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 (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. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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 is located in Dallas 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 Dallas County: Autauga, Chilton, Lowndes, Marengo, Perry & Wilcox.
Below are the counties that are near Ellis. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ellis:
- Dallas County (The home county of Ellis)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellis, with the one closest to Ellis listed first.
- Crumptonia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Crumptonia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumptonia
- Richmond
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Richmond is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Orrville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Carlowville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Carlowville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlowville
- Safford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Belknap
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Belknap is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belknap
- Kings
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Kings is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings
- Minter
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Minter is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minter
- Cahawba ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cahawba is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahawba
- Central Mills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Central Mills is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Mills
- Sardis
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Hill is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
- Marion Junction
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Marion Junction is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion Junction
- Autauga County
- Jones Bluff Dam
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jones Bluff Dam is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Bluff Dam
- Butler County
- Forest Home
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clarke County
- Atkeison
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Atkeison is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkeison
- Lowndes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellis, with the one closest to Ellis listed first.
- Collirene
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Collirene is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collirene
- Bragg's
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Bragg's is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg's
- Petronia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Petronia is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petronia
- Benton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Benton is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Gordonville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Gordonville is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 251 people
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellis, with the one closest to Ellis listed first.
- Flatwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Flatwood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatwood
- Consul
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Consul is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Consul
- Crenshaw ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Crenshaw is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
- Thomaston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Thomaston is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomaston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 383 people
- Magnolia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Magnolia is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Vineland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Vineland is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineland
- Dayton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dayton is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Hugo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Hugo is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hugo
- Siddonsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Siddonsville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siddonsville
- Ellison ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Ellison is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellison
- Faunsdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellis, with the one closest to Ellis listed first.
- Vredenburgh
(22 miles [35.4 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
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Buena Vista is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Hybart
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Hybart is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hybart
- Beatrice
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Pineville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Pineville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineville
- Lovan ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Lovan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovan
- Natchez
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Natchez is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natchez
- Franklin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Franklin is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellis, with the one closest to Ellis listed first.
- Freetown
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Freetown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freetown
- Ellawhite
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ellawhite is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellawhite
- The Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- The Village is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
- Augustin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Augustin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augustin
- Suttle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Suttle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suttle
- Uniontown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Vilula
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Vilula is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilula
- Wilcox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellis, with the one closest to Ellis listed first.
- Boykin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Boykin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boykin
- Rehoboth
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rehoboth is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehoboth
- Millers Ferry
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Millers Ferry is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Ferry
- Prairie Bluff ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Prairie Bluff is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Bluff
- Prairie Bluff has also been known as:
- Dale
- Daletown
- Camden
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Estelle
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Estelle is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
- Alberta
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Alberta is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
- Ackerville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ackerville is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackerville
- Rockwest
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rockwest is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwest
- Gastonburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Gastonburg is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gastonburg
- Bethel
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Bethel is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Catherine
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Catherine is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catherine
- McBrydes
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- McBrydes is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBrydes
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ellis, see our County-by-County Page for Ellis.
Cemeteries Near Ellis ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ellis.
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 - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ellis covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ellis, with the one closest to Ellis listed first.
- Boykin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Young Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hotel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- McMillan Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- McMillan Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Young Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Turner Field Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Athens Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- New Bethel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Irby Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Sandhill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- 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
- Continue List (265 more) ...
- Pettway Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- 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>
- Seale Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Pigeonfield Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
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 in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ellis.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ellis, with the one closest to Ellis listed first.
- Portland ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Portland is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland
- Crumptonia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Crumptonia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumptonia
- Tasso
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Tasso is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tasso
- Tilden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Tilden is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilden
- Rehoboth
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rehoboth is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehoboth
- Prairie Bluff ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Prairie Bluff is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Bluff
- Prairie Bluff has also been known as:
- Dale
- Daletown
- Millers Ferry
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Millers Ferry is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Ferry
- Camden
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Richmond
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Richmond is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Orrville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Rockwest
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rockwest is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwest
- Carlowville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Carlowville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlowville
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- King's Landing
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- King's Landing is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King's Landing
- Gastonburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Gastonburg is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gastonburg
- Safford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ellis. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ellis.
Newspapers Published in Ellis ...
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 20 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ellis.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ellis, 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.
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 Ellis:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Dallas County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Butler County
- Clarke County
- Lowndes County
- Marengo County
- Monroe County
- Perry County
- Wilcox 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, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Ellis) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |