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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Virgil. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Virgil to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Virgil, please Contact Us.

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 Virgil (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 Virgil. 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 hospitals and 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Virgil is historic, it would have been located within present day Fulton 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 Fulton County: Knox, Mason, McDonough, Peoria, Schuyler, Tazewell & Warren.

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

  • Fulton County     (The home county of Virgil)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Virgil, with the one closest to Virgil listed first.
    • Avon
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Babylon
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Babylon is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babylon
    • Ellisville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Checkrow
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Checkrow is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Checkrow
    • Blyton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Blyton is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blyton
    • Marietta
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • London Mills
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Bybee
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Bybee is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bybee
    • Smithfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Fairview
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Fiatt
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Cuba
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Cuba is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,149 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cuba <2>
  • Hancock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Virgil, with the one closest to Virgil listed first.
    • Joetta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Joetta is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joetta
    • La Harpe
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • La Harpe is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Harpe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,123 people
  • Henderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Virgil, with the one closest to Virgil listed first.
    • Raritan
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Raritan is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raritan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
    • Media
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Media is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
    • Stronghurst
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Biggsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Biggsville is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
    • Olena
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Olena is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
    • Terre Haute
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Virgil, with the one closest to Virgil listed first.
    • Saint Augustine
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Abingdon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • De Long
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • De Long is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Long
    • Maquon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Gilson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Knoxville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • East Galesburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • East Galesburg is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Galesburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
    • Galesburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Knox
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Knox is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
    • Yates City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Appleton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Appleton is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
    • Dahinda
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Virgil, with the one closest to Virgil listed first.
    • Buzzville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Buzzville is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buzzville
    • Goofy Ridge
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Goofy Ridge is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goofy Ridge
    • Havana
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • McDonough County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Virgil, with the one closest to Virgil listed first.
    • Prairie City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Prairie City is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
    • Bushnell
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • New Philadelphia
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • New Philadelphia is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Philadelphia
    • Bardolph
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Adair
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Good Hope
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • East Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • East Village is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
    • Lamone Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Lamone Village is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamone Village
    • Macomb
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • 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 <2>
    • University Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • University Village is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
    • Sciota
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Industry
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
  • Peoria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Virgil, with the one closest to Virgil listed first.
    • Elmwood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Trivoli
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Glasford
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Brimfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Schuyler County
    • Littleton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Tazewell County
    • Radville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Radville is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radville
  • Warren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Virgil, with the one closest to Virgil listed first.
    • Youngstown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Youngstown is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngstown
    • Berwick
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Roseville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Cameron
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Surrey
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Surrey is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surrey
    • Monmouth
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Smithshire
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Kirkwood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Utah
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Utah is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
    • Gerlaw
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Shanghai City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Shanghai City is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai City
    • Eleanor
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Eleanor is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor

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

Cemeteries Near Virgil ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Virgil.

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

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

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

  • Virgil Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Guernsey Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Peirsol Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Avon Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Flake Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Old Prairie City Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Old Prairie City Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Prairie City Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Checkrow Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Ellisville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Barnes Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Rigdon Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (366 more) ...
    • Landon Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Babbitt Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Heartley Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)

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.

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

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

  • Manley
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Manley is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manley
  • Babylon
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Babylon is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babylon
  • Avon
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Prairie City
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Prairie City is located in McDonough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
  • Ellisville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Saint Augustine
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Bushnell
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Blyton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Blyton is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blyton
  • Marietta
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Seville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Seville is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seville
  • London Mills
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Hermon
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Hermon is located in Knox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hermon
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Greenbush
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Greenbush is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenbush
    • New Philadelphia
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • New Philadelphia is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Philadelphia
    • Scottsburg
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Scottsburg is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsburg

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

Newspapers Published in Virgil ...

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 141 newspapers that have been published in the area around Virgil.

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

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 Virgil:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Virgil, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Virgil) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.