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 Webster (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 Webster. 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.
Webster is located in Hancock 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 Hancock County: Lee (IA), Adams, Henderson, McDonough, Schuyler, Clark (MO) & Lewis (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Webster. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Webster:
- Hancock County (The home county of Webster)
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- Fountain Green
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Fountain Green is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Green
- Joetta
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Joetta is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joetta
- Burnside
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Burnside is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Carthage
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- La Harpe
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- La Harpe is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Harpe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,123 people
- Ferris
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Adrian
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Disco
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Disco is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Disco
- Bentley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bentley is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
- Colusa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Plymouth
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Elvaston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Basco
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- La Prairie
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Golden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Loraine
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Blacks
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Blacks is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blacks
- Lima
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Camp Point
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Clayton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Marcelline
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Marcelline is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcelline
- Mendon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- Terre Haute
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
- Iowa Junction
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- Lomax
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Raritan
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Raritan is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raritan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Carman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Stronghurst
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Media
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Media is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Olena
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Olena is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
- Gulf Port
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Gulf Port is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf Port
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Biggsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Biggsville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Gladstone
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- McDonough County
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- VIshnu Springs ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- VIshnu Springs is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for VIshnu Springs
- Blandinsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Tennessee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Colmar
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Colmar is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
- Colchester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sciota
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- East Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- East Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
- Lamone Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Lamone Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamone Village
- Macomb
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- University Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- University Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
- Good Hope
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Doddsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Doddsville is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doddsville
- Industry
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Schuyler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- Huntsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Wayland
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Wayland is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Camden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Littleton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- Youngstown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Youngstown is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngstown
- Roseville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Smithshire
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kirkwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Des Moines County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- Patterson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Patterson is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Burlington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- West Burlington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Middletown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Middletown is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Lee County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- Galland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Galland is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galland
- Fort Madison
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wever
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Keokuk
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Sandusky
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Sandusky is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Montrose
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Buena Vista ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Buena Vista is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Sawyer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sawyer is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer
- Former names for Sawyer:
- Atlee
- Edwards
- South Augusta
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- South Augusta is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Augusta
- Denmark
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jeffersonville ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jeffersonville is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
- New Boston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- New Boston is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
- Charleston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Charleston is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charleston
- Clark County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- Alexandria
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Saint Francisville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Saint Francisville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Francisville
- Wayland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Wayland is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Webster, see our County-by-County Page for Webster.
Cemeteries Near Webster ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Webster.
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 Webster - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Webster covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- Yetter Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Webster Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Webster Cemetery is located outside and to the northwest of Webster.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108773 <2>
- Wright Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Spangler Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- McConnell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Liberty Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Majorville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Lincoln Catholic Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Fountain Green Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- McKay Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Franklin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (423 more) ...
- Central Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Old Brick Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Friendship Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Webster had a population of 122 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Webster, with the one closest to Webster listed first.
- Fountain Green
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Fountain Green is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Green
- La Crosse
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- La Crosse is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Crosse
- Joetta
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Joetta is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joetta
- Burnside
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Burnside is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Carthage
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hills Grove ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hills Grove is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills Grove
- La Harpe
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- La Harpe is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Harpe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,123 people
- Ferris
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Saint Mary
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Mary is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Mary
- Tennessee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Blandinsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Adrian
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Bentley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bentley is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
- Colmar
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Colmar is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
- Durham
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Durham is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Webster. See our List of 1890's Communities around Webster.
Newspapers Published in Webster ...
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 101 newspapers that have been published in the area around Webster.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Webster, 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 Webster.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Webster:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Hancock County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Henderson County
- McDonough County
- Schuyler County
- Warren County
- Des Moines County
- Lee County
- Clark 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> | 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 from Point A (ie- Webster) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Webster, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |