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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 Doster (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 Doster. 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.

Doster is located in Barbour County.

To see how the shape of Alabama's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Barbour County: Bullock, Dale, Henry, Pike, Russell, Clay (GA), Quitman (GA) & Stewart (GA).

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

  • Barbour County     (The home county of Doster)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Doster, with the one closest to Doster listed first.
    • Elamville
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Elamville is located in Barbour County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elamville
    • Clio
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Clio is located in Barbour County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,268 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clio <1>
    • Blue Springs
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Blue Springs is located in Barbour County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
    • Louisville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Louisville is located in Barbour County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 457 people
    • Clayton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Bakerhill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Bakerhill is located in Barbour County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakerhill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
    • Cotton Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Cotton Hill is located in Barbour County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Hill
  • Bullock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Doster, with the one closest to Doster listed first.
    • Perote
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Perote is located in Bullock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perote
    • Smuteye
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Smuteye is located in Bullock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smuteye
    • Inverness
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Inverness is located in Bullock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
    • Postoak
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Postoak is located in Bullock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Postoak
    • Pine Grove
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Pine Grove is located in Bullock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove
    • Midway
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Midway is located in Bullock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 457 people
  • Coffee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Doster, with the one closest to Doster listed first.
    • Roeton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Roeton is located in Coffee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roeton
    • Java
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Java is located in Coffee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Java
    • Frisco
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Frisco is located in Coffee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
    • Mixson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Mixson is located in Coffee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixson
    • Jack
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Jack is located in Coffee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jack
    • Wilkinstown
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Wilkinstown is located in Coffee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkinstown
    • Clintonville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Clintonville is located in Coffee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clintonville
    • New Brockton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Enterprise
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Zoar
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Zoar is located in Coffee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zoar
    • Elba
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Elba is located in Coffee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,919 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elba <1>
    • Battens Crossroads
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Battens Crossroads is located in Coffee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battens Crossroads
    • Central City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Central City is located in Coffee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
  • Crenshaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Doster, with the one closest to Doster listed first.
    • Glenwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Bullock
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Bullock is located in Crenshaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullock
    • Social Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Social Town is located in Crenshaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Social Town
  • Dale County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Doster, with the one closest to Doster listed first.
    • Phillips Crossroads
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Phillips Crossroads is located in Dale County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillips Crossroads
    • Ariton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Ariton is located in Dale County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ariton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 736 people
    • Arguta
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Arguta is located in Dale County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arguta
    • Skipperville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Skipperville is located in Dale County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skipperville
    • Ozark
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Clopton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Clopton is located in Dale County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clopton
    • Mabson
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Mabson is located in Dale County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabson
    • Ewell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Ewell is located in Dale County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewell
    • Bertha
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Bertha is located in Dale County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertha
    • Fort Rucker
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Holiday Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Holiday Village is located in Dale County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday Village
    • Newton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Newton is located in Dale County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,451 people
    • Daleville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
  • Henry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Doster, with the one closest to Doster listed first.
    • Graball
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Graball is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graball
      • Former names for Graball:
      • Hart's Crossroads
      • Hudspeth's Crossroads
    • Capps
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Capps is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capps
    • Abbeville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Newville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Newville is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 510 people
    • Oakey Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Oakey Grove is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakey Grove
    • Headland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Screamer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Screamer is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Screamer
  • Pike County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Doster, with the one closest to Doster listed first.
    • Tennille
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Tennille is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tennille
    • Brundidge
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Buckhorn
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Buckhorn is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
    • Pronto
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Pronto is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pronto
    • Tarentum
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Tarentum is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarentum
    • Banks
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Centre Ridge ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Centre Ridge is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centre Ridge
    • Mossy Grove Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Mossy Grove Village is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mossy Grove Village
    • Troy
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Troy is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,762 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Troy <1>
    • McClure Town
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • McClure Town is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClure Town
    • Linwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Linwood is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
    • Saco
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Saco is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saco
    • Henderson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Henderson is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson

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

Cemeteries Near Doster ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Doster.

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

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

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

  • Holmes Baptist Church Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Carr Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Danner Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Dansby Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Adam Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Sutton Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Sammon Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Richardson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<3> to the south of Clio.
    • The Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Antioch Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #21269 <2>
  • Calvary Assembly of God Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Universalist Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Peter Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (330 more) ...

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 Doster in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Doster.

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

  • Elamville
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Elamville is located in Barbour County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elamville
  • Tennille
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Tennille is located in Pike County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tennille
  • Clio
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Clio is located in Barbour County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,268 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clio <1>
  • Arguta
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Arguta is located in Dale County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arguta
  • Dillard
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Dillard is located in Dale County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillard
  • Skipperville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Skipperville is located in Dale County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skipperville
  • Brundidge
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Buckhorn
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Buckhorn is located in Pike County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
  • Louisville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Louisville is located in Barbour County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 457 people
  • Pronto
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Pronto is located in Pike County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pronto
  • Asbury
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Asbury is located in Dale County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asbury
  • Ozark
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Clopton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Clopton is located in Dale County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clopton
    • Banks
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Josie
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Josie is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Josie

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

Newspapers Published in Doster ...

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 24 newspapers that have been published in the area around Doster.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Doster, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Doster.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Doster:

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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Doster) 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 Doster, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.