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 Somerset (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 Somerset. 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 doctors and 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.
Somerset is located in Saline 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 Saline County: Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Johnson, Pope, White & Williamson.
Below are the counties that are near Somerset. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Somerset:
- Saline County (The home county of Somerset)
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Mitchellsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mitchellsville is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchellsville
- Cottage Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Cottage Grove is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Grove
- Gaskins City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Gaskins City is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaskins City
- Harrisburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ledford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ledford is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ledford
- Liberty
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Red Bud ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Red Bud is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bud
- Buena Vista
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Muddy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Wasson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Wasson is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasson
- Carrier Mills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- 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>
- Eldorado
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Saline City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Saline City is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saline City
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Fitt's Hill ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Fitt's Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitt's Hill
- Thompsonville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Akin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Parrish
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Parrish is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrish
- Deering City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Deering City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deering City
- Hanaford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hanaford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanaford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 316 people
- Smothersville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Smothersville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smothersville
- West Frankfort
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- West Frankfort is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Frankfort
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,733 people
- Gallatin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Equality
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lawler
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lawler is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawler
- Junction
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Bowlesville ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Bowlesville is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowlesville
- Elba
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Elba is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Ridgway
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Shawneetown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Old Shawneetown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Old Shawneetown is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Shawneetown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
- Omaha
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Inman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Inman is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inman
- New Haven
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hamilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Broughton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Walpole
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Walpole is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walpole
- Dale
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Flint
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Flint is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
- Diamond City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Diamond City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
- McLeansboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Macedonia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hardin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Karbers Ridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Creek is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
- Shetlerville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Shetlerville is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shetlerville
- Rosiclare
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Elizabethtown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mineral City ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Mineral City is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral City
- Saline Landing
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Saline Landing is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saline Landing
- Cave-In-Rock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cave-In-Rock is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave-In-Rock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Cave-In-Rock has also been known as:
- Cave-In-Rock village
- Lamb
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lamb is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamb
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- New Burnside
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Ozark
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Reynoldsburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Reynoldsburg is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynoldsburg
- Simpson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Grantsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Wartrace
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Wartrace is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wartrace
- Egyptian Hills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Egyptian Hills is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egyptian Hills
- Reevesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Reevesville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reevesville
- Deer Ridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Deer Ridge is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Ridge
- Eagle Point Bay
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Eagle Point Bay is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Point Bay
- Goreville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Vienna
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bender ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bender is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bender
- Massac County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Big Bay
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Big Bay is located in Massac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Bay
- New Columbia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- New Columbia is located in Massac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Columbia
- Pope County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Herod
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Oak
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oak is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak
- Hartsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Hartsville is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsville
- Leisure City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Leisure City is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure City
- Lusk
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Lusk is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lusk
- Eddyville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- McCormick
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- McCormick is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCormick
- Glendale
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Glendale is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
- Rock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Rock is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock
- Golconda
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Dixon Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Dixon Springs is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon Springs
- Bay City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Bay City is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay City
- White County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Roland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Roland is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roland
- Norris City
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Stokes
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Stokes is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
- Herald
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Emma
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Hartford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hartford is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartford
- Corinth
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Corinth is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Creal Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Pittsburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Lake Crest
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Lake Crest is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Crest
- Marion
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Spillertown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Spillertown is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spillertown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
- Whiteash
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Whiteash is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteash
- Estimated population in 2014: 240 people
- Johnston City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Stiritz
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stiritz is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiritz
- Crittenden County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Tolu
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Tolu is located in Crittenden County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolu
- Sheridan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sheridan is located in Crittenden County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Marion
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Marion is located in Crittenden County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,850 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Marion <1>
- Livingston County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Carrsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Carrsville is located in Livingston County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Lola
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Lola is located in Livingston County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lola
- Hampton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Hampton is located in Livingston County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampton
- Burna
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Burna is located in Livingston County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burna
- Salem
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Salem is located in Livingston County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 717 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Salem <1>
- Union County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Dekoven
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Dekoven is located in Union County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dekoven
- Raleigh
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Raleigh is located in Union County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raleigh
- Grangertown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Grangertown is located in Union County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grangertown
- Sturgis
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Chapman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Chapman is located in Union County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- Uniontown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Uniontown is located in Union County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
- Morganfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Sullivan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Sullivan is located in Union County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Somerset, see our County-by-County Page for Somerset.
Cemeteries Near Somerset ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Somerset.
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 Somerset - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Somerset covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Big Saline Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Blockhouse Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Wallace Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Lambert Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Colbert Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jones Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Partain Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Butler Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Gulley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Reynolds Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- McNally Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wallace Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (467 more) ...
- Stuby Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Barnett Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Lloyd Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
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, Somerset had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Mitchellsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mitchellsville is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchellsville
- Oak
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oak is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak
- Kedron
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Kedron is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kedron
- Harrisburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ledford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ledford is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ledford
- Hartsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Hartsville is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsville
- Hicks
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hicks is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks
- Karbers Ridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Leamington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Leamington is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leamington
- Equality
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Carrier Mills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- 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>
- Sparks Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sparks Hill is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparks Hill
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Lawler
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lawler is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawler
- Eldorado
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Lusk
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Lusk is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lusk
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Somerset. See our List of 1890's Communities around Somerset.
Newspapers Published in Somerset ...
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 56 newspapers that have been published in the area around Somerset.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Somerset, 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 Somerset.
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 Somerset:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Saline County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Gallatin County
- Hamilton County
- Hardin County
- Johnson County
- Massac County
- Pope County
- White County
- Williamson County
- Crittenden County
- Livingston County
- Union 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> | 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 Somerset, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Somerset) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |