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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 Matthews (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 Matthews. 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 doctors 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.

Matthews is located in Montgomery 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 Montgomery County: Autauga, Bullock, Crenshaw, Elmore, Lowndes, Macon & Pike.

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

  • Montgomery County     (The home county of Matthews)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Matthews, with the one closest to Matthews listed first.
    • Cecil
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Cecil is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cecil
    • Waugh
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Waugh is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waugh
    • Mount Meigs
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Mount Meigs is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Meigs
    • Pike Road
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Sunshine Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Sunshine Village is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine Village
    • Pine Level
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Pine Level is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
    • Red Level
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Red Level is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Level
    • Madison
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Madison is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
    • Capitol Heights
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Capitol Heights is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitol Heights
    • Montgomery
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Boylston
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Boylston is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boylston
    • Ada
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Ada is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ada
  • Autauga County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Matthews, with the one closest to Matthews listed first.
    • Millbrook
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Prattville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Bullock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Matthews, with the one closest to Matthews listed first.
    • Mitchell
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Mitchell is located in Bullock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
    • Fitzpatrick
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Fitzpatrick is located in Bullock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzpatrick
    • Union Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Postoak
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Postoak is located in Bullock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Postoak
    • Inverness
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Inverness is located in Bullock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
    • Three Notch
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Three Notch is located in Bullock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Three Notch
    • Perote
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Perote is located in Bullock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perote
    • Pine Grove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Pine Grove is located in Bullock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove
    • Smuteye
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Smuteye is located in Bullock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smuteye
  • Crenshaw County
  • Elmore County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Matthews, with the one closest to Matthews listed first.
    • Ware
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Ware is located in Elmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
    • Fusihatchi ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Fusihatchi is located in Elmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fusihatchi
    • Tallassee
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Blue Ridge
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Blue Ridge is located in Elmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Ridge
    • Claud
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Claud is located in Elmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claud
    • Wetumpka
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Kent
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Coosada
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Prattville Junction
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Prattville Junction is located in Elmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prattville Junction
    • Eclectic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Elmore
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Robinson Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Robinson Springs is located in Elmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson Springs
  • Lowndes County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Matthews, with the one closest to Matthews listed first.
    • Davenport
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Davenport is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davenport
    • Letohatchee
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Letohatchee is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letohatchee
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Matthews, with the one closest to Matthews listed first.
    • Hardaway
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Hardaway is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardaway
    • Tysonville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Tysonville is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tysonville
    • Shorter
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Calebee
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Calebee is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calebee
    • La Place
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • La Place is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Place
    • Hornady
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Hornady is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornady
    • Fort Davis
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Franklin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Armstrong
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Armstrong is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
    • Tuskegee
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Liberty City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Liberty City is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty City
    • Notasulga
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Pike County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Matthews, with the one closest to Matthews listed first.
    • Orion
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Orion is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orion
    • Meeksville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Meeksville is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meeksville
    • Saco
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Saco is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saco
    • Kent
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Kent is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
    • Linwood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Linwood is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
    • Needmore
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Needmore is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needmore
    • Ansley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Ansley is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ansley
    • McClure Town
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • McClure Town is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClure Town
    • Youngblood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Youngblood is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngblood
  • Tallapoosa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Matthews, with the one closest to Matthews listed first.
    • East Tallassee
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • East Tallassee is located in Tallapoosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Tallassee
    • Tallapoosa City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Tallapoosa City is located in Tallapoosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallapoosa City
    • Reeltown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Reeltown is located in Tallapoosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeltown
    • Church Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Church Hill is located in Tallapoosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill

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

Cemeteries Near Matthews ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Matthews.

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

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

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

  • Meriwether Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Barnett Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Hardt Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Brighter Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Mathis Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Gilmer Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Judkins Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Barnett Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Panhandle Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Orange Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Oswalt Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (318 more) ...
    • Mt. Zion Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Silah Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Mt. Zion Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<2>

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

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

  • Cross Keys
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Cross Keys is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Keys
  • Mount Meigs
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Meigs is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Meigs
  • Pike Road
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Perry's Mill
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Perry's Mill is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perry's Mill
  • Shopton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Shopton is located in Bullock County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shopton
  • Shorter
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Hector
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Hector is located in Bullock County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hector
  • La Place
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • La Place is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Place
  • Barachias
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Barachias is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barachias
  • Thompson
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Thompson is located in Bullock County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
  • Ware
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Ware is located in Elmore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
  • Pine Level
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Pine Level is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Meadville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Meadville is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadville
    • Tharin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Tharin is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tharin
    • China Grove
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • China Grove is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for China Grove

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

Newspapers Published in Matthews ...

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 1 newspapers that have been published in the area around Matthews.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Matthews, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Matthews.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Matthews:

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>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 Matthews, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<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 from Point A (ie- Matthews) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.