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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 Reeds (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 Reeds. 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.

Name Variations for Reeds ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

While the name of this community is Reeds, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Reeds may originally have been Reed's.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Reeds. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Reeds.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 doctors 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.

Reeds is located in Henderson 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 Henderson County: Des Moines (IA), Lee (IA), Hancock, McDonough, Mercer & Warren.

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

  • Henderson County     (The home county of Reeds)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reeds, with the one closest to Reeds listed first.
    • Rozetta
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Rozetta is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rozetta
    • Biggsville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Biggsville is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
    • Oquawka
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Gladstone
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Milroy
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Milroy is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
    • Media
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Media is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
    • Olena
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Olena is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
    • Stronghurst
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Raritan
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Raritan is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raritan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
    • Gulf Port
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Gulf Port is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf Port
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
    • Carman
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Terre Haute
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
    • Iowa Junction
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
  • Fulton County
    • Avon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Hancock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reeds, with the one closest to Reeds listed first.
    • Disco
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Disco is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Disco
    • La Harpe
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • La Harpe is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Harpe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,123 people
    • Dallas City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Pontoosuc
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Pontoosuc is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pontoosuc
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
    • Colusa
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Henry County
    • Alpha
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reeds, with the one closest to Reeds listed first.
    • Henderson Grove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Henderson Grove is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson Grove
    • Abingdon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Galesburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Henderson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Rio
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint Augustine
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • East Galesburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • East Galesburg is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Galesburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
    • De Long
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • De Long is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Long
    • Knoxville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Knox
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Knox is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
    • Wataga
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • McDonough County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reeds, with the one closest to Reeds listed first.
    • Sciota
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Blandinsville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Good Hope
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Prairie City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Prairie City is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
    • Bushnell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Mercer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reeds, with the one closest to Reeds listed first.
    • Seaton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Keithsburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Sunbeam
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Sunbeam is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbeam
    • Norwood
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Norwood is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
    • Alexis
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Burgess
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Burgess is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
    • Aledo
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Joy
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Joy is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 377 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Joy <2>
    • New Boston
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • North Henderson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Mannon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Mannon is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mannon
    • Gilchrist
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
    • Shale City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Shale City is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
  • Rock Island County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reeds, with the one closest to Reeds listed first.
    • Buffalo Prairie
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Reynolds
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Warren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reeds, with the one closest to Reeds listed first.
    • Kirkwood
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Little York
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Eleanor
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Eleanor is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
    • Smithshire
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Monmouth
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Gerlaw
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Roseville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Cameron
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Berwick
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Surrey
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Surrey is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surrey
    • Utah
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Utah is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
    • Shanghai City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Shanghai City is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai City
    • Youngstown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Youngstown is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngstown
  • Des Moines County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reeds, with the one closest to Reeds listed first.
    • Kingston
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Kingston is located in Des Moines County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
    • Burlington
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Burlington is located in Des Moines County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24,516 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Burlington <2>
    • Sperry
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Sperry is located in Des Moines County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sperry
    • Dodgeville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Dodgeville is located in Des Moines County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodgeville
    • Mediapolis
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • West Burlington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Patterson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Patterson is located in Des Moines County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
    • Kline
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Kline is located in Des Moines County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kline
    • Middletown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Middletown is located in Des Moines County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
    • Danville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Danville is located in Des Moines County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
    • Yarmouth
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
  • Henry County (IA)
    • New London
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Lee County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reeds, with the one closest to Reeds listed first.
    • Wever
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • South Augusta
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • South Augusta is located in Lee County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Augusta
    • Denmark
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Louisa County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reeds, with the one closest to Reeds listed first.
    • Oakville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Elrick Junction
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Elrick Junction is located in Louisa County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrick Junction
    • Morning Sun
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Wapello
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Wapello is located in Louisa County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapello
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,999 people

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

Cemeteries Near Reeds ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Reeds.

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

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

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

  • Smith Creek Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Reed Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Cumberland Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Rozetta Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Stockton Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Coghill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Biggsville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Center Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Pleasant Green Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Fall Creek Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • South Henderson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (333 more) ...
    • County Farm Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Salter's Grove Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Sugar Tree Grove Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)

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.<5>

While we didn't find Reeds in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Reeds.

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

  • Rozetta
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Rozetta is located in Henderson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rozetta
  • Kirkwood
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Oquawka
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Gladstone
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Little York
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Smithshire
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Eleanor
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Eleanor is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
  • Milroy
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Milroy is located in Henderson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
  • Media
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Media is located in Henderson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
  • Ponemah
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Ponemah is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponemah
  • Monmouth
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Olena
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Olena is located in Henderson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Ellison ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Ellison is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellison
    • Larchland
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Larchland is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larchland
    • Ormonde
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Ormonde is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ormonde

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

Newspapers Published in Reeds ...

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 114 newspapers that have been published in the area around Reeds.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Reeds, 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 Reeds.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Reeds:

Footnotes ...

<1>It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties).
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Reeds) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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.
<5>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 Reeds, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.