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 Versailles (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 Versailles. 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 and hospitals 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.
Versailles is located in Brown 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 Brown County: Adams, Cass, Morgan, Pike & Schuyler.
Below are the counties that are near Versailles. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Versailles:
- Brown County (The home county of Versailles)
- The following are listed by their distance from Versailles, with the one closest to Versailles listed first.
- Gilbirds
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Gilbirds is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbirds
- Cooperstown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cooperstown is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperstown
- Hersman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hersman is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersman
- Mount Sterling
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Ripley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Ripley is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Mound Station
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mound Station is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Timewell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Versailles, with the one closest to Versailles listed first.
- Kellerville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Kellerville is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerville
- Clayton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Beverly
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Beverly is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
- Blacks
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Blacks is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blacks
- Liberty
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Camp Point
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Golden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- La Prairie
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Columbus
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Columbus is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
- Adams
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Adams is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Coatsburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Plainville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Paloma
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Versailles, with the one closest to Versailles listed first.
- Hagener
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Hagener is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagener
- Arenzville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Beardstown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Grove is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Bluff Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Jules
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Jules is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
- Virginia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Burlingame
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Burlingame is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
- Old Princeton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Old Princeton is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Princeton
- Philadelphia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Philadelphia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Chandlerville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Versailles, with the one closest to Versailles listed first.
- Astoria
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Vermont
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Versailles, with the one closest to Versailles listed first.
- Patterson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Wilmington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Wilmington is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Hillview
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Hancock County
- Augusta
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mason County
- Snicarte
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Snicarte is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snicarte
- McDonough County
- The following are listed by their distance from Versailles, with the one closest to Versailles listed first.
- Doddsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Doddsville is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doddsville
- Industry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Versailles, with the one closest to Versailles listed first.
- Meredosia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan City ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
- Concord
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Chapin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lynnville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lynnville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 113 people
- Arcadia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Arcadia is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
- Literberry
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Jacksonville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- South Jacksonville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- South Jacksonville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jacksonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,075 people
- Arnold
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Arnold is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
- Woodson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Murrayville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Versailles, with the one closest to Versailles listed first.
- Chambersburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Perry
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Griggsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Valley City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Valley City is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- New Salem
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- New Salem is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 131 people
- Florence
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Florence is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36 people
- Baylis
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Detroit
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Detroit is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Detroit
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Pittsfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Hadley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hadley is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hadley
- Milton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Time
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Time is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Time
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Barry
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Schuyler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Versailles, with the one closest to Versailles listed first.
- Rushville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Frederick
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Camden
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Wayland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Wayland is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Browning
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Huntsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Littleton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bader
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bader is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
- Bluff City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Versailles, with the one closest to Versailles listed first.
- Naples
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Bluffs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oxville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Oxville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxville
- Exeter
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Exeter is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
- Winchester
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Glasgow
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Glasgow is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Alsey
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Manchester
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Versailles, see our County-by-County Page for Versailles.
Cemeteries Near Versailles ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Versailles.
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 Versailles - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Versailles covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Versailles, with the one closest to Versailles listed first.
- South Side Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- West Side Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Dawson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Hall Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Hambaugh Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Root Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Robison Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Casteen Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Suratt Burial Ground
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Woods Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Martin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Gilbirds Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (586 more) ...
- Rusk Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Varder Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hume Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Versailles had a population of 517 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Versailles had a population of 453 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Versailles, with the one closest to Versailles listed first.
- Gilbirds
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Gilbirds is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbirds
- Chambersburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Meredosia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cooperstown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cooperstown is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperstown
- Hersman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hersman is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersman
- Morrelville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Morrelville is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrelville
- Perry
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Sterling
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- White Oak Springs ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- White Oak Springs is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak Springs
- Naples
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Ripley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Ripley is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Buckhorn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Buckhorn is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Bluffs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Benville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Benville is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benville
- Griggsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Versailles. See our List of 1890's Communities around Versailles.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Versailles ...
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 108 newspapers that have been published in the area around Versailles.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Versailles. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Versailles and those printed in the larger area surrounding Versailles.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Versailles.
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 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 Versailles:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Brown County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Cass County
- Fulton County
- Greene County
- Hancock County
- Mason County
- McDonough County
- Morgan County
- Pike County
- Schuyler County
- Scott 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> | 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 Versailles, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Versailles) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |