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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 Samsville (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 Samsville. 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 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.

Samsville is located in Edwards 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 Edwards County: Richland, Wabash, Wayne, White & Gibson (IN).

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

  • Edwards County     (The home county of Samsville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Samsville, with the one closest to Samsville listed first.
    • West Salem
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • West Salem is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salem
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 844 people
    • Maple Grove
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Maple Grove is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
    • Mills Prairie ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Mills Prairie is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills Prairie
    • Bennington
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Bennington is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennington
    • Bone Gap
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Marion
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Marion is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
    • Albion
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Red Top
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Red Top is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Top
    • Browns
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Ellery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Samsville, with the one closest to Samsville listed first.
    • Camp Travis
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Camp Travis is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Travis
    • Clay City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Sailor Springs
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Flora
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Ingraham
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Kenner
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Louisville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Crawford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Samsville, with the one closest to Samsville listed first.
    • Landes
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Landes is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landes
    • Green Brier
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Green Brier is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Brier
  • Hamilton County
    • Bungay
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Bungay is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bungay
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Samsville, with the one closest to Samsville listed first.
    • West Liberty
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • West Liberty is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Liberty
    • Sainte Marie
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Lawrence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Samsville, with the one closest to Samsville listed first.
    • Helena
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Helena is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
    • Petersburg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Sumner
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Bridgeport
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint Francisville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Billett
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Billett is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billett
    • Lawrenceville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Samsville, with the one closest to Samsville listed first.
    • Parkersburg
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Berryville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Berryville is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
    • Calhoun
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Gallagher
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Gallagher is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
    • Wynoose
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Wynoose is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
    • Claremont
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Olney
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • 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>
    • Noble
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Amity
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Amity is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amity
    • Passport
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Passport is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passport
    • Dundas
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Wakefield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Wakefield is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakefield
  • Wabash County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Samsville, with the one closest to Samsville listed first.
    • Bellmont
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Lancaster
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Lancaster is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lancaster
    • Keensburg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Orio
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Orio is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orio
    • Mount Carmel
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Patton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Patton is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patton
    • Adams Corner
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Adams Corner is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams Corner
    • Allendale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Samsville, with the one closest to Samsville listed first.
    • Mount Erie
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Golden Gate
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Enterprise
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Enterprise is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Fairfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Geff
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Jeffersonville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
    • Cisne
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Barnhill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Boyleston
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
    • Rinard
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Johnsonville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Sims
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Wayne City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • White County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Samsville, with the one closest to Samsville listed first.
    • Grayville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Calvin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Calvin is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvin
    • Burnt Prairie
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Crossville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Mill Shoals
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Phillipstown
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Phillipstown is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipstown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
    • Springerton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Carmi
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Enfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Gibson County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Samsville, with the one closest to Samsville listed first.
    • Owensville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Patoka
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Patoka is located in Gibson County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patoka
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 784 people
    • Mounts
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Mounts is located in Gibson County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mounts
    • Hazleton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Princeton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Knox County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Samsville, with the one closest to Samsville listed first.
    • Beal
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Beal is located in Knox County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal
    • Decker
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Decker is located in Knox County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decker
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 244 people
  • Posey County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Samsville, with the one closest to Samsville listed first.
    • Griffin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Griffin is located in Posey County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
    • Barrett
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Barrett is located in Posey County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrett
    • Stewartsville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Stewartsville is located in Posey County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartsville
    • New Harmony
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Poseyville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Cynthiana
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Wadesville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Samsville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Samsville.

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

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

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

  • Potter Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Enenezer Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Brown Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Carney Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Shiloh Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Greathouse Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Bond Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Greathouse Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Macedonia Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Gaede Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • West Village Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Thread Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (414 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Samsville had a population of 58 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • West Salem
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • West Salem is located in Edwards County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salem
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 844 people
  • Maple Grove
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Maple Grove is located in Edwards County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
  • Bone Gap
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Mills Prairie ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Mills Prairie is located in Edwards County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills Prairie
  • Parkersburg
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Albion
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Gards Point
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Gards Point is located in Wabash County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gards Point
  • Red Top
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Red Top is located in Edwards County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Top
  • Browns
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Mount Erie
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Ellery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Bellmont
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (19 more) ...
    • Berryville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Berryville is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
    • Gallagher
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Gallagher is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
    • Calhoun
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in Samsville ...

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 26 newspapers that have been published in the area around Samsville.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Samsville, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Samsville.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Samsville:

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