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 Murdock (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 Murdock. 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.
Murdock is located in Douglas 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 Douglas County: Champaign, Coles, Edgar, Moultrie, Piatt & Vermilion.
Below are the counties that are near Murdock. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Murdock:
- Douglas County (The home county of Murdock)
- The following are listed by their distance from Murdock, with the one closest to Murdock listed first.
- Newman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Camargo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Fairland
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Fairland is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairland
- Patterson Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Patterson Springs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson Springs
- Villa Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Villa Grove is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,414 people
- Hindsboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Kemp
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Kemp is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemp
- Tuscola
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Filson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Filson is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Filson
- Hayes
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Hayes is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
- Arcola
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ficklin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Ficklin is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ficklin
- Champaign County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murdock, with the one closest to Murdock listed first.
- Longview
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Broadlands
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pesotum
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Philo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Rutherford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Rutherford is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutherford
- Sidney
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Tolono
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Homer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Sadorus
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Mira
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Mira is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mira
- Savoy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mayview
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Mayview is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayview
- Clark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murdock, with the one closest to Murdock listed first.
- Westfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Cleone
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Cleone is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleone
- Oilfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Oilfield is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oilfield
- Clarksville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Clarksville is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksville
- Coles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murdock, with the one closest to Murdock listed first.
- Oakland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Rardin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Rardin is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rardin
- Bushton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Bushton is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushton
- Saint Omer ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Saint Omer is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Omer
- Ashmore
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Humboldt
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Charleston
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Dorans
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Dorans is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorans
- Cooks Mills
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Cooks Mills is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
- Hutton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Hutton is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutton
- Mattoon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lerna
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murdock, with the one closest to Murdock listed first.
- Diona
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Diona is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diona
- Janesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Edgar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murdock, with the one closest to Murdock listed first.
- Brocton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hume
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Palermo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Palermo is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palermo
- Borton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Borton is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borton
- Metcalf
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Redmon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Kansas
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Bloomfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Bloomfield is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield
- Chrisman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Conlogue
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Conlogue is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conlogue
- Grandview
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Grandview is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Paris
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Moultrie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murdock, with the one closest to Murdock listed first.
- Cadwell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Cadwell is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadwell
- Coles
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Coles is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coles
- Allenville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Allenville is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Lovington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Cushman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Cushman is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
- Piatt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murdock, with the one closest to Murdock listed first.
- Atwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Voorhies
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Voorhies is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Bement
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Hammond
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Burrowsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
- Monticello
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- White Heath
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Vermilion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murdock, with the one closest to Murdock listed first.
- Allerton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Archie
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Archie is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archie
- Sidell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Indianola
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Fairmount
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ridge Farm
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Vermilion Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Vermilion Grove is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermilion Grove
- Busenville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Busenville is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busenville
- Fithian
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Muncie
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Olivet
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Olivet is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Catlin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Vermillion County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Murdock, with the one closest to Murdock listed first.
- Dana
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Dana is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 564 people
- Saint Bernice
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Saint Bernice is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Bernice
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Murdock, see our County-by-County Page for Murdock.
Cemeteries Near Murdock ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Murdock.
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 Murdock - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Murdock covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Murdock, with the one closest to Murdock listed first.
- Murdock Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Albin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jordan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Antioch Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Gill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Hammett Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Oak Ridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Broadus Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Van Voorhis Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Gwinn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Villa Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (335 more) ...
- Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Immaculate Conception Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Joseph Cemetery
- The St. Joseph Cemetery has also been known as:
- Bongard Cemetery
- Immaculate Conception Cemetery
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 Murdock had a population of 92 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Murdock, with the one closest to Murdock listed first.
- Hugo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hugo is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hugo
- Newman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Camargo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Fairland
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Fairland is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairland
- Villa Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Villa Grove is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,414 people
- West Ridge
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- West Ridge is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ridge
- Hindsboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Broadlands
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Kemp
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Kemp is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemp
- Brocton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Oakland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Hughes
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Hughes is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hughes
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Allerton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tuscola
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Filson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Filson is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Filson
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Murdock. See our List of 1890's Communities around Murdock.
Newspapers Published in Murdock ...
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 70 newspapers that have been published in the area around Murdock.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Murdock, 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 Murdock.
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 Murdock:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Douglas County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Champaign County
- Clark County
- Coles County
- Cumberland County
- Edgar County
- Moultrie County
- Piatt County
- Vermilion County
- Vermillion 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> | 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 Murdock, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Murdock) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |