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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 Middleton (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 Middleton. 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 doctors and 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.

Middleton is located in Wayne 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 Wayne County: Clay, Edwards, Hamilton, Jefferson, Marion, Richland & White.

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

  • Wayne County     (The home county of Middleton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Middleton, with the one closest to Middleton listed first.
    • Keenes
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Wayne City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Sims
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Boyleston
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
    • Barnhill
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Fairfield
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Geff
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Jeffersonville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
    • Johnsonville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Cisne
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Rinard
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Enterprise
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Enterprise is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Middleton, with the one closest to Middleton listed first.
    • Xenia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Kenner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Flora
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Clinton County
    • Centralia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Edwards County
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Middleton, with the one closest to Middleton listed first.
    • Frisco
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Frisco is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
    • Taylor Hill
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
    • Ewing
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Whittington
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Akin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Benton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Steel City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Steel City is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steel City
    • Hanaford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Hanaford is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanaford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 316 people
    • Sesser
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Parrish
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Parrish is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrish
    • Smothersville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Smothersville is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smothersville
    • Rend City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Rend City is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rend City
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Middleton, with the one closest to Middleton listed first.
    • Dahlgren
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Belle Prairie City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
    • Lovilla
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
    • Piopolis
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
    • Jefferson City ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
    • Diamond City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Diamond City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
    • McLeansboro
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Flint
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Flint is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
    • Macedonia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Bungay
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Bungay is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bungay
    • Dale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Walpole
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Walpole is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walpole
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Middleton, with the one closest to Middleton listed first.
    • Markham City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Markham City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham City
    • Bluford
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Belle Rive
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Marlow
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Marlow is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
    • Opdyke
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Pigeon ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
    • Summersville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Summersville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summersville
    • Shields
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Shields is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
    • Mount Vernon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Idlewood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
    • Bonnie
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Texico
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Middleton, with the one closest to Middleton listed first.
    • Hickory Hill
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
    • Union Town
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Union Town is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Town
    • Kell
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Cartter
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
    • Iuka
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Walnut Hill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Bannister
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Salem
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Omega
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Central City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Central City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
    • Odin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Odin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,004 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Odin <1>
  • Saline County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Middleton, with the one closest to Middleton listed first.
    • Cornerville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Cornerville is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerville
    • Long Branch
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Long Branch is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Middleton, with the one closest to Middleton listed first.
    • Baldwin Heights
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
    • Ashley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Irvington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Radom
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Radom is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radom
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Radom <1>
    • Richview
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Wamac
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Wamac is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wamac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
    • Du Bois
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Du Bois is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Bois
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
  • White County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Middleton, with the one closest to Middleton listed first.
    • Mill Shoals
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Springerton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Burnt Prairie
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Enfield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Norris City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Stokes
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Stokes is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
    • Carmi
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Middleton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Middleton.

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

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

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

  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Salem Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Mt. Olive Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Laird Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Atchison Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Egbert Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Wood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Thomason Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Bruce Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Shelton Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Flint Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (447 more) ...

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>

While we didn't find Middleton in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Middleton.

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

  • Keenes
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Bluford
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Belle Rive
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Wayne City
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Opdyke
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Dahlgren
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Mayberry
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Mayberry is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayberry
  • Marlow
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Marlow is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
  • Sims
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Pigeon ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
  • Piopolis
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
  • Delafield
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Delafield is located in Hamilton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delafield
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Mount Vernon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Spring Garden
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Spring Garden is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Garden
    • Boyleston
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston

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

Newspapers Published in Middleton ...

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 79 newspapers that have been published in the area around Middleton.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Middleton, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Middleton.

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 Middleton:

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 Middleton, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Middleton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.