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 Ellis Ferry (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 Ellis Ferry. 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 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.
Ellis Ferry is located in Wilcox 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 Wilcox County: Butler, Clarke, Dallas, Lowndes, Marengo & Monroe.
Below are the counties that are near Ellis Ferry. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ellis Ferry:
- Wilcox County (The home county of Ellis Ferry)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellis Ferry, with the one closest to Ellis Ferry listed first.
- Boykin
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Boykin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boykin
- Camden
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Rockwest
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Rockwest is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwest
- Millers Ferry
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Millers Ferry is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Ferry
- Estelle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Estelle is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
- Prairie Bluff ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Prairie Bluff is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Bluff
- Prairie Bluff has also been known as:
- Dale
- Daletown
- Nellie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Nellie is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nellie
- Rehoboth
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rehoboth is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehoboth
- Bethel
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bethel is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Yellow Bluff
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Yellow Bluff is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Bluff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Ackerville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Ackerville is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackerville
- Catherine
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Catherine is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catherine
- Gastonburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Gastonburg is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gastonburg
- Butler County
- Forest Home
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellis Ferry, with the one closest to Ellis Ferry listed first.
- Atkeison
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Atkeison is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkeison
- Nettleboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Nettleboro is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettleboro
- Thomasville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Dickinson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dickinson is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickinson
- Fulton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fulton is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 242 people
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellis Ferry, with the one closest to Ellis Ferry listed first.
- Crumptonia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Crumptonia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumptonia
- Carlowville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Carlowville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlowville
- Richmond
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Richmond is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Safford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Minter
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Minter is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minter
- Orrville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Central Mills
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Central Mills is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Mills
- Belknap
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Belknap is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belknap
- Kings
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kings is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings
- Cahawba ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cahawba is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahawba
- Pleasant Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Hill is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
- Sardis
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Massillon ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Massillon is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massillon
- Lowndes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellis Ferry, with the one closest to Ellis Ferry listed first.
- Bragg's
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Bragg's is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg's
- Collirene
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Collirene is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collirene
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellis Ferry, with the one closest to Ellis Ferry listed first.
- Flatwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Flatwood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatwood
- Consul
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Consul is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Consul
- Vineland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Vineland is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineland
- Magnolia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Magnolia is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Thomaston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Thomaston is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomaston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 383 people
- Ellison ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Ellison is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellison
- Crenshaw ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Crenshaw is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
- Hugo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hugo is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hugo
- Dixon's Mills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Dixon's Mills is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon's Mills
- Dayton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dayton is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Siddonsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Siddonsville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siddonsville
- Moss ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Moss is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellis Ferry, with the one closest to Ellis Ferry listed first.
- Hybart
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Hybart is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hybart
- Vredenburgh
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Vredenburgh is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vredenburgh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
- Buena Vista
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Buena Vista is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Beatrice
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Lovan ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Lovan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovan
- Natchez
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Natchez is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natchez
- Pineville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Pineville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineville
- Franklin
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Franklin is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
- Scratch Ankle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Scratch Ankle is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scratch Ankle
- Tunnel Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Tunnel Springs is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnel Springs
- Former name for Tunnel Springs:
- Kempsville
- Pine Orchard
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Pine Orchard is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Orchard
- Finchburg ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Finchburg is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finchburg
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellis Ferry, with the one closest to Ellis Ferry listed first.
- Freetown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Freetown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freetown
- Ellawhite
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ellawhite is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellawhite
- The Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- The Village is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
- Uniontown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ellis Ferry, see our County-by-County Page for Ellis Ferry.
Cemeteries Near Ellis Ferry ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ellis Ferry.
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 Ellis Ferry - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ellis Ferry covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ellis Ferry, with the one closest to Ellis Ferry listed first.
- Bell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Sodom Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Sandhill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandhill Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Sandhill Cemetery is located in the vicinity of Boykin
- Pigeonfield Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Bridges Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Pettway Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pettway Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Pettway Cemetery is located in the vicinity of Boykin
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #25365 <2>
- Irby Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Camden Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hotel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Becks Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Canton Bend Methodist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Old St. Francis Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (274 more) ...
- Pledger Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- McIntosh Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Young Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
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.<3>
While we didn't find Ellis Ferry in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ellis Ferry.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ellis Ferry, with the one closest to Ellis Ferry listed first.
- Camden
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Rockwest
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Rockwest is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwest
- Millers Ferry
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Millers Ferry is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Ferry
- Prairie Bluff ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Prairie Bluff is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Bluff
- Prairie Bluff has also been known as:
- Dale
- Daletown
- Tilden
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Tilden is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilden
- Nellie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Nellie is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nellie
- Fatama
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Fatama is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fatama
- Portland ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Portland is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland
- Rosebud
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rosebud is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosebud
- Rehoboth
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rehoboth is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehoboth
- Crumptonia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Crumptonia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumptonia
- Boiling Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Boiling Springs is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boiling Springs
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Yellow Bluff
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Yellow Bluff is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Bluff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Bethel
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bethel is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Tasso
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Tasso is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tasso
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ellis Ferry. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ellis Ferry.
Newspapers Published in Ellis Ferry ...
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 21 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ellis Ferry.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ellis Ferry, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ellis Ferry.
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 Ellis Ferry:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Wilcox County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Butler County
- Clarke County
- Dallas County
- Lowndes County
- Marengo County
- Monroe County
- Perry County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Alabama
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> | 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 Ellis Ferry, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Ellis Ferry) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |