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 Smithshire (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 Smithshire. 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.
Smithshire is located in Warren 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 Warren County: Fulton, Henderson, Knox, McDonough & Mercer.
Below are the counties that are near Smithshire. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Smithshire:
- Warren County (The home county of Smithshire)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithshire, with the one closest to Smithshire listed first.
- Kirkwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Roseville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Monmouth
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Berwick
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Youngstown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Youngstown is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngstown
- Eleanor
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Eleanor is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
- Little York
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Cameron
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Gerlaw
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Surrey
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Surrey is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surrey
- Utah
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Utah is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
- Shanghai City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Shanghai City is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai City
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithshire, with the one closest to Smithshire listed first.
- Avon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Babylon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Babylon is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babylon
- Checkrow
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Checkrow is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Checkrow
- London Mills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Ellisville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Marietta
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Blyton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Blyton is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blyton
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithshire, with the one closest to Smithshire listed first.
- Disco
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Disco is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Disco
- La Harpe
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- La Harpe is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Harpe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,123 people
- Dallas City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fountain Green
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Fountain Green is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Green
- Joetta
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Joetta is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joetta
- Colusa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pontoosuc
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pontoosuc is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pontoosuc
- Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
- Burnside
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Burnside is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Adrian
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Niota
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ferris
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithshire, with the one closest to Smithshire listed first.
- Media
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Media is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Biggsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Biggsville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Raritan
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Raritan is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raritan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Stronghurst
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Olena
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Olena is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
- Gladstone
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rozetta
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rozetta is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rozetta
- Oquawka
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Terre Haute
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
- Carman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Iowa Junction
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- Gulf Port
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Gulf Port is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf Port
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithshire, with the one closest to Smithshire listed first.
- Abingdon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Saint Augustine
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Galesburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- De Long
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- De Long is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Long
- Henderson Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Henderson Grove is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson Grove
- East Galesburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- East Galesburg is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Galesburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
- Knoxville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Henderson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Knox
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Knox is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
- Rio
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Gilson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Wataga
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- McDonough County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithshire, with the one closest to Smithshire listed first.
- Blandinsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Sciota
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Good Hope
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Prairie City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Prairie City is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Bushnell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lamone Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Lamone Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamone Village
- Macomb
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- East Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- East Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
- University Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- University Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
- Bardolph
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Colchester
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- VIshnu Springs ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- VIshnu Springs is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for VIshnu Springs
- Mercer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithshire, with the one closest to Smithshire listed first.
- Norwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Norwood is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- Seaton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Keithsburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Alexis
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sunbeam
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Sunbeam is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbeam
- Burgess
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Burgess is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
- North Henderson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Aledo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Joy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- New Boston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Gilchrist
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
- Shale City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Shale City is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
- Des Moines County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithshire, with the one closest to Smithshire listed first.
- Burlington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Kingston
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Kingston is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Patterson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Patterson is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- West Burlington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Sperry
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sperry is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sperry
- Dodgeville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Dodgeville is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodgeville
- Mediapolis
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kline
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Kline is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kline
- Middletown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Middletown is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Danville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Danville is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
- Lee County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithshire, with the one closest to Smithshire listed first.
- Wever
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- South Augusta
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- South Augusta is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Augusta
- Denmark
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Sawyer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Sawyer is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer
- Former names for Sawyer:
- Atlee
- Edwards
- Louisa County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithshire, with the one closest to Smithshire listed first.
- Oakville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Elrick Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Elrick Junction is located in Louisa County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrick Junction
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Smithshire, see our County-by-County Page for Smithshire.
Cemeteries Near Smithshire ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Smithshire.
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 Smithshire - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Smithshire covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Smithshire, with the one closest to Smithshire listed first.
- Davidson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davidson Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Davidson Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<2> to the northeast of Media.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #105353 <3>
- Township Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Adair Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Salter's Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Walnut Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- St. Patrick's Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Salem Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Asbury Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Center Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- County Farm Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hickory Point Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Biggsville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Biggsville Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<2> to the north of Biggsville.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #104759 <3>
- Continue List (364 more) ...
- Huss Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Best Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Stronghurst Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Smithshire had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Smithshire, with the one closest to Smithshire listed first.
- Ellison ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Ellison is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellison
- Media
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Media is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Ponemah
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ponemah is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponemah
- Kirkwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Larchland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Larchland is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larchland
- Stronghurst
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Raritan
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Raritan is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raritan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Roseville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Olena
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Olena is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
- Ormonde
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ormonde is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ormonde
- Decorra
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Decorra is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decorra
- Swan Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Swan Creek is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Creek
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Gladstone
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rozetta
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rozetta is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rozetta
- Phelps
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Phelps is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phelps
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Smithshire. See our List of 1890's Communities around Smithshire.
Newspapers Published in Smithshire ...
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 Smithshire.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Smithshire, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Smithshire.
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 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 Smithshire:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Warren County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Fulton County
- Hancock County
- Henderson County
- Knox County
- McDonough County
- Mercer County
- Des Moines County
- Lee County
- Louisa 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> | 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- Smithshire) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Smithshire, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |