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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 Osbernville (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 Osbernville. 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.

Osbernville is located in Christian 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 Christian County: Macon, Montgomery, Sangamon & Shelby.

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

  • Christian County     (The home county of Osbernville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osbernville, with the one closest to Osbernville listed first.
    • Mount Auburn
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Grove City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Grove City is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
    • Stonington
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Bolivia
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Bolivia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivia
    • Sandersville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Sandersville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandersville
    • Edinburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Sharpsburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Sharpsburg is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
    • Taylorville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Langleyville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Langleyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langleyville
    • Assumption
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Bulpitt
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Jeisyville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Jeisyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeisyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osbernville, with the one closest to Osbernville listed first.
    • Rowell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Rowell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowell
    • Kenney
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Midland City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Midland City is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
    • Hallsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
    • Tabor
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Tabor is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
    • Clinton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Lane
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osbernville, with the one closest to Osbernville listed first.
    • Latham
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Cornland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Lake Fork
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Pulaski
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Chestnut
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Chestervale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
    • Elkhart
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Broadwell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Broadwell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Beason
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Lincoln
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osbernville, with the one closest to Osbernville listed first.
    • Blue Mound
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Boody
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Niantic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Harristown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Elwin
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Macon
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Bearsdale
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Bearsdale is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
    • Turpin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Turpin is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
    • Decatur
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Warrensburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Mount Zion
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Forsyth
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Menard County
    • Croft
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Croft is located in Menard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osbernville, with the one closest to Osbernville listed first.
    • White Oak
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • White Oak is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
    • Ohlman
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Moultrie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osbernville, with the one closest to Osbernville listed first.
    • Dalton City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Bethany
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Lake City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Lake City is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
    • Dunn
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Dunn is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
    • Lovington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Cushman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Cushman is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
  • Piatt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osbernville, with the one closest to Osbernville listed first.
    • La Place
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Cerro Gordo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Lintner
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Lintner is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lintner
    • Burrowsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
    • Milmine
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Cisco
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osbernville, with the one closest to Osbernville listed first.
    • Illiopolis
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Mechanicsburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Buffalo
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Dawson
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Buffalo Hart
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Buffalo Hart is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Hart
    • Rochester
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • New City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • New City is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New City
    • Clear Lake
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Clear Lake is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
    • Riverton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Spaulding
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Spaulding is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 836 people
    • Williamsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Grandview
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Grandview is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,369 people
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osbernville, with the one closest to Osbernville listed first.
    • Moweaqua
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Yantisville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Yantisville is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville
    • Findlay
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Tower Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Osbernville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Osbernville.

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

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

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

  • Stafford Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Darmer Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Hunter Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Hall Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Pope Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Berea Christian Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Bethel Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Long Point Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Mt. Auburn Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Brown Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Muirheid Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Whitley Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (267 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 Osbernville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Osbernville.

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

  • Mount Auburn
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Blue Mound
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Boody
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Niantic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Grove City
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Grove City is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
  • Illiopolis
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Stonington
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Harristown
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Bolivia
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Bolivia is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivia
  • Walker
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Walker is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
  • Macon
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Elwin
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Wyckles
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Wyckles is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyckles
    • Willeys
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Willeys is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willeys
    • Lanesville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Lanesville is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanesville

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

Newspapers Published in Osbernville ...

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 176 newspapers that have been published in the area around Osbernville.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Osbernville, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Osbernville.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Osbernville:

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