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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 Saint James (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 Saint James. 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 Saint James ...

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.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Saint James: St. James

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

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 northeast 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 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 east 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.

Saint James is located in Fayette 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 Fayette County: Bond, Clay, Clinton, Effingham, Marion, Montgomery & Shelby.

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

  • Fayette County     (The home county of Saint James)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint James, with the one closest to Saint James listed first.
    • Loogootee
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Howards Point ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Howards Point is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howards Point
    • Saint Elmo
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Avena
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Avena is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avena
    • Saint Peter
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Brownstown
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint Paul
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
    • Farina
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • La Clede
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • La Clede is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
    • Bluff City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Bluff City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Vandalia
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Shobonier
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Hagarstown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
  • Bond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint James, with the one closest to Saint James listed first.
    • Mulberry Grove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Pleasant Mound
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
    • Smithboro
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Greenville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint James, with the one closest to Saint James listed first.
    • Iola
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Louisville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Xenia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Kenner
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Flora
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Ingraham
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Sailor Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint James, with the one closest to Saint James listed first.
    • Boulder
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Boulder is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
    • Keyesport
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Effingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint James, with the one closest to Saint James listed first.
    • Gilmore
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Gilmore is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Altamont
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Edgewood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Mason
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • 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>
    • Dexter
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Dexter is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
    • Moccasin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Moccasin is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
    • Watson
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Funkhouser
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Funkhouser is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funkhouser
    • Beecher City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Beecher City is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
    • Heartville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Heartville is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heartville
    • Shumway
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Effingham
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Teutopolis
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
  • Jasper County
    • Wheeler
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint James, with the one closest to Saint James listed first.
    • Kinmundy
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Alma
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Vernon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Omega
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Patoka
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Bannister
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Iuka
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Salem
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Fairman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Fairman is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairman
    • Odin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Odin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,004 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Odin <1>
    • Sandoval
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Cartter
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
    • Junction City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Junction City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint James, with the one closest to Saint James listed first.
    • Fillmore
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Chapman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Chapman is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
    • Coffeen
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint James, with the one closest to Saint James listed first.
    • Herrick
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Cowden
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Fancher
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Fancher is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher
    • Mode
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Mode is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mode
    • Stewardson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Lakewood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Lakewood is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Sigel
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Oconee
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Strasburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Tower Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Trowbridge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Trowbridge is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trowbridge

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

Cemeteries Near Saint James ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Saint James.

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 Saint James - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Lovett Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Stein Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Sidener Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • German Reformed Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Old Loogootee Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Harris Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Besing Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Maplewood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Guy Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Arm Prairie Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Old St. Peter Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Ambuehl Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (464 more) ...

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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Saint James had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Loogootee
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Saint Elmo
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Avena
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Avena is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avena
  • Brownstown
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Wilberton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Wilberton is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilberton
  • Gilmore
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Gilmore is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
  • Saint Paul
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
  • Farina
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • La Clede
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • La Clede is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
  • Altamont
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Edgewood
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Lester
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Lester is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Kinmundy
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Mason
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • 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>
    • Dexter
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Dexter is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter

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

Newspapers Published in Saint James ...

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 144 newspapers that have been published in the area around Saint James.

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

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Saint James:

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>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Saint James) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Saint James, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.