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 Prairie Hall (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 Prairie Hall. 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 southeast 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 south.
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 south 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.
Prairie Hall is located in Macon 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 Macon County: Christian, De Witt, Logan, Moultrie, Piatt, Sangamon & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near Prairie Hall. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Prairie Hall:
- Macon County (The home county of Prairie Hall)
- The following are listed by their distance from Prairie Hall, with the one closest to Prairie Hall listed first.
- Casner
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Casner is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casner
- Hervey City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Hervey City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hervey City
- Long Creek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Long Creek is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,262 people
- Mount Zion
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Turpin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Turpin is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
- Sangamon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Sangamon is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
- Decatur
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Elwin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Macon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Oreana
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Boody
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Bearsdale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bearsdale is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
- Forsyth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Champaign County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prairie Hall, with the one closest to Prairie Hall listed first.
- Ivesdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sadorus
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Pesotum
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Seymour
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Christian County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prairie Hall, with the one closest to Prairie Hall listed first.
- Assumption
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sandersville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sandersville is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandersville
- Stonington
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Mount Auburn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Grove City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Grove City is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
- Millersville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Millersville is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
- Owaneco
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Velma
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Velma is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velma
- Pana
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bolivia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Bolivia is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivia
- Taylorville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Coles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prairie Hall, with the one closest to Prairie Hall listed first.
- Cooks Mills
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Cooks Mills is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
- Humboldt
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Dorans
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Dorans is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorans
- Mattoon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Magnet
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Magnet is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnet
- De Witt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prairie Hall, with the one closest to Prairie Hall listed first.
- Lane
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Weldon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Rowell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rowell is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowell
- Clinton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Kenney
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Birkbeck
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
- De Witt
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- De Witt is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prairie Hall, with the one closest to Prairie Hall listed first.
- Arthur
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Garrett
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Garrett is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
- Chesterville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Chesterville is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
- Chicken Bristle
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Chicken Bristle is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicken Bristle
- Ficklin
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Ficklin is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ficklin
- Arcola
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Tuscola
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Hayes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hayes is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
- Filson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Filson is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Filson
- Logan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prairie Hall, with the one closest to Prairie Hall listed first.
- Latham
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Chestnut
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Moultrie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prairie Hall, with the one closest to Prairie Hall listed first.
- Lake City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Lake City is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
- Dalton City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Bethany
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Lovington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Cushman
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cushman is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
- Dunn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dunn is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
- Cadwell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Cadwell is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadwell
- Sullivan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Allenville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Allenville is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Coles
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Coles is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coles
- Gays
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Piatt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prairie Hall, with the one closest to Prairie Hall listed first.
- La Place
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lintner
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lintner is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lintner
- Burrowsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
- Cerro Gordo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Hammond
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Milmine
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Voorhies
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Voorhies is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Bement
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Atwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Cisco
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Monticello
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- De Land
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- White Heath
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sangamon County
- Illiopolis
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prairie Hall, with the one closest to Prairie Hall listed first.
- Yantisville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Yantisville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville
- Moweaqua
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Findlay
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Middlesworth
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Middlesworth is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesworth
- Windsor
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Shelbyville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Tower Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Sexson Corner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sexson Corner is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexson Corner
- Strasburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Lakewood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lakewood is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Prairie Hall, see our County-by-County Page for Prairie Hall.
Cemeteries Near Prairie Hall ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Prairie Hall.
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 Prairie Hall - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Prairie Hall covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Prairie Hall, with the one closest to Prairie Hall listed first.
- St. Isadora Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Florey Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pt. Pleasant Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Zion Presbyterian Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- New Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- LaPlace Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- LaPlace Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Ridge Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Hewitt Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- North Fork Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Walker Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Continue List (278 more) ...
- Bethany Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mitchell Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pea Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Prairie Hall had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Prairie Hall, with the one closest to Prairie Hall listed first.
- Dalton City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Lake City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Lake City is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
- Casner
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Casner is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casner
- Hervey City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Hervey City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hervey City
- La Place
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Long Creek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Long Creek is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,262 people
- Ullrich
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Ullrich is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ullrich
- Mount Zion
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lintner
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lintner is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lintner
- Bethany
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Turpin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Turpin is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
- Lovington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Sangamon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Sangamon is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
- Burrowsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
- Oakley
(8 miles [12.9 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 Prairie Hall. See our List of 1890's Communities around Prairie Hall.
Newspapers Published in Prairie Hall ...
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 284 newspapers that have been published in the area around Prairie Hall.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Prairie Hall, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Prairie Hall.
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 Prairie Hall:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Macon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Champaign County
- Christian County
- Coles County
- De Witt County
- Douglas County
- Logan County
- Moultrie County
- Piatt County
- Sangamon County
- Shelby 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> | 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 Prairie Hall, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Prairie Hall) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |