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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 Sefton (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 Sefton. 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 and hospitals 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.

Sefton 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 Sefton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sefton:

  • Fayette County     (The home county of Sefton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sefton, with the one closest to Sefton listed first.
    • Avena
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Avena is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avena
    • Brownstown
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Howards Point ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Howards Point is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howards Point
    • Saint Elmo
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Dressor
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Dressor is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dressor
    • Bluff City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Bluff City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Ramsey
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Vandalia
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Bayle City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Bayle City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayle City
    • Holliday
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Holliday is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
    • Loogootee
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Hagarstown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Bingham
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Bond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sefton, with the one closest to Sefton listed first.
    • Mulberry Grove
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Pleasant Mound
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
    • Smithboro
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Greenville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Reno
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Reno is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sefton, with the one closest to Sefton listed first.
    • Pana
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Pana is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pana
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,327 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pana <1>
    • Rosamond
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Millersville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Millersville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
  • Clay County
    • Iola
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sefton, with the one closest to Sefton listed first.
    • Keyesport
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Boulder
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Boulder is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
  • Effingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sefton, with the one closest to Sefton listed first.
    • Altamont
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Moccasin
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Moccasin is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
    • Beecher City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Beecher City is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
    • Dexter
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Dexter is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
    • Gilmore
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Gilmore is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Shumway
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Funkhouser
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Funkhouser is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funkhouser
    • Edgewood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Mason
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • 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
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Effingham
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Heartville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Heartville is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heartville
    • Green Creek
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Green Creek is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Creek
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sefton, with the one closest to Sefton listed first.
    • Vernon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Kinmundy
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Patoka
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Alma
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Omega
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Fairman
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Fairman is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairman
    • Salem
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sefton, with the one closest to Sefton listed first.
    • Fillmore
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Chapman
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Chapman is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
    • Coalton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Coalton is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 282 people
    • Nokomis
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Ohlman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Coffeen
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Wenonah
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Wenonah is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenonah
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
    • Witt
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Witt is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 833 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Witt <1>
    • Irving
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Donnellson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Schram City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Schram City is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schram City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 542 people
    • Hillsboro
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Taylor Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sefton, with the one closest to Sefton listed first.
    • Herrick
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Cowden
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Fancher
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Fancher is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher
    • Oconee
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Lakewood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Lakewood is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Mode
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Mode is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mode
    • Tower Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Stewardson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Shelbyville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Middlesworth
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Middlesworth is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesworth
    • Sigel
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Strasburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Trowbridge
      (28 miles [45.1 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 Sefton, see our County-by-County Page for Sefton.

Cemeteries Near Sefton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sefton.

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

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

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

  • New Liberty Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Liberty Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Yolton Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Post Oak Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Carmel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Padon Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Forbis Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Zion Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Welch Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Dunkard Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Bolt Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (448 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>

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

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

  • Avena
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Avena is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avena
  • Brownstown
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Saint Elmo
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Vera
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Vera is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vera
  • Dressor
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Dressor is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dressor
  • Saint James
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Saint James is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint James
  • Ramsey
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Vandalia
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Herrick
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Altamont
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Moccasin
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Moccasin is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
  • Bayle City
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Bayle City is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayle City
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Loogootee
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Beecher City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Beecher City is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
    • Holliday
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Holliday is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday

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

Newspapers Published in Sefton ...

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 183 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sefton.

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

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Sefton:

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 Sefton, 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 from Point A (ie- Sefton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.