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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 Reader (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 Reader. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Reader is located in Macoupin 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 Macoupin County: Greene, Jersey, Madison, Montgomery, Morgan & Sangamon.

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

  • Macoupin County     (The home county of Reader)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reader, with the one closest to Reader listed first.
    • Hagaman
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Hagaman is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagaman
    • Comer
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Comer is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
    • Hettick
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Chesterfield
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Challacombe
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Challacombe is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challacombe
    • Carlinville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Palmyra
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Summerville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Summerville is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerville
    • Plainview
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Medora
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Modesto
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Scottville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Calhoun County
    • Kampsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reader, with the one closest to Reader listed first.
    • Greenfield
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Rockbridge
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Wrights
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Kane
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Carrollton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Mid City ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Mid City is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mid City
    • Belltown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Belltown is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belltown
    • Roodhouse
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • White Hall
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Woody
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Woody is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woody
    • Walkerville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Walkerville is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkerville
    • Patterson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Jersey County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reader, with the one closest to Reader listed first.
    • Fidelity
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Jerseyville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Delhi
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Delhi is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi
    • McClusky
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • McClusky is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClusky
    • Dow
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Otterville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Otterville is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otterville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Fieldon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Spankey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Spankey is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spankey
    • Chautauqua
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Chautauqua is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chautauqua
    • Elsah
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reader, with the one closest to Reader listed first.
    • Dorsey
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Prairietown
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Prairietown is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairietown
    • Godfrey
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Belmont Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Belmont Village is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont Village
    • Moro
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Williamson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Altamont
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Bethalto
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Cottage Hills
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Cottage Hills is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Hills
    • Livingston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Worden
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Melville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Melville is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melville
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reader, with the one closest to Reader listed first.
    • Shop Creek
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Shop Creek is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shop Creek
    • Waggoner
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Honey Bend
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Honey Bend is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Bend
    • Litchfield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Farmersville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Raymond
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Harvel
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Walshville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Butler
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • White Oak
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • White Oak is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reader, with the one closest to Reader listed first.
    • Waverly
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Franklin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Murrayville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Woodson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Pisgah
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Pisgah is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
    • Alexander
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Arnold
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Arnold is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
    • South Jacksonville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • South Jacksonville is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jacksonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,075 people
    • Lynnville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Lynnville is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 113 people
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reader, with the one closest to Reader listed first.
    • Lowder
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Thayer
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Maxwell ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Maxwell is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
    • Auburn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Loami
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Divernon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • New Berlin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Commanche Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Commanche Village is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commanche Village
    • Glenarm
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reader, with the one closest to Reader listed first.
    • Manchester
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Alsey
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Glasgow
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Glasgow is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
  • Saint Charles County (MO)
    • Portage Des Sioux
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Reader ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Reader.

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

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

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

  • Reader Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Shiloh Baptist Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • St. Catherine Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Lumpkin Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Sell Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Bethel Baptist Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Upton Family Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Peebles Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Smith - Kirby Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Hickory Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Stultz Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Gilead Baptist Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (420 more) ...
    • Bethel Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Crossland Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Keller Family Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)

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, Reader had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Enos
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Enos is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enos
  • Hagaman
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Hagaman is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagaman
  • Chesterfield
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Comer
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Comer is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
  • Hettick
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Fayette
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Fayette is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette
  • Challacombe
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Challacombe is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challacombe
  • Macoupin
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Macoupin is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macoupin
  • Carlinville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Rockbridge
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Kemper
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Kemper is located in Jersey County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemper
  • Palmyra
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Greenfield
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Medora
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Plainview
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Reader ...

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 152 newspapers that have been published in the area around Reader.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Reader, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Reader.

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 Reader:

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