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 Francis 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 Francis 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.
Francis Ferry is located in Calhoun 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 Calhoun County: Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah, Saint Clair & Talladega.
Below are the counties that are near Francis Ferry. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Francis Ferry:
- Calhoun County (The home county of Francis Ferry)
- The following are listed by their distance from Francis Ferry, with the one closest to Francis Ferry listed first.
- Ohatchee
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Macon
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Macon is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macon
- Beasley ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Beasley is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beasley
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cane Creek is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Boozer ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Boozer is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boozer
- Chigger Ridge ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Chigger Ridge is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chigger Ridge
- Cochran Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Cochran Springs is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochran Springs
- Grayton
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Grayton is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayton
- Bruner ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bruner is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruner
- Morrisville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Morrisville is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisville
- Clark ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Clark is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark
- Bera ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bera is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bera
- Blount County
- The following are listed by their distance from Francis Ferry, with the one closest to Francis Ferry listed first.
- Straight Mountain
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Straight Mountain is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Straight Mountain
- Appalachian
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Appalachian is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appalachian
- Highland Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Highland Lake is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
- Taits Gap
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Taits Gap is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taits Gap
- Hoods Crossroads
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hoods Crossroads is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoods Crossroads
- Bird ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bird is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bird
- Oneonta
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Allgood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Allgood is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allgood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 638 people
- Wynnville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wynnville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynnville
- Fridays Crossing
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fridays Crossing is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fridays Crossing
- Rosa
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rosa is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 324 people
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Francis Ferry, with the one closest to Francis Ferry listed first.
- Ball Flat
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ball Flat is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ball Flat
- Ricks ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ricks is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ricks
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Francis Ferry, with the one closest to Francis Ferry listed first.
- Elder
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Elder is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elder
- Erin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Erin is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin
- Haynes Crossroad
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Haynes Crossroad is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes Crossroad
- Delta
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cleburne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Francis Ferry, with the one closest to Francis Ferry listed first.
- Abel
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Abel is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abel
- Heflin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hollis Crossroads
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hollis Crossroads is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollis Crossroads
- Grantley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Grantley is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantley
- Edwardsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Edwardsville is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwardsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 201 people
- DeKalb County
- Mount Zion ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Mount Zion is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Etowah County
- The following are listed by their distance from Francis Ferry, with the one closest to Francis Ferry listed first.
- Brannon Springs ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Brannon Springs is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brannon Springs
- Markton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Markton is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markton
- Pilgrims Rest
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Pilgrims Rest is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilgrims Rest
- Rainbow City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Cobb City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cobb City is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb City
- Glencoe
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Burns Park
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Burns Park is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns Park
- Attalla
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Alabama City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Alabama City is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alabama City
- East Gadsden
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- East Gadsden is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gadsden
- Gadsden
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Hokes Bluff
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Jefferson County
- Ayres
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Ayres is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayres
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Francis Ferry, with the one closest to Francis Ferry listed first.
- Boaz
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Whitesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Whitesville is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitesville
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Francis Ferry, with the one closest to Francis Ferry listed first.
- Ragland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Riverside
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Ashville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Steele
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Coal City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Coal City is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
- Wattsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wattsville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- Seddon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Seddon is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seddon
- Whitney Junction
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Whitney Junction is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney Junction
- Avondale Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Avondale Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale Village
- Glen City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Glen City is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen City
- Pell City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Cropwell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Talladega County
- The following are listed by their distance from Francis Ferry, with the one closest to Francis Ferry listed first.
- Lincoln
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Coldwater
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Coldwater is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater
- Silver Run
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Silver Run is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Run
- Grant Town
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Grant Town is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Town
- Munford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Colony
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Colony is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Windsong Island
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Windsong Island is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsong Island
- McElderry
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- McElderry is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McElderry
- Kentuck
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Kentuck is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentuck
- Talladega
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Ironaton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Ironaton is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironaton
- Waldo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Waldo is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Francis Ferry, see our County-by-County Page for Francis Ferry.
Cemeteries Near Francis Ferry ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Francis 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 Francis Ferry - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Francis Ferry covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Francis Ferry, with the one closest to Francis Ferry listed first.
- Ragan Chapel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Ten Island Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Middleton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Ohatchee Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Green Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Green Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Macedonia Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Garden of Memories Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Morning Star Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Creswell Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hampton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Crooks Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (277 more) ...
- Box Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Wester Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- New Bethel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
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 Francis Ferry in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Francis Ferry.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Francis Ferry, with the one closest to Francis Ferry listed first.
- Francis
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Francis is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Francis
- Ohatchee
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Macon
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Macon is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macon
- Ottery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Ottery is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottery
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cane Creek is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Bruner ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bruner is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruner
- Morrisville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Morrisville is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisville
- Grayton
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Grayton is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayton
- Ragland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bera ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bera is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bera
- Peaceburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Peaceburg is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaceburg
- Peek's Hill ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Peek's Hill is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peek's Hill
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Refuge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Refuge is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Refuge
- Hebron ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hebron is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Markton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Markton is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Francis Ferry. See our List of 1890's Communities around Francis Ferry.
Newspapers Published in Francis 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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Francis Ferry.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Francis Ferry, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Francis 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 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 Francis Ferry:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Calhoun County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blount County
- Cherokee County
- Clay County
- Cleburne County
- DeKalb County
- Etowah County
- Jefferson County
- Marshall County
- Saint Clair County
- Talladega 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 Francis 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Francis Ferry) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |