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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 Thayer (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 Thayer. 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 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.

Thayer is located in Sangamon 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 Sangamon County: Christian, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery & Morgan.

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

  • Sangamon County     (The home county of Thayer)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thayer, with the one closest to Thayer listed first.
    • Auburn
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Lowder
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Divernon
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Commanche Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Commanche Village is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commanche Village
    • Glenarm
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Chatham
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Pawnee
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Loami
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Maxwell ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Maxwell is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
    • Curran
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Curran is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curran
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
    • Woodside
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Woodside is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodside
    • New City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • New City is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New City
    • New Berlin
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thayer, with the one closest to Thayer listed first.
    • Ashland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Gurney ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Gurney is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thayer, with the one closest to Thayer listed first.
    • Zenobia
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Zenobia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenobia
    • Tovey
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Tovey is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tovey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 467 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tovey <1>
    • Bulpitt
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Jeisyville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Jeisyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeisyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
    • Kincaid
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Morrisonville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Palmer
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Clarksdale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Clarksdale is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksdale
    • Langleyville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Langleyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langleyville
    • Edinburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Sharpsburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Sharpsburg is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
    • Taylorville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Bolivia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Bolivia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivia
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thayer, with the one closest to Thayer listed first.
    • Greenfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Rockbridge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Wrights
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Macoupin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thayer, with the one closest to Thayer listed first.
    • Virden
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Girard
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Nilwood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Modesto
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Standard City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Standard City is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standard City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
    • Palmyra
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Scottville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Carlinville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Hettick
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Comer
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Comer is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
    • Hagaman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Hagaman is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagaman
    • Hornsby
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Hornsby is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornsby
    • Chesterfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Menard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thayer, with the one closest to Thayer listed first.
    • Athens
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Tallula
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thayer, with the one closest to Thayer listed first.
    • Farmersville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • White Oak
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • White Oak is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
    • Waggoner
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Harvel
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Raymond
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Shop Creek
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Shop Creek is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shop Creek
    • Honey Bend
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Honey Bend is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Bend
    • Litchfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Butler
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Hillsboro
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Irving
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Wenonah
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Wenonah is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenonah
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
    • Witt
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Witt is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 833 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Witt <1>
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thayer, with the one closest to Thayer listed first.
    • Waverly
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Franklin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Alexander
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Pisgah
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Pisgah is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
    • Arnold
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Arnold is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
    • Woodson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Prentice
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Prentice is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prentice
    • Murrayville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • South Jacksonville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • South Jacksonville is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jacksonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,075 people
    • Jacksonville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Scott County
    • Manchester
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Thayer ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Thayer.

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

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

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

  • West Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Virden City Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Auburn Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Wimmer Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Brush Creek Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Girard Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Girard City Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Cumberland Sugar Creek Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Sugar Creek Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Cloud Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Union Chapel Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (335 more) ...
    • Oak Grove Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • McCoupin Creek Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Rovey Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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.<3>

While we didn't find Thayer in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Thayer.

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

  • Virden
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Auburn
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Lowder
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Divernon
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Girard
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Thomasville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Thomasville is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomasville
  • Pawnee Junction
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Pawnee Junction is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pawnee Junction
  • Farmersville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Glenarm
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Chatham
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Nilwood
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • McVey
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • McVey is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McVey
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • White Oak
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • White Oak is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
    • Loami
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Pawnee
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Thayer ...

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 240 newspapers that have been published in the area around Thayer.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Thayer, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Thayer.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Thayer:

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 Thayer, 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 from Point A (ie- Thayer) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.