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 Westervelt (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 Westervelt. 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.
Westervelt is located in Shelby 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 Shelby County: Christian, Coles, Cumberland, Effingham, Fayette, Macon, Montgomery & Moultrie.
Below are the counties that are near Westervelt. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Westervelt:
- Shelby County (The home county of Westervelt)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westervelt, with the one closest to Westervelt listed first.
- Yantisville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Yantisville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville
- Findlay
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shelbyville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tower Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Middlesworth
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Middlesworth is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesworth
- Lakewood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Lakewood is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Moweaqua
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Windsor
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Cowden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Fancher
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Fancher is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher
- Strasburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mode
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mode is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mode
- Oconee
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Christian County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westervelt, with the one closest to Westervelt listed first.
- Assumption
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Pana
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Millersville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Millersville is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
- Rosamond
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Owaneco
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Sandersville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Sandersville is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandersville
- Velma
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Velma is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velma
- Stonington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Taylorville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Clarksdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Clarksdale is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksdale
- Langleyville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Langleyville is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langleyville
- Grove City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Grove City is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
- Sharpsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Sharpsburg is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
- Coles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westervelt, with the one closest to Westervelt listed first.
- Magnet
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Magnet is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnet
- Cooks Mills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Cooks Mills is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
- Mattoon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Dorans
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Dorans is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorans
- Trilla
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Humboldt
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Lerna
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Cumberland County
- Neoga
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westervelt, with the one closest to Westervelt listed first.
- Arthur
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Chesterville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Chesterville is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
- Effingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westervelt, with the one closest to Westervelt listed first.
- Beecher City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Beecher City is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
- Moccasin
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Moccasin is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
- Shumway
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Green Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Green Creek is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Creek
- Altamont
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Dexter
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Dexter is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
- Funkhouser
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Funkhouser is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funkhouser
- Effingham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westervelt, with the one closest to Westervelt listed first.
- Holliday
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Holliday is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
- Dressor
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Dressor is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dressor
- Ramsey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bayle City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bayle City is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayle City
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westervelt, with the one closest to Westervelt listed first.
- Macon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hervey City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Hervey City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hervey City
- Mount Zion
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Blue Mound
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Elwin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Turpin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Turpin is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
- Casner
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Casner is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casner
- Long Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Long Creek is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,262 people
- Boody
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Decatur
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Sangamon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Sangamon is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
- Harristown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bearsdale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bearsdale is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westervelt, with the one closest to Westervelt listed first.
- Ohlman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Nokomis
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wenonah
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wenonah is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenonah
- Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
- Coalton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Coalton is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 282 people
- Witt
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Moultrie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westervelt, with the one closest to Westervelt listed first.
- Bethany
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Dunn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Dunn is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
- Sullivan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Dalton City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Cushman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cushman is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
- Allenville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Allenville is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Gays
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Lake City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Lake City is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
- Lovington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Coles
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Coles is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coles
- Cadwell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cadwell is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadwell
- Piatt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westervelt, with the one closest to Westervelt listed first.
- La Place
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Lintner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lintner is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lintner
- Burrowsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
- Hammond
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cerro Gordo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Atwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Voorhies
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Voorhies is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Westervelt, see our County-by-County Page for Westervelt.
Cemeteries Near Westervelt ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westervelt.
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 Westervelt - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Westervelt covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Westervelt, with the one closest to Westervelt listed first.
- Plank Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Brunswick Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Henton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Craig Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Washington Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Union Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Armstrong Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Austin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Shelby Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Moyer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Smith Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (373 more) ...
- Bethel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Cutler Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Oliver Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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 Westervelt in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Westervelt.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Westervelt, with the one closest to Westervelt listed first.
- Henton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Henton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henton
- Yantisville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Yantisville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville
- Obed
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Obed is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obed
- Shelbyville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Findlay
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tower Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Todds Point
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Todds Point is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Todds Point
- Middlesworth
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Middlesworth is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesworth
- Lakewood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Lakewood is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Assumption
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Dunkel
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Dunkel is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkel
- Radford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Radford is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Pana
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Dunn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Dunn is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
- Bethany
(13 miles [20.9 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 Westervelt. See our List of 1890's Communities around Westervelt.
Newspapers Published in Westervelt ...
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 97 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westervelt.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Westervelt, 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 Westervelt.
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 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 Westervelt:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Shelby County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Christian County
- Coles County
- Cumberland County
- Douglas County
- Effingham County
- Fayette County
- Macon County
- Montgomery County
- Moultrie County
- Piatt 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> | 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 Westervelt, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Westervelt) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |