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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 Merna (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 Merna. 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 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.

Merna is located in McLean 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 McLean County: Champaign, De Witt, Ford, Livingston, Logan, Piatt, Tazewell & Woodford.

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

  • McLean County     (The home county of Merna)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merna, with the one closest to Merna listed first.
    • Towanda
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Cooksville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Brokaw
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Brokaw is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
    • Ellsworth
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Lexington
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Downs
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Gillum
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Gillum is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
    • Normal
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Bloomington
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Hudson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Colfax
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Arrowsmith
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Le Roy
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Champaign County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merna, with the one closest to Merna listed first.
    • Foosland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Lotus
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Lotus is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lotus
    • Fisher
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Fisher is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,911 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fisher <1>
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merna, with the one closest to Merna listed first.
    • Watkins
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Watkins is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
    • Parnell
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Parnell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
    • Fullerton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Fullerton is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
    • Wapella
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Farmer City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Birkbeck
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
    • De Witt
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • De Witt is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
    • Waynesville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Clinton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Lane
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Weldon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Hallsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
    • Tabor
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Tabor is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
  • Ford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merna, with the one closest to Merna listed first.
    • Garber
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Garber is located in Ford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garber
    • Gibson City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Gibson City is located in Ford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,275 people
      • Gibson City has also been known as:
      • Gibson
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gibson City <1>
    • Proctor
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Proctor is located in Ford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proctor
    • Sibley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Elliott
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Melvin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Livingston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merna, with the one closest to Merna listed first.
    • Fairbury
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Flanagan
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Strawn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Graymont
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Avoca ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Avoca is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
    • McDowell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • McDowell is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
    • Pontiac
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Pontiac is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pontiac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,176 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pontiac <1>
    • Forrest
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Wing
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Wing is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wing
  • Logan County
    • Atlanta
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Piatt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merna, with the one closest to Merna listed first.
    • Mansfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • De Land
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merna, with the one closest to Merna listed first.
    • Lilly
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Lilly is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
    • Minier
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Tazewell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Tazewell is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tazewell
    • Deer Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Mackinaw
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Mackinaw is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackinaw
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,861 people
      • Former name for Mackinaw:
      • Mackinawtown
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mackinaw <1>
    • Armington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Fravert ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Fravert is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fravert
    • Walnut
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Walnut is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
    • Mindale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Mindale is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mindale
    • Sutter ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Sutter is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
    • Allentown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Allentown is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allentown
    • Richmond
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Richmond is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
  • Woodford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merna, with the one closest to Merna listed first.
    • Kappa
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Kappa is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kappa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • El Paso
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Panola
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Panola is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
    • Congerville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Secor
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Goodfield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Woodford
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Woodford is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
    • Benson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Eureka
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Roanoke
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Minonk
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Merna ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Merna.

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

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

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

  • Merna Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Benjaminville Friends Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Smith Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • East Lawn Memorial Gardens
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Blue Mound Twp. Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Pennell Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Pleasant Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Bishop Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Bishop Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Lebo Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Wiley Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (233 more) ...
    • Indian Field Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Dawson Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Price Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)

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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Merna had a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Fletcher
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Fletcher is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fletcher
  • Barnes
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Barnes is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes
  • Holder
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Holder is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holder
  • Padua
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Padua is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Padua
  • Towanda
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Brokaw
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Brokaw is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
  • Cooksville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Ellsworth
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Gillum
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Gillum is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
  • Downs
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Lexington
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Normal
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Bloomington
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Hendrix
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Hendrix is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
    • Hudson
      (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 Merna. See our List of 1890's Communities around Merna.

Newspapers Published in Merna ...

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 285 newspapers that have been published in the area around Merna.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Merna, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Merna.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Merna:

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>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 Merna, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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 from Point A (ie- Merna) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.