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 Plum Hill (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 Plum Hill. 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 and doctors 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.
Plum Hill is located in Washington 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 Washington County: Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, Perry, Randolph & Saint Clair.
Below are the counties that are near Plum Hill. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Plum Hill:
- Washington County (The home county of Plum Hill)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plum Hill, with the one closest to Plum Hill listed first.
- Addieville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Okawville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Elkton
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Elkton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Oakdale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Stone Church
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Stone Church is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone Church
- Nashville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Venedy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Venedy is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venedy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
- New Minden
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- New Minden is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Minden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
- Caspars
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Caspars is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caspars
- Posen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Posen is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posen
- Hoyleton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Clarmin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Clarmin is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarmin
- Bond County
- Pierron
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plum Hill, with the one closest to Plum Hill listed first.
- Damiansville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Damiansville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damiansville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 484 people
- Bartelso
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- New Memphis
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Germantown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Albers
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Posey
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Posey is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posey
- New Baden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Beckemeyer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Breese
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Hoffman
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Aviston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Carlyle
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Jackson County
- Campbell Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plum Hill, with the one closest to Plum Hill listed first.
- Roaches
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Roaches is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaches
- Jefferson City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Jefferson City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
- Woodlawn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Scheller
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Waltonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Emerson City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Emerson City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson City
- Marcoe
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Marcoe is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcoe
- Fitzgerrell ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fitzgerrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzgerrell
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plum Hill, with the one closest to Plum Hill listed first.
- Sebastopol
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Sebastopol is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebastopol
- Highland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Saint Jacob
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plum Hill, with the one closest to Plum Hill listed first.
- Central City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Central City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
- Junction City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Junction City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
- Walnut Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Sandoval
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fairman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fairman is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairman
- Odin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Monroe County
- Hecker
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plum Hill, with the one closest to Plum Hill listed first.
- Winkle
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Winkle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkle
- Pinckneyville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Conant
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Conant is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conant
- Tamaroa
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cutler
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Denmark
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Denmark is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Pyatts
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Pyatts is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyatts
- Sunfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sunfield is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
- Willisville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Saint Johns
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Johns is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Du Quoin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Du Quoin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Quoin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,591 people
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plum Hill, with the one closest to Plum Hill listed first.
- Coulterville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Tilden
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sparta
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Houston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Houston is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston
- Baldwin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Percy
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Steeleville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Blair
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Blair is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair
- Preston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Preston is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Preston
- Walsh
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Walsh is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walsh
- Red Bud
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Bremen
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plum Hill, with the one closest to Plum Hill listed first.
- Saint Libory
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Marissa
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Fayetteville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Fayetteville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 336 people
- Mascoutah
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lenzburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Summerfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- New Athens
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- New Athens is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Athens
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,865 people
- Lementon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Lementon is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lementon
- Freeburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Lebanon
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Shiloh
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- O'Fallon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Plum Hill, see our County-by-County Page for Plum Hill.
Cemeteries Near Plum Hill ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Plum Hill.
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 Plum Hill - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Plum Hill covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Plum Hill, with the one closest to Plum Hill listed first.
- St. Johns Evangelical Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Neunlist Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Zion Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Addieville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Toensing Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Kinyon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Staude Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- St. Peters Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Husemann Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Elkhorn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cordes Evangelical Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Olive Branch Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (413 more) ...
- Zetsche Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Damian Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
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 Plum Hill had a population of 84 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Plum Hill, with the one closest to Plum Hill listed first.
- Addieville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Okawville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Lively Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lively Grove is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lively Grove
- Oakdale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Stone Church
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Stone Church is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone Church
- Nashville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Venedy Station
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Venedy Station is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venedy Station
- Venedy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Venedy is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venedy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
- Johannisburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Johannisburg is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johannisburg
- Caspars
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Caspars is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caspars
- New Minden
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- New Minden is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Minden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
- Saint Libory
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Damiansville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Damiansville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damiansville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 484 people
- New Memphis Station
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- New Memphis Station is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Memphis Station
- Bartelso
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Plum Hill. See our List of 1890's Communities around Plum Hill.
Newspapers Published in Plum Hill ...
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 119 newspapers that have been published in the area around Plum Hill.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Plum Hill, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Plum Hill.
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 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 Plum Hill:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bond County
- Clinton County
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Madison County
- Marion County
- Monroe County
- Perry County
- Randolph County
- Saint Clair 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 Plum Hill, 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- Plum Hill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |