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 Skelton (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 Skelton. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Skelton is located in Logan 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 Logan County: De Witt, Macon, Mason, McLean, Menard, Sangamon & Tazewell.
Below are the counties that are near Skelton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Skelton:
- Logan County (The home county of Skelton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Skelton, with the one closest to Skelton listed first.
- Beason
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Chestervale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Chestervale is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
- Lawndale
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lincoln
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Bell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bell is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
- Evans
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Evans is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Chestnut
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Atlanta
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Mount Pulaski
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Broadwell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Broadwell is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Hartsburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Fork
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Latham
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Christian County
- The following are listed by their distance from Skelton, with the one closest to Skelton listed first.
- Mount Auburn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Bolivia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Bolivia is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivia
- Grove City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Grove City is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
- De Witt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Skelton, with the one closest to Skelton listed first.
- Midland City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Midland City is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
- Tabor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tabor is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
- Hallsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Hallsville is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
- Kenney
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Waynesville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rowell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Rowell is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowell
- Clinton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Wapella
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Birkbeck
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
- Lane
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- De Witt
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- De Witt is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
- Weldon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Fullerton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Fullerton is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Skelton, with the one closest to Skelton listed first.
- Maroa
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Warrensburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Niantic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Bearsdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bearsdale is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
- Forsyth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Harristown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Oreana
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Argenta
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Decatur
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Boody
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sangamon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sangamon is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
- Elwin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Turpin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Turpin is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
- Mason County
- The following are listed by their distance from Skelton, with the one closest to Skelton listed first.
- Natrona
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Natrona is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
- San Jose
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mason City
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Teheran
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Teheran is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
- McLean County
- The following are listed by their distance from Skelton, with the one closest to Skelton listed first.
- McLean
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Heyworth
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Stanford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Shirley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bloomington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Downs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gillum
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gillum is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
- Danvers
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Danvers is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danvers
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,093 people
- Danvers has also been known as:
- Danver
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Danvers <1>
- Yuton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Yuton is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
- Brokaw
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Brokaw is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
- Le Roy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Normal
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Menard County
- The following are listed by their distance from Skelton, with the one closest to Skelton listed first.
- Croft
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Croft is located in Menard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
- Greenview
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Athens
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Piatt County
- Cisco
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Sangamon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Skelton, with the one closest to Skelton listed first.
- Buffalo Hart
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Buffalo Hart is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Hart
- Illiopolis
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Williamsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Buffalo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Dawson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mechanicsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Spaulding
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Spaulding is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
- Population from the 2020 Census: 836 people
- Riverton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sherman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cantrall
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Clear Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Clear Lake is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Grandview
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Grandview is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,369 people
- Ridgely
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ridgely is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgely
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Skelton, with the one closest to Skelton listed first.
- Armington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Burt
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Burt is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
- Richmond
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Richmond is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Boynton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Boynton is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
- Sutter ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Sutter is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
- Mindale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Mindale is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mindale
- Minier
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Brownwood ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Brownwood is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
- Hopedale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fravert ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Fravert is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fravert
- Delavan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Tazewell
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Tazewell is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tazewell
- Walnut
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Walnut is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Skelton, see our County-by-County Page for Skelton.
Cemeteries Near Skelton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Skelton.
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 Skelton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Skelton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Skelton, with the one closest to Skelton listed first.
- Skelton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Harmony Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Berryhill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Beason Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Perry Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Bowers - Templeman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Donnan Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Lawndale Union Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Jolly Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Bluegrass Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Reese Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Laenna Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (271 more) ...
- Hays Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Randolph Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Zion Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Skelton had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Skelton, with the one closest to Skelton listed first.
- Beason
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Chestervale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Chestervale is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
- Lawndale
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lincoln
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Midland City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Midland City is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
- Chestnut
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bell is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
- Hallsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Hallsville is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
- Atlanta
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Mount Pulaski
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Kenney
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Waynesville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Mountjoy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Mountjoy is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountjoy
- Broadwell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Broadwell is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Lake Fork
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Skelton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Skelton.
Newspapers Published in Skelton ...
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 104 newspapers that have been published in the area around Skelton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Skelton, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Skelton.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Skelton:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Logan County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Christian County
- De Witt County
- Macon County
- Mason County
- McLean County
- Menard County
- Piatt County
- Sangamon County
- Tazewell County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Illinois
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> | 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 Skelton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Skelton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |