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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 Ray (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 Ray. 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 and hospitals 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.

Ray is located in Schuyler 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 Schuyler County: Adams, Brown, Cass, Fulton, Hancock, Mason & McDonough.

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

  • Schuyler County     (The home county of Ray)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
    • Bader
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Bader is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
    • Browning
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Rushville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Littleton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Frederick
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Wayland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Wayland is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
    • Bluff City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Camden
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Huntsville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
  • Adams County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
    • Clayton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Blacks
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Blacks is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blacks
    • La Prairie
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Golden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Kellerville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Kellerville is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerville
  • Brown County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
    • Ripley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Ripley is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
    • Cooperstown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Cooperstown is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperstown
    • Mount Sterling
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Gilbirds
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Gilbirds is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbirds
    • Hersman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Hersman is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersman
    • Versailles
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Mound Station
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Mound Station is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Station
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Timewell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
    • Beardstown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Oak Grove
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Oak Grove is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Bluff Springs
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Hagener
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Hagener is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagener
    • Jules
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Jules is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
    • Chandlerville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Virginia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Arenzville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Burlingame
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Burlingame is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
    • Sylvan ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Sylvan is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
    • Philadelphia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Philadelphia is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Newmansville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Newmansville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
    • Astoria
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Vermont
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Table Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Summum
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Summum is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summum
    • Ipava
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Marbletown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Marbletown is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marbletown
    • Marietta
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Smithfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Lewistown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Sepo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Sepo is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sepo
    • Checkrow
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Checkrow is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Checkrow
    • Cuba
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Cuba is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,149 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cuba <1>
  • Hancock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
    • Plymouth
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Augusta
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Joetta
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Joetta is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joetta
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
    • Snicarte
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Snicarte is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snicarte
    • Bath
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • White City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • White City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
    • Havana
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Long Branch
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Long Branch is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
    • Kilbourne
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Buzzville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Buzzville is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buzzville
    • Poplar City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Topeka
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • McDonough County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
    • Doddsville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Doddsville is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doddsville
    • Industry
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Adair
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • New Philadelphia
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • New Philadelphia is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Philadelphia
    • Bardolph
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • East Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • East Village is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
    • University Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • University Village is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
    • Lamone Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Lamone Village is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamone Village
    • Macomb
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Macomb is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macomb
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,206 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Macomb <1>
    • Colchester
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Colmar
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Colmar is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
    • Tennessee
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
  • Menard County
    • Oakford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
    • Meredosia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Concord
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Arcadia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Arcadia is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
    • Literberry
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Chapin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Morgan City ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Morgan City is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
  • Pike County

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

Cemeteries Near Ray ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ray.

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

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

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

  • Gorsuch Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Pittenger Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Burress Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Christian Neck Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Davis Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Good Hope Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Tracy Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Harris Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Beghtol Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Houston Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Gay Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Phillips Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (495 more) ...
    • Edgar Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Steele Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Oak Grove Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)

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 Ray had a population of 109 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Bader
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Bader is located in Schuyler County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
  • Astoria
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Vermont
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Rushville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Pleasant View
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Pleasant View is located in Schuyler County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
  • Browning
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Littleton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Leesburg
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Leesburg is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesburg
  • Frederick
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Sheldons Grove
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Sheldons Grove is located in Schuyler County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheldons Grove
  • Industry
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Doddsville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Doddsville is located in McDonough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doddsville
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Summum
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Summum is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summum
    • Table Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Ipava
      (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 Ray. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ray.

Newspapers Published in Ray ...

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 69 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ray.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ray, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ray.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Ray:

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 Ray, 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 from Point A (ie- Ray) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.