RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Illinois >> Mason County >> Matanzas >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Matanzas (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 Matanzas. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Matanzas 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 Matanzas. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Matanzas:

  • Mason County     (The home county of Matanzas)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Matanzas, with the one closest to Matanzas listed first.
    • Long Branch
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Long Branch is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
    • Bath
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Havana
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Kilbourne
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Poplar City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • White City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • White City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
    • Snicarte
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Snicarte is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snicarte
    • Buzzville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Buzzville is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buzzville
    • Topeka
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Easton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Goofy Ridge
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Goofy Ridge is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goofy Ridge
    • Teheran
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Teheran is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Matanzas, with the one closest to Matanzas listed first.
    • Chandlerville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Newmansville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Newmansville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
    • Sylvan ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Sylvan is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
    • Virginia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Jules
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Jules is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
    • Burlingame
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Burlingame is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
    • Philadelphia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Philadelphia is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Bluff Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Oak Grove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Oak Grove is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Gurney ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Gurney is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
    • Beardstown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Ashland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Matanzas, with the one closest to Matanzas listed first.
    • Marbletown
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Marbletown is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marbletown
    • Sepo
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Sepo is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sepo
    • Summum
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Summum is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summum
    • Lewistown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Liverpool
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Astoria
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Ipava
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Bryant
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Vermont
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Cuba
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Cuba is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,149 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cuba <1>
    • Dunfermline
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Saint David
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Matanzas, with the one closest to Matanzas listed first.
    • New Holland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Middletown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • McDonough County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Matanzas, with the one closest to Matanzas listed first.
    • Adair
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • New Philadelphia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • New Philadelphia is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Philadelphia
    • Industry
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Doddsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Doddsville is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doddsville
    • Bardolph
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Bushnell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Menard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Matanzas, with the one closest to Matanzas listed first.
    • Oakford
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Petersburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Greenview
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Tallula
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Athens
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Croft
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Croft is located in Menard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Matanzas, with the one closest to Matanzas listed first.
    • Prentice
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Prentice is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prentice
    • Literberry
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Arcadia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Arcadia is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
  • Peoria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Matanzas, with the one closest to Matanzas listed first.
    • Glasford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Kingston Mines
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Mapleton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Matanzas, with the one closest to Matanzas listed first.
    • Pleasant Plains
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Salisbury
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Salisbury is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
    • Cantrall
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Schuyler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Matanzas, with the one closest to Matanzas listed first.
    • Bluff City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Bader
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Bader is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
    • Browning
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Frederick
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Rushville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Littleton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Matanzas, with the one closest to Matanzas listed first.
    • Radville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Radville is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radville
    • Parkland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Parkland is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkland
    • Winkel ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Winkel is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkel
    • Talbott
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Talbott is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talbott
    • Green Valley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • South Pekin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • South Pekin is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Pekin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,081 people
    • Stoehrs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Stoehrs is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoehrs
    • Delavan
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Hawley ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Hawley is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawley
    • Midway
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Midway is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Powerton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Powerton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powerton

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

Cemeteries Near Matanzas ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Matanzas.

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

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

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

  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Speckman Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Bath Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Neteler Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Hancock - Pioneer Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Jones Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Foutch Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Laurel Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Fullerton Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Kearney Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Hickory Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (383 more) ...
    • Mt. Zion Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Mt. Zion Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Steging Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)

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 in 1895, Matanzas had railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Bath
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Kelsey
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Kelsey is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsey
  • Conover
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Conover is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conover
  • Havana
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Marbletown
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Marbletown is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marbletown
  • Bluff City
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
  • Kilbourne
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Sepo
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Sepo is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sepo
  • Poplar City
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Saidora
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Saidora is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saidora
  • Summum
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Summum is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summum
  • Snicarte
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Snicarte is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snicarte
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Sheldons Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Sheldons Grove is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheldons Grove
    • Lewistown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Oakford
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Matanzas ...

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 61 newspapers that have been published in the area around Matanzas.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Matanzas, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Matanzas.

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 Matanzas:

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