RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Illinois >> Sangamon County >> Saunders >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Saunders (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 Saunders. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Saunders is located in Sangamon 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 Sangamon County: Christian, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery & Morgan.

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

  • Sangamon County     (The home county of Saunders)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saunders, with the one closest to Saunders listed first.
    • Illiopolis
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Mechanicsburg
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Buffalo
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Buffalo Hart
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Buffalo Hart is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Hart
    • Dawson
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Riverton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Spaulding
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Spaulding is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 836 people
    • Rochester
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Williamsville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Clear Lake
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Clear Lake is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
    • Grandview
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Grandview is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,369 people
    • Sherman
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saunders, with the one closest to Saunders listed first.
    • Mount Auburn
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Bolivia
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Bolivia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivia
    • Grove City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Grove City is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
    • Edinburg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Stonington
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Sharpsburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Sharpsburg is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
    • Sandersville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Sandersville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandersville
    • Bulpitt
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Jeisyville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Jeisyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeisyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
    • Kincaid
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Tovey
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Tovey is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tovey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 467 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tovey <1>
    • Langleyville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Langleyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langleyville
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saunders, with the one closest to Saunders listed first.
    • Kenney
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Rowell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Rowell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowell
    • Midland City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Midland City is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
    • Hallsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
    • Tabor
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Tabor is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
    • Clinton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Waynesville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Lane
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saunders, with the one closest to Saunders listed first.
    • Cornland
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Lake Fork
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Mount Pulaski
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Latham
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Elkhart
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Chestnut
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Chestervale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
    • Broadwell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Broadwell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Lincoln
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Beason
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Middletown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Bell
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Bell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saunders, with the one closest to Saunders listed first.
    • Niantic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Harristown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Warrensburg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Blue Mound
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Boody
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Bearsdale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Bearsdale is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
    • Elwin
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Decatur
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Forsyth
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Macon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Turpin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Turpin is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
    • Maroa
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Menard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saunders, with the one closest to Saunders listed first.
    • Croft
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Croft is located in Menard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
    • Athens
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Greenview
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Petersburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Montgomery County
    • White Oak
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • White Oak is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
  • Moultrie County
    • Dalton City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Piatt County
    • Cerro Gordo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Shelby County
    • Moweaqua
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Saunders ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Saunders.

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

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

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

  • Bethel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Mostetter Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Wilcox Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Sangamon County Home Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Pickerell Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Milligan Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Mt. Auburn Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Hunter Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Mechanicsburg Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Hinckle Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (259 more) ...
    • Stafford Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Long Point Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Steenberger Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)

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>

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

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

  • Lanesville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Lanesville is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanesville
  • Illiopolis
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Mechanicsburg
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Buffalo
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Mount Auburn
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Bolivia
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Bolivia is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivia
  • Niantic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Cornland
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Lake Fork
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Buffalo Hart
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Buffalo Hart is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Hart
  • Dawson
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Grove City
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Grove City is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Latham
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Mount Pulaski
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Barclay
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Barclay is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barclay

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

Newspapers Published in Saunders ...

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 96 newspapers that have been published in the area around Saunders.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Saunders, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Saunders.

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 Saunders:

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 Saunders, 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' (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- Saunders) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.