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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 Vernon (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 Vernon. 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 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.

Vernon is located in Marion 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 Marion County: Clay, Clinton, Fayette, Jefferson, Washington & Wayne.

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

  • Marion County     (The home county of Vernon)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vernon, with the one closest to Vernon listed first.
    • Patoka
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Fairman
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Fairman is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairman
    • Alma
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Odin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Odin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,004 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Odin <1>
    • Kinmundy
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Sandoval
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Salem
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Junction City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Junction City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
    • Omega
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Central City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Central City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
    • Bannister
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Cartter
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
  • Bond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vernon, with the one closest to Vernon listed first.
    • Pleasant Mound
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
    • Mulberry Grove
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Smithboro
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Greenville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Pocahontas
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Reno
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Reno is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
    • Old Ripley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Old Ripley is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Ripley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
    • Pierron
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Sorento
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vernon, with the one closest to Vernon listed first.
    • Iola
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Xenia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Kenner
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vernon, with the one closest to Vernon listed first.
    • Boulder
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Boulder is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
    • Keyesport
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Marydale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Marydale is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marydale
    • Huey
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • Centralia
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Carlyle
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Hoffman
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Beckemeyer
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Posey
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Posey is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posey
    • Breese
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Saint Rose
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Saint Rose is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Rose
    • Bartelso
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Effingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vernon, with the one closest to Vernon listed first.
    • Gilmore
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Gilmore is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Edgewood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Altamont
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Mason
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Mason is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 333 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mason <1>
    • Dexter
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Dexter is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
    • Moccasin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Moccasin is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vernon, with the one closest to Vernon listed first.
    • Shobonier
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Saint Paul
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
    • Hagarstown
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Bluff City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Bluff City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Vandalia
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Saint Peter
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Loogootee
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Brownstown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Avena
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Avena is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avena
    • Farina
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Howards Point ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Howards Point is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howards Point
    • Saint Elmo
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vernon, with the one closest to Vernon listed first.
    • Dix
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Dix is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dix
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dix <1>
    • Texico
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Jefferson City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Jefferson City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
    • Idlewood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
    • Shields
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Shields is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
  • Madison County
    • Sebastopol
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Sebastopol is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebastopol
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vernon, with the one closest to Vernon listed first.
    • Fillmore
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Chapman
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Chapman is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
    • Coffeen
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Donnellson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Panama
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Shelby County
    • Herrick
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vernon, with the one closest to Vernon listed first.
    • Wamac
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Wamac is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wamac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
    • Baldwin Heights
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
    • Irvington
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Hoyleton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Richview
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • New Minden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • New Minden is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Minden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people

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

Cemeteries Near Vernon ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Vernon.

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

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

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

  • Hatch Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Tillman Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Finch Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Meador Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Holt Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Lee Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Thorp Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Patoka Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Farmer Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Heckethorn Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • McConnell Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Bear Creek Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (436 more) ...
    • Magassi Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Conant Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Doolen Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 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, Vernon had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Vernon had a population of 119 people.

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

  • Patoka
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Shobonier
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Lester
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Lester is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
  • Fairman
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Fairman is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairman
  • Saint Paul
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
  • Pittsburg
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Pittsburg is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg
  • Wilberton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Wilberton is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilberton
  • Keyesport
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Boulder
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Boulder is located in Clinton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
  • Hagarstown
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Tamalco
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Tamalco is located in Bond County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tamalco
  • Tonti
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Tonti is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tonti
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Alma
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Pleasant Mound
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
    • Odin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Odin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,004 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Odin <1>

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

Newspapers Published in Vernon ...

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 116 newspapers that have been published in the area around Vernon.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Vernon, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Vernon.

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 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 Vernon:

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