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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 Simpson (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 Simpson. 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 southwest 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 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 west 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.

Simpson is located in Johnson 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 Johnson County: Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union & Williamson.

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

  • Johnson County     (The home county of Simpson)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpson, with the one closest to Simpson listed first.
    • Reynoldsburg
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Reynoldsburg is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynoldsburg
    • Wartrace
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Wartrace is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wartrace
    • Ozark
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Grantsburg
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • New Burnside
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Reevesville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Reevesville is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reevesville
    • Vienna
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Bender ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Bender is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bender
    • Egyptian Hills
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Egyptian Hills is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egyptian Hills
    • Buncombe
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Deer Ridge
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Deer Ridge is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Ridge
    • Eagle Point Bay
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Eagle Point Bay is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Point Bay
    • Goreville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Alexander County
    • Elco
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Franklin County
    • Fitt's Hill ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Fitt's Hill is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitt's Hill
  • Gallatin County
    • Equality
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Hardin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpson, with the one closest to Simpson listed first.
    • Shetlerville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Shetlerville is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shetlerville
    • Mineral City ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Mineral City is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral City
    • Rosiclare
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Elizabethtown
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Karbers Ridge
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Rock Creek
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Rock Creek is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
  • Jackson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpson, with the one closest to Simpson listed first.
    • Makanda
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Carbondale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Massac County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpson, with the one closest to Simpson listed first.
    • Big Bay
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Big Bay is located in Massac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Bay
    • New Columbia
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • New Columbia is located in Massac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Columbia
    • Joppa
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Metropolis
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Massac City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Massac City is located in Massac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massac City
    • Brookport
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Shady Grove
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Shady Grove is located in Massac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
    • Unionville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Unionville is located in Massac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionville
  • Pope County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpson, with the one closest to Simpson listed first.
    • Glendale
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Glendale is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
    • McCormick
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • McCormick is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCormick
    • Dixon Springs
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Dixon Springs is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon Springs
    • Rock
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Rock is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock
    • Eddyville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Oak
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Oak is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak
    • Hartsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Hartsville is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsville
    • Lusk
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Lusk is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lusk
    • Golconda
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Leisure City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Leisure City is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure City
    • Herod
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Bay City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Bay City is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay City
    • Hamletsburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Pulaski County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpson, with the one closest to Simpson listed first.
    • Karnak
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Grand Chain
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • New Grand Chain
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • New Grand Chain is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Grand Chain
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
    • Perks
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Olmsted
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Ullin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Pulaski
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Saline County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpson, with the one closest to Simpson listed first.
    • Stonefort
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Carrier Mills
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Carrier Mills is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrier Mills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,527 people
      • Former names for Carrier Mills:
      • Carriers Mills
      • Morrilsville
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Carrier Mills <1>
    • Mitchellsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Mitchellsville is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchellsville
    • Ledford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Ledford is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ledford
    • Liberty
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Liberty is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
    • Buena Vista
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Buena Vista is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
    • Gaskins City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Gaskins City is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaskins City
    • Harrisburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Muddy
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Galatia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Wasson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Wasson is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasson
    • Cottage Grove
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Cottage Grove is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Grove
    • Raleigh
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpson, with the one closest to Simpson listed first.
    • Lick Creek
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Lick Creek is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lick Creek
    • Mount Pleasant
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Mount Pleasant is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
    • Dongola
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Water Valley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Water Valley is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Valley
    • Anna
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Anna is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anna
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,059 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Anna <1>
    • Cobden
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Dutch Mills
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Dutch Mills is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutch Mills
    • Jonesboro
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Mill Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Mill Creek is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 64 people
  • Williamson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpson, with the one closest to Simpson listed first.
    • Creal Springs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Lake Crest
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Lake Crest is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Crest
    • Marion
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Marion is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,417 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Marion <1>
    • Pittsburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Spillertown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Spillertown is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spillertown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
    • Hartford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Hartford is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartford
    • Corinth
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Corinth is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
    • Whiteash
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Whiteash is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteash
      • Estimated population in 2014: 240 people
    • Crainville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Crainville is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crainville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,419 people
    • Energy
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Energy is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Energy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,086 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Energy <1>
    • Johnston City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Carterville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Dewmaine
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Dewmaine is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewmaine
  • Ballard County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpson, with the one closest to Simpson listed first.
    • Bandana
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Bandana is located in Ballard County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bandana
    • Kevil
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Kevil is located in Ballard County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kevil
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 569 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kevil <1>
    • La Center
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Ceredo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Ceredo is located in Ballard County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceredo
  • Crittenden County (KY)
    • Tolu
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Tolu is located in Crittenden County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolu
  • Livingston County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpson, with the one closest to Simpson listed first.
    • Carrsville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Carrsville is located in Livingston County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrsville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
    • Hampton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Hampton is located in Livingston County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampton
    • Lola
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Lola is located in Livingston County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lola
    • Burna
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Burna is located in Livingston County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burna
    • Smithland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • McCracken County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpson, with the one closest to Simpson listed first.
    • Ragland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Ragland is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ragland
    • Grahamville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Grahamville is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grahamville
    • Cimota City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Cimota City is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cimota City
    • West Paducah
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Woodville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Woodville is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
    • Paducah
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Paducah is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paducah
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24,883 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Paducah <1>
    • Future City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Future City is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Future City
    • West Future City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • West Future City is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Future City
    • Camelia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Camelia is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camelia
    • Hendron
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Hendron is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendron
    • Lone Oak
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Lone Oak is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Oak

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

Cemeteries Near Simpson ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Simpson.

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

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

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

  • Odd Fellows Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Concord Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Murrie Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Reynoldsburg Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Cedar Creek Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Fern Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Ledbetter Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Island Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Kerley Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Glendale Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Harrett Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Whiteside Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (547 more) ...
    • McClanahan Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Nelson Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Ragsdale Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)

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 in 1895, Simpson had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Simpson had a population of 60 people.

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

  • Wartrace
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Wartrace is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wartrace
  • Glendale
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Glendale is located in Pope County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
  • Grantsburg
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Tunnel Hill
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Ozark
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Sandburn
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Sandburn is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandburn
  • Bloomfield
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Bloomfield is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield
  • Parker
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Parker is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker
  • McCormick
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • McCormick is located in Pope County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCormick
  • New Burnside
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Vienna
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Reevesville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Reevesville is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reevesville
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Allens Spring
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Allens Spring is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Spring
    • Rock
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Rock is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock
    • Samoth
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Samoth is located in Massac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samoth

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

Newspapers Published in Simpson ...

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 79 newspapers that have been published in the area around Simpson.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Simpson, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Simpson.

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 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 Simpson:

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 Simpson, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Simpson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.