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 Octagon (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 Octagon. 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 southwest 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 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 west 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.
Octagon is located in Marengo 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 Marengo County: Choctaw, Clarke, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Perry, Sumter & Wilcox.
Below are the counties that are near Octagon. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Octagon:
- Marengo County (The home county of Octagon)
- The following are listed by their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.
- Hugo
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Hugo is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hugo
- Magnolia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Magnolia is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Moss ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Moss is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss
- Linden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Thomaston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Thomaston is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomaston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 383 people
- Providence
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Providence is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
- Blue Lock ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Blue Lock is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Lock
- Half Acre
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- 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
- Crenshaw ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Crenshaw is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
- Dixon's Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Dixon's Mills is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon's Mills
- Aimwell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Aimwell is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aimwell
- Sweet Water
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sweet Water is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Water
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Choctaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.
- Cedahoma ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cedahoma is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedahoma
- Tompkinsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Tompkinsville is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tompkinsville
- Pennington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Pennington is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 202 people
- Choctaw City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Choctaw City is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choctaw City
- Lavaca
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Lavaca is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavaca
- Pelham
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Pelham is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Jachin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Jachin is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jachin
- Butler
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Cromwell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Cromwell is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell
- Lisman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Lisman is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 476 people
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.
- Atkeison
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Atkeison is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkeison
- Glover
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Glover is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glover
- Thomasville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Morvin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Morvin is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morvin
- Campbell
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Campbell is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell
- Fulton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Fulton is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 242 people
- Nettleboro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Nettleboro is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettleboro
- Dickinson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Dickinson is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickinson
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.
- Central Mills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Central Mills is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Mills
- Safford
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Crumptonia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Crumptonia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumptonia
- Browns
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Browns is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns
- Orrville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.
- Gallion
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Gallion is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallion
- Prairieville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Prairieville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Arcola
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Arcola is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Cedarville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Cedarville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Newbern
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Newbern is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.
- Freetown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Freetown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freetown
- Ellawhite
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ellawhite is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellawhite
- Uniontown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- The Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- The Village is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
- Sumter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.
- Whitfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Whitfield is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitfield
- McDowell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- McDowell is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
- Coatopa
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Coatopa is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatopa
- Derby
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Derby is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Bellamy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bellamy is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellamy
- Arrington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Arrington is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrington
- Brewersville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brewersville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewersville
- Intercourse
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Intercourse is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Intercourse
- Wilcox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.
- Lamison
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lamison is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamison
- Arlington
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Arlington is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
- Anne Manie
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Anne Manie is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anne Manie
- Bethel
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Bethel is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Catherine
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Catherine is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catherine
- Kimbrough
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Kimbrough is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrough
- Pine Hill
(17 miles [27.4 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
- Gastonburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Gastonburg is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gastonburg
- Alberta
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Alberta is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
- Millers Ferry
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Millers Ferry is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Ferry
- Prairie Bluff ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Prairie Bluff is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Bluff
- Prairie Bluff has also been known as:
- Dale
- Daletown
- Rehoboth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Rehoboth is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehoboth
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Octagon, see our County-by-County Page for Octagon.
Cemeteries Near Octagon ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Octagon.
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 Octagon - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Octagon covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.
- Octagon Baptist Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Paradise Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mooring Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Pilgrim Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Springs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Berry Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Union Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel Presbyterian Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Magnolia Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- St. Peter Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (274 more) ...
- Rembert Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Beaver Creek Baptist Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Hosea Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Octagon had a population of 57 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.
- Williamsburg ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Williamsburg is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
- Shiloh
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Shiloh is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Moss ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Moss is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss
- Magnolia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Magnolia is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Rembert
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Rembert is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rembert
- Linden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Aimwell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Aimwell is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aimwell
- Sweet Water
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sweet Water is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Water
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Dixon's Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Dixon's Mills is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon's Mills
- Crenshaw ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Crenshaw is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
- Hampden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hampden is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampden
- Myrtlewood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Myrtlewood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtlewood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 115 people
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Clayhill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Clayhill is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayhill
- Ellison ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Ellison is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellison
- Vineland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Vineland is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineland
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Octagon. See our List of 1890's Communities around Octagon.
Newspapers Published in Octagon ...
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 39 newspapers that have been published in the area around Octagon.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Octagon, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Octagon.
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 Octagon:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Marengo County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Choctaw County
- Clarke County
- Dallas County
- Hale County
- Perry County
- Sumter 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> | 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- Octagon) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Octagon, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |