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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 Van Burensburg (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 Van Burensburg. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.

Van Burensburg is located in Montgomery 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 Montgomery County: Bond, Christian, Fayette, Macoupin, Madison, Sangamon & Shelby.

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

  • Montgomery County     (The home county of Van Burensburg)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Burensburg, with the one closest to Van Burensburg listed first.
    • Chapman
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Chapman is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
    • Fillmore
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Coffeen
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Donnellson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Irving
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Schram City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Schram City is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schram City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 542 people
    • Taylor Springs
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Panama
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Hillsboro
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Witt
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • 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>
    • Coalton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Coalton is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 282 people
    • Butler
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Nokomis
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
  • Bond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Burensburg, with the one closest to Van Burensburg listed first.
    • Mulberry Grove
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Smithboro
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Pleasant Mound
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
    • Greenville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Reno
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Reno is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
    • Sorento
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Old Ripley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Old Ripley is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Ripley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
    • Pocahontas
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Pierron
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Burensburg, with the one closest to Van Burensburg listed first.
    • Rosamond
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Pana
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Pana is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pana
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,327 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pana <1>
    • Morrisonville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Millersville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Millersville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
    • Palmer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Burensburg, with the one closest to Van Burensburg listed first.
    • Keyesport
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Boulder
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Boulder is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
    • Marydale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Marydale is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marydale
    • Saint Rose
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Saint Rose is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Rose
    • Carlyle
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Huey
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Huey is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Huey <1>
    • Beckemeyer
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Effingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Burensburg, with the one closest to Van Burensburg listed first.
    • Altamont
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Beecher City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Beecher City is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
    • Moccasin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Moccasin is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
    • Gilmore
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Gilmore is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Burensburg, with the one closest to Van Burensburg listed first.
    • Bingham
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Bayle City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Bayle City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayle City
    • Hagarstown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Vandalia
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Ramsey
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Bluff City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Bluff City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Dressor
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Dressor is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dressor
    • Shobonier
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Brownstown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Avena
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Avena is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avena
    • Saint Paul
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
    • Howards Point ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Howards Point is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howards Point
    • Saint Elmo
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
  • Macoupin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Burensburg, with the one closest to Van Burensburg listed first.
    • Mount Olive
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Lake Ka-ho
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Lake Ka-ho is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Ka-ho
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
      • Lake Ka-ho has also been known as:
      • Lake Ka-Ho village
    • Hornsby
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Hornsby is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornsby
    • White City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • White City is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 230 people
    • Eagarville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Staunton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Benld
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Benld is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benld
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,406 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Benld <1>
    • Sawyerville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • East Gillespie
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • East Gillespie is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gillespie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
    • Gillespie
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Mount Clare
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Mount Clare is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Clare
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
    • Wilsonville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Burensburg, with the one closest to Van Burensburg listed first.
    • New Douglas
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Grantfork
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Grantfork is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantfork
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
    • Alhambra
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Livingston
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Williamson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Sebastopol
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Sebastopol is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebastopol
    • Highland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Worden
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Burensburg, with the one closest to Van Burensburg listed first.
    • Vernon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Patoka
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Fairman
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Fairman is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairman
    • Alma
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Kinmundy
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Sandoval
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Burensburg, with the one closest to Van Burensburg listed first.
    • Oconee
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Herrick
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Cowden
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Lakewood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Lakewood is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Tower Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Van Burensburg ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Van Burensburg.

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 Van Burensburg - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Green Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Neathery Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Renshaw Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Walker Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Snow Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Durr Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Liberty Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Browning Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Hurricane Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Etcheson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Cook Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Rush Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (387 more) ...
    • Brackenbush Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Isbell Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Bethlehem Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 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.<2>

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

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

  • Chapman
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Chapman is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
  • Fillmore
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Bingham
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Mulberry Grove
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Coffeen
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Hagarstown
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Vera
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Vera is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vera
  • Bayle City
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Bayle City is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayle City
  • Smithboro
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Vandalia
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Donnellson
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Greenville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Pleasant Mound
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
    • Pittsburg
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Pittsburg is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg
    • Ramsey
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Van Burensburg ...

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 191 newspapers that have been published in the area around Van Burensburg.

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

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 professional and volunteer 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 Van Burensburg:

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 Van Burensburg, 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- Van Burensburg) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.