: 465 people
- Wedron
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Blakes
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Blakes is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakes
- Kangley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Kangley is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kangley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- Bureau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Marseilles, with the one closest to Marseilles listed first.
- Dalzell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Spring Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Cherry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Ladd
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Ottville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Ottville is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottville
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Marseilles, with the one closest to Marseilles listed first.
- Somonauk
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Sandwich
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Franks
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Franks is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Marseilles, with the one closest to Marseilles listed first.
- Kinsman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Wauponsee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Wauponsee is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauponsee
- Verona
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Highland Town ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Highland Town is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Town
- Nettle Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Nettle Creek is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettle Creek
- Mazon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Morris
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Claypool
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Claypool is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool
- Gaslight Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Gaslight Village is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaslight Village
- Carbon Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Carbon Hill is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Centerville ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Centerville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Gardner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Central City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Central City is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Kankakee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Marseilles, with the one closest to Marseilles listed first.
- Reddick
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Essex
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Union Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Buckingham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kendall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Marseilles, with the one closest to Marseilles listed first.
- Lisbon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lisbon is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Newark
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Millbrook
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Plattville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Plattville is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plattville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
- Plano
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Yorkville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Little Rock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Little Rock is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
- Bristol
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lee County
- Radley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Radley is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Marseilles, with the one closest to Marseilles listed first.
- Budd
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Budd is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Budd
- Missal
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Missal is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missal
- Adams ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Adams is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Blackstone
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Sunbury
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sunbury is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbury
- Coalville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Coalville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
- Vermilion City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Vermilion City is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermilion City
- Munster
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Munster is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munster
- Dwight
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Cornell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Ancona
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Odell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Long Point
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Marseilles, with the one closest to Marseilles listed first.
- Wenona
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Evans ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Evans is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Toluca
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Marseilles, with the one closest to Marseilles listed first.
- Mount Palatine
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Mount Palatine is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Palatine
- Standard
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Granville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- McNabb
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Magnolia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mark
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Will County
- The following are listed by their distance from Marseilles, with the one closest to Marseilles listed first.
- Godley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Godley is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 771 people
- Braidwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Blodgett
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Blodgett is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blodgett
- Lakewood Shores
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Lakewood Shores is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood Shores
- Wilmington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Wilmington is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,597 people
- Custer Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Custer Park is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer Park
- Shorewood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Elwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Summerfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Summerfield is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Marseilles, see our County-by-County Page for Marseilles.
Cemeteries Near Marseilles ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Marseilles.
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 Marseilles - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Marseilles covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Marseilles, with the one closest to Marseilles listed first.
- Maxton & Woodside Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Galloway Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Riverview Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Grand Rapids Methodist Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hegland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Stebbins Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Christian Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Old Brumbach Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Nichols Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Shaver Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (237 more) ...
- Manlius Methodist Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Grand Rapids Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Marseilles had a population of 2,210 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Marseilles had a population of 4,778 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Marseilles, with the one closest to Marseilles listed first.
- Seneca
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Seneca is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,217 people
- Seneca has also been known as:
- Crotty
- Seneca village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Seneca <1>
- Grand Ridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Otter ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Otter is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otter
- Ransom
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Kinsman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Stavanger
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Stavanger is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stavanger
- Kernan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Kernan is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kernan
- Verona
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wauponsee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Wauponsee is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauponsee
- Dayton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dayton is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- South Ottawa ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- South Ottawa is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ottawa
- Hitt
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Hitt is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitt
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Richards
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Richards is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richards
- Danway
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Danway is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danway
- Ottawa
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Marseilles. See our List of 1890's Communities around Marseilles.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Marseilles ...
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 69 newspapers that have been published in the area around Marseilles.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Marseilles. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Marseilles and those printed in the larger area surrounding Marseilles.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3> of Marseilles.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Marseilles:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to La Salle County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bureau County
- DeKalb County
- Grundy County
- Kankakee County
- Kendall County
- Lee County
- Livingston County
- Marshall County
- Putnam County
- Will 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 Marseilles, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Marseilles) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |