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 Sailor Springs (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 Sailor Springs. 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 Sailor Springs ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Sailor Springs: Sailor Spgs. (or less commonly used: Sailor Spngs. or Sailor Sprngs.)
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 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.
Sailor Springs 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 Sailor Springs. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sailor Springs:
- Clay County (The home county of Sailor Springs)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sailor Springs, with the one closest to Sailor Springs listed first.
- Ingraham
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Clay City
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Camp Travis
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Camp Travis is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Travis
- Louisville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Flora
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Kenner
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Kenner is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
- Iola
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Xenia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sailor Springs, with the one closest to Sailor Springs listed first.
- Landes
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Landes is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landes
- Green Brier
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Green Brier is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Brier
- Oblong
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hardinville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Hardinville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardinville
- Edwards County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sailor Springs, with the one closest to Sailor Springs listed first.
- Bennington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bennington is located in Edwards County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennington
- Marion
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Marion is located in Edwards County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
- Maple Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Maple Grove is located in Edwards County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
- West Salem
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- West Salem is located in Edwards County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 844 people
- Mills Prairie ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mills Prairie is located in Edwards County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills Prairie
- Bone Gap
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ellery
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Effingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sailor Springs, with the one closest to Sailor Springs listed first.
- Edgewood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mason
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Dieterich
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Watson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Heartville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Heartville is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heartville
- Gilmore
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Gilmore is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
- Effingham
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Teutopolis
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Funkhouser
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Funkhouser is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funkhouser
- Montrose
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Montrose is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Dexter
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dexter is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
- Altamont
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sailor Springs, with the one closest to Sailor Springs listed first.
- La Clede
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- La Clede is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
- Farina
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Saint Peter
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Loogootee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sailor Springs, with the one closest to Sailor Springs listed first.
- Bogota
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bogota is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogota
- West Liberty
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- West Liberty is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Liberty
- Lis
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Lis is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lis
- Newton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Wheeler
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Sainte Marie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Falmouth
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Falmouth is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth
- Willow Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hunt City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hunt City is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunt City
- Rose Hill
(26 miles [41.8 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
- Hidalgo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Yale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jefferson County
- Shields
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Shields is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sailor Springs, with the one closest to Sailor Springs listed first.
- Sumner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Helena
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Helena is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
- Petersburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sailor Springs, with the one closest to Sailor Springs listed first.
- Omega
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Omega is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
- Iuka
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Kinmundy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Union Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Union Town is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Town
- Hickory Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
- Bannister
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Bannister is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
- Alma
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Richland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sailor Springs, with the one closest to Sailor Springs listed first.
- Passport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Passport is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passport
- Wakefield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Wakefield is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakefield
- Noble
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Gallagher
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Gallagher is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
- Wynoose
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Wynoose is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
- Olney
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Dundas
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Calhoun
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Claremont
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Parkersburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Amity
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Amity is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amity
- Berryville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Berryville is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
- Wabash County
- Lancaster
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lancaster is located in Wabash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lancaster
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sailor Springs, with the one closest to Sailor Springs listed first.
- Rinard
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Enterprise
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Enterprise is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- Cisne
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Mount Erie
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Johnsonville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Geff
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Jeffersonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
- Fairfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Boyleston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Boyleston is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
- Golden Gate
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Sims
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sailor Springs, see our County-by-County Page for Sailor Springs.
Cemeteries Near Sailor Springs ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sailor Springs.
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 Sailor Springs - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sailor Springs covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sailor Springs, with the one closest to Sailor Springs listed first.
- McKinney Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- White Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Dillman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Number 4 Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Smith Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Levitte Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Ditter Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- McKnight Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Leonard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Weidner Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Hoosier Prairie Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Woods Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Continue List (451 more) ...
- Brooks Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Shouse Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Wesley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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 Sailor Springs had a population of 300 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Sailor Springs had a population of 91 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sailor Springs, with the one closest to Sailor Springs listed first.
- Clay City
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Ingraham
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Passport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Passport is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passport
- Louisville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Noble
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Wakefield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Wakefield is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakefield
- Bible Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Bible Grove is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bible Grove
- Flora
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hord
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hord is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hord
- Riffle
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Riffle is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riffle
- Bogota
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bogota is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogota
- Kenner
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Kenner is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Wynoose
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Wynoose is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
- Gallagher
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Gallagher is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
- Eberle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Eberle is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eberle
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sailor Springs. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sailor Springs.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Sailor Springs ...
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 49 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sailor Springs.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Sailor Springs. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Sailor Springs and those printed in the larger area surrounding Sailor Springs.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4> of Sailor Springs.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Sailor Springs:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Clay County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Crawford County
- Edwards County
- Effingham County
- Fayette County
- Jasper County
- Jefferson County
- Lawrence County
- Marion County
- Richland County
- Wabash County
- Wayne 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 Sailor Springs, 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- Sailor Springs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |