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 Matthews (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 Matthews. 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 doctors 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.
Matthews is located in Perry 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 Perry County: Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Randolph & Washington.
Below are the counties that are near Matthews. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Matthews:
- Perry County (The home county of Matthews)
- The following are listed by their distance from Matthews, with the one closest to Matthews listed first.
- Pyatts
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Pyatts is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyatts
- Pinckneyville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Denmark
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Denmark is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Du Quoin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Du Quoin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Quoin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,591 people
- Saint Johns
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Johns is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Conant
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Conant is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conant
- Sunfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sunfield is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
- Cutler
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Willisville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Tamaroa
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Winkle
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Winkle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkle
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Matthews, with the one closest to Matthews listed first.
- Mulkeytown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Royalton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Coello
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- North City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- North City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 566 people
- Christopher
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Valier
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Zeigler
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Buckner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Sesser
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Plumfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Plumfield is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plumfield
- Cambon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Cambon is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambon
- Orient
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Rend City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Rend City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rend City
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Matthews, with the one closest to Matthews listed first.
- Vergennes
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Dowell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Oraville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Elkville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ava
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hallidayboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hallidayboro is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallidayboro
- Campbell Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- De Soto
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Murphysboro
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Degognia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Degognia is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Degognia
- Jacob
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Gorham
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Carbondale
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Matthews, with the one closest to Matthews listed first.
- Emerson City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Emerson City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson City
- Scheller
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fitzgerrell ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fitzgerrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzgerrell
- Waltonville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Dareville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dareville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dareville
- Nason
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ina
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ina is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,279 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ina <1>
- Roaches
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Roaches is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaches
- Bonnie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Marcoe
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Marcoe is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcoe
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Matthews, with the one closest to Matthews listed first.
- Percy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Shiloh Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Shiloh Hill is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh Hill
- Steeleville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Leanderville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Leanderville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leanderville
- Welge
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Welge is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welge
- Coulterville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Rockwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Sparta
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Blair
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Blair is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair
- Bremen
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Tilden
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Chester
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- New Palestine
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- New Palestine is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Palestine
- Saint Clair County
- Marissa
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Matthews, with the one closest to Matthews listed first.
- Alto Pass
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Cobden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Water Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Water Valley is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Valley
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Matthews, with the one closest to Matthews listed first.
- Du Bois
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Du Bois is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Bois
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Posen
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Posen is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posen
- Oakdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Radom
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Clarmin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Clarmin is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarmin
- Elkton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Elkton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Nashville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Ashley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Caspars
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Caspars is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caspars
- Addieville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Stone Church
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stone Church is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone Church
- Richview
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Matthews, with the one closest to Matthews listed first.
- Bush
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bush is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
- Population from the 2020 Census: 263 people
- Hurst
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Blairsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Blairsville is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsville
- Cambria
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Colp
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Colp is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colp
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Former name for Colp:
- Colpville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Colp <1>
- Dewmaine
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Dewmaine is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewmaine
- Freeman Spur
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Freeman Spur is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman Spur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 276 people
- Freeman Spur has also been known as:
- Freeman Spur village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Freeman Spur <1>
- Carterville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Crainville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Crainville is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crainville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,419 people
- Herrin Junction ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Herrin Junction is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrin Junction
- Herrin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Energy
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Stiritz
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Stiritz is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiritz
- Perry County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Matthews, with the one closest to Matthews listed first.
- Altenburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Farrar
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Farrar is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farrar
- Brazeau
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Brazeau is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazeau
- Frohna
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Frohna is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frohna
- Population from the 2020 Census: 241 people
- McBride
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- McBride is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBride
- Eureka
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Eureka is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Sereno
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sereno is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sereno
- Longtown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Longtown is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longtown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
- Lithium
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Lithium is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lithium
- Uniontown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Uniontown is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Matthews, see our County-by-County Page for Matthews.
Cemeteries Near Matthews ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Matthews.
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 Matthews - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Matthews covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Matthews, with the one closest to Matthews listed first.
- Creek Paum Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- House Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Greenbrier Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Tuthill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sutter Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Ross Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Joubert Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Birkner Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Parrish Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cudgetown Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Underwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Ditzler Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (401 more) ...
- Vancil Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- McElvain Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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>
While we didn't find Matthews in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Matthews.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Matthews, with the one closest to Matthews listed first.
- Grubbs
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Grubbs is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grubbs
- Pyatts
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Pyatts is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyatts
- Vergennes
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sato
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Sato is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sato
- Denny
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Denny is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denny
- Oraville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Pinckneyville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Denmark
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Denmark is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Ava
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Elkville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Du Quoin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Du Quoin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Quoin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,591 people
- Saint Johns
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Johns is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Conant
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Conant is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conant
- Sunfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sunfield is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
- Campbell Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Matthews. See our List of 1890's Communities around Matthews.
Newspapers Published in Matthews ...
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 118 newspapers that have been published in the area around Matthews.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Matthews, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Matthews.
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 websites either 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 Matthews:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Perry County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Randolph County
- Saint Clair County
- Union County
- Washington County
- Williamson County
- Perry 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 Matthews, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Matthews) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |