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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 Wrights Corner (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 Wrights Corner. 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.

Name Variations for Wrights Corner ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

  • A typical abbreviation for Wrights Corner: Wrights Cor. (or less commonly used: Wrights Crn.)
  • While the name of this community is Wrights Corner, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Wrights Corner may originally have been Wright's Corner.

    Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Wrights Corner might be written as Wright Corner.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Wrights Corner. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Wrights Corner.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 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.

Wrights Corner is located in Fayette 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 Fayette County: Bond, Clay, Clinton, Effingham, Marion, Montgomery & Shelby.

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

  • Fayette County     (The home county of Wrights Corner)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wrights Corner, with the one closest to Wrights Corner listed first.
    • Holliday
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Holliday is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
    • Howards Point ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Howards Point is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howards Point
    • Saint Elmo
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Avena
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Avena is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avena
    • Brownstown
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Dressor
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Dressor is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dressor
    • Ramsey
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Bluff City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Bluff City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Loogootee
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Vandalia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bayle City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Bayle City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayle City
    • Bingham
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
  • Bond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wrights Corner, with the one closest to Wrights Corner listed first.
    • Mulberry Grove
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Pleasant Mound
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
    • Smithboro
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wrights Corner, with the one closest to Wrights Corner listed first.
    • Pana
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Pana is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pana
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,327 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pana <2>
    • Rosamond
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Millersville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Millersville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
    • Assumption
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Owaneco
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Clay County
    • Iola
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
  • Cumberland County
    • Neoga
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Neoga is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neoga
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,585 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Neoga <2>
  • Effingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wrights Corner, with the one closest to Wrights Corner listed first.
    • Moccasin
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Moccasin is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
    • Beecher City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Beecher City is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
    • Altamont
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Dexter
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Dexter is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
    • Shumway
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Gilmore
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Gilmore is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Funkhouser
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Funkhouser is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funkhouser
    • Effingham
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Edgewood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Mason
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Mason is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 333 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mason <2>
    • Watson
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Green Creek
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Green Creek is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Creek
  • Jasper County
    • Wheeler
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wrights Corner, with the one closest to Wrights Corner listed first.
    • Kinmundy
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Vernon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Alma
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Patoka
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Omega
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wrights Corner, with the one closest to Wrights Corner listed first.
    • Fillmore
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Ohlman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Chapman
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Chapman is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
    • Coalton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Coalton is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 282 people
    • Nokomis
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Wenonah
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Wenonah is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenonah
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
    • Witt
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Witt is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 833 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Witt <2>
    • Coffeen
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Irving
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Moultrie County
    • Gays
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Gays is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gays <2>
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wrights Corner, with the one closest to Wrights Corner listed first.
    • Cowden
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Herrick
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Fancher
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Fancher is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher
    • Mode
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Mode is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mode
    • Lakewood
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Lakewood is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Stewardson
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Oconee
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Tower Hill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Shelbyville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Strasburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Sigel
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Middlesworth
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Middlesworth is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesworth

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

Cemeteries Near Wrights Corner ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wrights Corner.

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 Wrights Corner - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Springhill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springhill Cemetery
    • The Springhill Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Spring Hill Cemetery
    • Springhill Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1479263 <3>
  • Rogers Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Dial Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Rhodes Family Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Dunkard Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Post Oak Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Crums Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Mt. Moriah Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Ranson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Yolton Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Bonaventure Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Lorton Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (445 more) ...
    • Pleasant Grove Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Bob Doan Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Bob Doane Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 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.<4>

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

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

  • Moccasin
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Moccasin is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
  • Beecher City
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Beecher City is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher City
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
  • Holliday
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Holliday is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
  • Saint Elmo
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Altamont
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Blue Point
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Blue Point is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Point
  • Cowden
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Herrick
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Avena
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Avena is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avena
  • Brownstown
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Dexter
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Dexter is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
  • Fancher
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Fancher is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Dressor
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Dressor is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dressor
    • Mode
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Mode is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mode
    • Saint James
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Saint James is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint James

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

Newspapers Published in Wrights Corner ...

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 138 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wrights Corner.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wrights Corner, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wrights Corner.

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 either 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 Wrights Corner:

Footnotes ...

<1>It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties).
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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.
<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 Wrights Corner, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Wrights Corner) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.