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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 Tennessee (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 Tennessee. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

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 north 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.

Tennessee is located in McDonough 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 McDonough County: Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Schuyler & Warren.

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

  • McDonough County     (The home county of Tennessee)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tennessee, with the one closest to Tennessee listed first.
    • Colchester
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • VIshnu Springs ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • VIshnu Springs is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for VIshnu Springs
    • Colmar
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Colmar is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
    • Lamone Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Lamone Village is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamone Village
    • East Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • East Village is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
    • Macomb
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Macomb is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macomb
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,206 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Macomb <1>
    • University Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • University Village is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
    • Blandinsville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Sciota
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Good Hope
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Doddsville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Doddsville is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doddsville
    • Industry
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Bardolph
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Adams County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tennessee, with the one closest to Tennessee listed first.
    • La Prairie
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Golden
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Blacks
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Blacks is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blacks
    • Loraine
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Clayton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Camp Point
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Brown County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tennessee, with the one closest to Tennessee listed first.
    • Mound Station
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Mound Station is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Station
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Timewell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Ripley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Ripley is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
    • Mount Sterling
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tennessee, with the one closest to Tennessee listed first.
    • Table Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Vermont
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Marietta
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Checkrow
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Checkrow is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Checkrow
    • Ipava
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Avon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Smithfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Babylon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Babylon is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babylon
    • Astoria
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Summum
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Summum is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summum
  • Hancock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tennessee, with the one closest to Tennessee listed first.
    • Joetta
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Joetta is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joetta
    • Fountain Green
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Fountain Green is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Green
    • Plymouth
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • La Harpe
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • La Harpe is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Harpe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,123 people
    • Augusta
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Burnside
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Burnside is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
    • Bentley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Bentley is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
    • Carthage
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Disco
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Disco is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Disco
    • Bowen
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Ferris
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Adrian
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Basco
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
  • Henderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tennessee, with the one closest to Tennessee listed first.
    • Raritan
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Raritan is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raritan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
    • Terre Haute
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
    • Iowa Junction
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
    • Lomax
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Lomax is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lomax
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 393 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lomax <1>
    • Stronghurst
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Media
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Media is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
    • Carman
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Olena
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Olena is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
    • Biggsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Biggsville is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
    • Gulf Port
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Gulf Port is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf Port
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
  • Schuyler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tennessee, with the one closest to Tennessee listed first.
    • Huntsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Wayland
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Wayland is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
    • Littleton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Camden
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Rushville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Bader
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Bader is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
  • Warren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tennessee, with the one closest to Tennessee listed first.
    • Youngstown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Youngstown is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngstown
    • Roseville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Smithshire
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
  • Des Moines County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tennessee, with the one closest to Tennessee listed first.
    • Patterson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Patterson is located in Des Moines County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
    • Burlington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Burlington is located in Des Moines County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24,516 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Burlington <1>
  • Lee County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tennessee, with the one closest to Tennessee listed first.
    • Wever
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Galland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Galland is located in Lee County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galland
    • Keokuk
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Keokuk is located in Lee County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keokuk
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,090 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Keokuk <1>
    • Sandusky
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Sandusky is located in Lee County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
    • Fort Madison
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Tennessee ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Tennessee.

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

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

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

  • Sacred Heart Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Lower Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Moore Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Hutchinson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Neese Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Auburn Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Hills Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • White Flock Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Barber Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Bean Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Argyle Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Gibson Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (437 more) ...
    • Miler Grave
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Atkinson Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Friendship Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Tennessee had a population of 313 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Tennessee had a population of 106 people.

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

  • Hills Grove ‑ Historic
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Hills Grove is located in McDonough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills Grove
  • Colchester
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Fandon
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Fandon is located in McDonough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fandon
  • Colmar
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Colmar is located in McDonough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
  • Joetta
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Joetta is located in Hancock County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joetta
  • Saint Mary
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Saint Mary is located in Hancock County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Mary
  • Fountain Green
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Fountain Green is located in Hancock County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Green
  • Plymouth
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Macomb
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Macomb is located in McDonough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macomb
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,206 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Macomb <1>
  • Webster
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Webster is located in Hancock County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
  • Birmingham
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Birmingham is located in Schuyler County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
  • Blandinsville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Sciota
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • La Crosse
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • La Crosse is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Crosse
    • Augusta
      (13 miles [20.9 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 Tennessee. See our List of 1890's Communities around Tennessee.

Newspapers Published in Tennessee ...

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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Tennessee.

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

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Tennessee:

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 Tennessee, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Tennessee) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.