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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 Williamsville (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 Williamsville. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Williamsville is located in Sangamon 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 Sangamon County: Christian, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery & Morgan.

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

  • Sangamon County     (The home county of Williamsville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
    • Spaulding
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Spaulding is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 836 people
    • Sherman
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Buffalo Hart
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Buffalo Hart is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Hart
    • Cantrall
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Riverton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Dawson
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Clear Lake
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Clear Lake is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
    • Grandview
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Grandview is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,369 people
    • Ridgely
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Ridgely is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgely
    • Buffalo
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Mechanicsburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Springfield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Hawthorne Place
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Hawthorne Place is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorne Place
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
    • Ashland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Newmansville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Newmansville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
    • Gurney ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Gurney is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
    • Sylvan ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Sylvan is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
    • Philadelphia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Philadelphia is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
    • Bolivia
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Bolivia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivia
    • Mount Auburn
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Grove City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Grove City is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
    • Edinburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Bulpitt
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Tovey
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Tovey is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tovey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 467 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tovey <1>
    • Sharpsburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Sharpsburg is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
    • Jeisyville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Jeisyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeisyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
    • Kincaid
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Langleyville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Langleyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langleyville
    • Stonington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Zenobia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Zenobia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenobia
    • Taylorville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
    • Midland City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Midland City is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
    • Kenney
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hallsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
    • Tabor
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Tabor is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
    • Rowell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Rowell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowell
    • Waynesville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
    • Elkhart
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Cornland
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Broadwell
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Broadwell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Lake Fork
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Middletown
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Mount Pulaski
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Chestervale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
    • New Holland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Lincoln
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Bell
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Bell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
    • Chestnut
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Latham
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Evans
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Evans is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
    • Niantic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Warrensburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Harristown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Bearsdale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Bearsdale is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
    • Blue Mound
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Boody
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
    • Mason City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Natrona
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Natrona is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
    • Teheran
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Teheran is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
    • San Jose
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Easton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Kilbourne
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Poplar City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Menard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
    • Croft
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Croft is located in Menard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
    • Athens
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Greenview
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Petersburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Tallula
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Oakford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
  • Montgomery County
    • White Oak
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • White Oak is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
    • Prentice
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Prentice is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prentice
    • Alexander
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
    • Winkel ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Winkel is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkel
    • Boynton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Boynton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
    • Burt
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Burt is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
    • Delavan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Richmond
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Richmond is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
    • Armington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Brownwood ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Brownwood is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood

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

Cemeteries Near Williamsville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Williamsville.

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

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

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

  • Walnut Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Stewart Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Fancy Creek Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Kern Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Wolf Creek Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Bice Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Brittin Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Taylor Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Buffalo Hart Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Cass Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Elkhart Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Latham Thompson Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (284 more) ...
    • Canterbury Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Bissell Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bissell Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Bissell Cemetery is located 5 miles [8 km]<3> to the northeast of Springfield.
      • The Bissell Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Churchill Cemetery
      • German Prairie Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #104767 <2>
    • Ladysmith Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Williamsville had a population of 444 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Williamsville had a population of 1,490 people.

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

  • Fancy Prairie
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Fancy Prairie is located in Menard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancy Prairie
  • Sherman
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Spaulding
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Spaulding is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 836 people
  • Barclay
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Barclay is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barclay
  • Elkhart
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Buffalo Hart
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Buffalo Hart is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Hart
  • Cantrall
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Riverton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Cornland
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Dawson
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Ridgely
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Ridgely is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgely
  • Broadwell
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Broadwell is located in Logan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Athens
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Middletown
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Buffalo
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Williamsville ...

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 128 newspapers that have been published in the area around Williamsville.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Williamsville. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Williamsville and those printed in the larger area surrounding Williamsville.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3> of Williamsville.

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 Williamsville:

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 'straight-line' (or 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- Williamsville) 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 Williamsville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.