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 Preston (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 Preston. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Preston is located in Randolph 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 Randolph County: Jackson, Monroe, Perry, Saint Clair, Washington, Perry (MO) & Sainte Genevieve (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Preston. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Preston:
- Randolph County (The home county of Preston)
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Walsh
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Walsh is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walsh
- Evansville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Baldwin
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Houston
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Houston is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston
- Ellis Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- New Palestine
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- New Palestine is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Palestine
- Blair
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Blair is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair
- Ruma
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Ruma is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
- Sparta
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Red Bud
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Modoc
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Modoc is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modoc
- Bremen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- New Memphis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- New Baden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Damiansville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Damiansville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damiansville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 484 people
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Campbell Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Degognia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Degognia is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Degognia
- Ava
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Jacob
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Oraville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Hecker
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Renault
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Burksville Station
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Burksville Station is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burksville Station
- Burksville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Burksville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burksville
- Fults
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Maeystown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Wartburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wartburg is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wartburg
- Waterloo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Madonnaville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Madonnaville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madonnaville
- Chalfin Bridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Chalfin Bridge is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalfin Bridge
- Foster Pond ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Foster Pond is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster Pond
- Monroe City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Monroe City is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe City
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Cutler
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Willisville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Conant
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Conant is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conant
- Winkle
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Winkle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkle
- Denmark
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Denmark is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Pinckneyville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Pyatts
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Pyatts is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyatts
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Marissa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lenzburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- New Athens
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- 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
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Lementon is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lementon
- Fayetteville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Fayetteville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 336 people
- Saint Libory
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Freeburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Smithton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Mascoutah
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Millstadt
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Belleville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Clarmin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Clarmin is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarmin
- Caspars
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Caspars is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caspars
- Elkton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Elkton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Stone Church
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Stone Church is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone Church
- Oakdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Venedy
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Venedy is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venedy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
- Addieville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Okawville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Posen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Posen is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posen
- Nashville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jefferson County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Crystal City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Festus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Festus is located in Jefferson County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Festus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 12,114 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Festus <1>
- Herculaneum
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Perry County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Lithium
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Lithium is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lithium
- McBride
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- McBride is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBride
- Sereno
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Sereno is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sereno
- Perryville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Farrar
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Farrar is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farrar
- Eureka
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Eureka is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Longtown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Longtown is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longtown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
- Silver Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Silver Lake is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
- Saint Francois County (MO)
- French Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Little Rock Landing ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Little Rock Landing is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock Landing
- Sainte Genevieve
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Quarry Town
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Quarry Town is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quarry Town
- Quarry Town has also been known as:
- Quarrytown
- Saint Mary
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Marlo ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Marlo is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlo
- Clement ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Clement is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clement
- Zell
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Zell is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zell
- Ozora
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ozora is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ozora
- Brickeys
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Brickeys is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brickeys
- Former names for Brickeys:
- Brickeys Gristmill
- Brickeys Landing
- Bloomsdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Needmore
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Needmore is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needmore
- River aux Vases
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- River aux Vases is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River aux Vases
- Former name for River aux Vases:
- Staabtown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Preston, see our County-by-County Page for Preston.
Cemeteries Near Preston ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Preston.
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 Preston - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Preston covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Preston Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- St. Pius Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Kelly Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- St. Boniface Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- St. Peters Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- McCormick Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Schmoll Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Lively Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Stipe Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Hughes Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lessley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (344 more) ...
- Baldwin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- St. John 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 in 1895, Preston had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Evansville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Houston
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Houston is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston
- Baldwin
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Ellis Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- New Palestine
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- New Palestine is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Palestine
- Blair
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Blair is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair
- Ruma
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Ruma is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
- Sparta
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Modoc
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Modoc is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modoc
- Red Bud
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ames
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Ames is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ames
- Bremen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Marissa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Steeleville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Tilden
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Preston. See our List of 1890's Communities around Preston.
Newspapers Published in Preston ...
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 138 newspapers that have been published in the area around Preston.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Preston, 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 Preston.
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 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 Preston:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Randolph County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clinton County
- Jackson County
- Monroe County
- Perry County
- Saint Clair County
- Washington County
- Jefferson County
- Perry County
- Saint Francois County
- Sainte Genevieve 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 Preston, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Preston) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |