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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 Riffle (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 Riffle. 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 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.

Riffle is located in Clay 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 Clay County: Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Marion, Richland & Wayne.

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

  • Clay County     (The home county of Riffle)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riffle, with the one closest to Riffle listed first.
    • Iola
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Louisville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Flora
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Sailor Springs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Kenner
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Ingraham
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Xenia
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Clay City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Camp Travis
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Camp Travis is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Travis
  • Edwards County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riffle, with the one closest to Riffle listed first.
    • Bennington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Bennington is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennington
    • Marion
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Marion is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
  • Effingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riffle, with the one closest to Riffle listed first.
    • Edgewood
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Mason
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Mason is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 333 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mason <1>
    • Watson
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Gilmore
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Gilmore is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Heartville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Heartville is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heartville
    • Altamont
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Dexter
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Dexter is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
    • Funkhouser
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Funkhouser is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funkhouser
    • Dieterich
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Effingham
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Teutopolis
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Moccasin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Moccasin is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riffle, with the one closest to Riffle listed first.
    • La Clede
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • La Clede is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
    • Farina
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Saint Peter
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Loogootee
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Howards Point ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Howards Point is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howards Point
    • Saint Elmo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint Paul
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
    • Avena
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Avena is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avena
    • Brownstown
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Bluff City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Bluff City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Shobonier
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riffle, with the one closest to Riffle listed first.
    • Bogota
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Bogota is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogota
    • Wheeler
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Lis
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Lis is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lis
    • Newton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • West Liberty
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • West Liberty is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Liberty
    • Falmouth
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Falmouth is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth
    • Sainte Marie
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Rose Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Rose Hill is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riffle, with the one closest to Riffle listed first.
    • Shields
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Shields is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
    • Pigeon ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
    • Texico
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riffle, with the one closest to Riffle listed first.
    • Omega
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Kinmundy
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Iuka
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Alma
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Bannister
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Union Town
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Union Town is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Town
    • Hickory Hill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
    • Salem
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Cartter
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
    • Kell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Patoka
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Vernon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riffle, with the one closest to Riffle listed first.
    • Passport
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Passport is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passport
    • Wakefield
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Wakefield is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakefield
    • Noble
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Wynoose
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Wynoose is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
    • Gallagher
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Gallagher is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
    • Dundas
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Olney
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Olney is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olney
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,667 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olney <1>
    • Calhoun
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Shelby County
    • Sigel
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riffle, with the one closest to Riffle listed first.
    • Rinard
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Johnsonville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Cisne
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Enterprise
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Enterprise is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Geff
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Jeffersonville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
    • Mount Erie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Sims
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Riffle ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Riffle.

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

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

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

  • Brown Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Riffle Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Speaks Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Christian Home Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Newton Chapel Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Tolliver Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Orchard Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Red Brush Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Rodgers Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Burge Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Old Louisville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Woods Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (453 more) ...
    • Iola Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Oskaloosa Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Golden Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)

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, Riffle had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Louisville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Iola
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Oskaloosa
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Oskaloosa is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oskaloosa
  • Hord
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Hord is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hord
  • Bible Grove
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Bible Grove is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bible Grove
  • Hill
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Hill is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill
  • Edgewood
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • La Clede
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • La Clede is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
  • Mason
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Mason is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 333 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mason <1>
  • Flora
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Kenner
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Kenner is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
  • Sailor Springs
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Eberle
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Eberle is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eberle
    • Farina
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Xenia
      (12 miles [19.3 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 Riffle. See our List of 1890's Communities around Riffle.

Newspapers Published in Riffle ...

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 143 newspapers that have been published in the area around Riffle.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Riffle, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Riffle.

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 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 Riffle:

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 Riffle, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Riffle) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.