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 Murphys 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 Murphys 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and 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.
Murphys Ferry is located in Choctaw 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 Choctaw County: Clarke, Marengo, Sumter, Washington, Clarke (MS), Lauderdale (MS) & Wayne (MS).
Below are the counties that are near Murphys Ferry. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Murphys Ferry:
- Choctaw County (The home county of Murphys Ferry)
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphys Ferry, with the one closest to Murphys Ferry listed first.
- Tompkinsville
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Tompkinsville is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tompkinsville
- Pennington
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Pennington is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 202 people
- Lavaca
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Lavaca is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavaca
- Choctaw City
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Choctaw City is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choctaw City
- Cedahoma ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Cedahoma is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedahoma
- Pelham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Pelham is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Jachin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Jachin is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jachin
- Butler
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cromwell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Cromwell is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell
- Lisman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Lisman is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 476 people
- Red Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Red Springs is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Springs
- Pushmataha
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Pushmataha is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pushmataha
- Needham
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Needham is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 79 people
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphys Ferry, with the one closest to Murphys Ferry listed first.
- Morvin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Morvin is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morvin
- Campbell
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Campbell is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell
- Glover
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Glover is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glover
- Atkeison
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Atkeison is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkeison
- Thomasville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- West Bend
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- West Bend is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bend
- Coffeeville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Fakit Chipunta ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Fakit Chipunta is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fakit Chipunta
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphys Ferry, with the one closest to Murphys Ferry listed first.
- Gallion
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Gallion is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallion
- Arcola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Arcola is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Prairieville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Prairieville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphys Ferry, with the one closest to Murphys Ferry listed first.
- Barrons ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Barrons is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrons
- Half Acre
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Half Acre is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Half Acre
- Former names for Half Acre:
- Hell's Half Acre
- Luther's Store
- Myrtlewood
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Myrtlewood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtlewood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 115 people
- Nanafalia
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Nanafalia is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanafalia
- Beckleys ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Beckleys is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beckleys
- Aimwell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Aimwell is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aimwell
- Blue Lock ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Lock is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Lock
- Griffins ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Griffins is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffins
- Sweet Water
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sweet Water is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Water
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Putnam
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Putnam is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnam
- Moss ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Moss is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss
- Linden
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Pin Hook
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Pin Hook is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pin Hook
- Sumter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphys Ferry, with the one closest to Murphys Ferry listed first.
- Whitfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Whitfield is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitfield
- Derby
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Derby is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Bellamy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bellamy is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellamy
- Intercourse
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Intercourse is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Intercourse
- Ward
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Ward is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
- Coatopa
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Coatopa is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatopa
- Kinterbish
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kinterbish is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinterbish
- Arrington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Arrington is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrington
- Brewersville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Brewersville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewersville
- McDowell
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- McDowell is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
- Moore Town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Moore Town is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Town
- Cuba
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cuba is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
- Population from the 2020 Census: 287 people
- York
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- York is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,218 people
- Former names for York:
- New York Station
- York Station
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for York <1>
- Wilcox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphys Ferry, with the one closest to Murphys Ferry listed first.
- Arlington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Arlington is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
- Lamison
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Lamison is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamison
- Anne Manie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Anne Manie is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anne Manie
- Kimbrough
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Kimbrough is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrough
- Pine Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pine Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 834 people
- Lauderdale County (MS)
- Whynot
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Whynot is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whynot
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Murphys Ferry, see our County-by-County Page for Murphys Ferry.
Cemeteries Near Murphys Ferry ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Murphys 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 Murphys Ferry - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Murphys Ferry covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Murphys Ferry, with the one closest to Murphys Ferry listed first.
- Howell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Geneva Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Campground Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Millwood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- James Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Red House Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Nanafalia Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Community Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Hopewell Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Mariah Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Aimwell Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (230 more) ...
- Beaver Creek Baptist Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Clover Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
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 Murphys Ferry in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Murphys Ferry.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Murphys Ferry, with the one closest to Murphys Ferry listed first.
- Tompkinsville
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Tompkinsville is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tompkinsville
- Nanafalia
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Nanafalia is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanafalia
- Myrtlewood
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Myrtlewood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtlewood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 115 people
- Robjohn
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Robjohn is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robjohn
- Aimwell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Aimwell is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aimwell
- Rembert
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Rembert is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rembert
- Sweet Water
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sweet Water is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Water
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Mount Sterling
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Sterling is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sterling
- Putnam
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Putnam is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnam
- Moss ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Moss is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss
- Butler
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Morvin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Morvin is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morvin
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Nicholsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Nicholsville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicholsville
- Octagon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Octagon is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Octagon
- Linden
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Murphys Ferry. See our List of 1890's Communities around Murphys Ferry.
Newspapers Published in Murphys 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 40 newspapers that have been published in the area around Murphys Ferry.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Murphys 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 Murphys Ferry.
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 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 Murphys Ferry:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Choctaw County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clarke County
- Hale County
- Marengo County
- Sumter County
- Wilcox County
- Lauderdale 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 Murphys Ferry, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Murphys Ferry) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |