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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 Masonville (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 Masonville. 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 doctors 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.

Masonville is located in Desha County.

To see how the shape of Arkansas' counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Desha County: Arkansas, Chicot, Drew, Lincoln, Phillips & Bolivar (MS).

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

  • Desha County     (The home county of Masonville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Masonville, with the one closest to Masonville listed first.
    • McGehee
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Reed
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Reed is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reed
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
    • McArthur
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • McArthur is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McArthur
    • Arkansas City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Arkansas City is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkansas City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
    • Hopedale ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Hopedale is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopedale
    • Rohwer
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Kelso
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Kelso is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelso
    • Pickens
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Pickens is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pickens
    • Dumas
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Mitchellville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Mitchellville is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchellville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 327 people
    • Pea Ridge
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Pea Ridge is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pea Ridge
    • Watson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
  • Ashley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Masonville, with the one closest to Masonville listed first.
    • Montrose
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Montrose is located in Ashley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 298 people
    • Portland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Fountain Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Fountain Hill is located in Ashley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
  • Chicot County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Masonville, with the one closest to Masonville listed first.
    • Dermott
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Lake Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
  • Drew County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Masonville, with the one closest to Masonville listed first.
    • Tillar
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Tillar is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tillar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 210 people
    • Collins
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Collins is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
    • Selma
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Selma is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
    • Winchester
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Winchester is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
    • Jerome
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Jerome is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
    • Monticello
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Rose Hill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Rose Hill is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
    • Lacey
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Lacey is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
    • Barkada
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Barkada is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barkada
    • Wilmar
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Wilmar is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 477 people
  • Lincoln County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Masonville, with the one closest to Masonville listed first.
    • Warrenton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Warrenton is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrenton
    • Tyro
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Tyro is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyro
    • Gould
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Gould is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 719 people
  • Bolivar County (MS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Masonville, with the one closest to Masonville listed first.
    • Eutaw
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Eutaw is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eutaw
    • Mound Landing
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Mound Landing is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Landing
    • Scott
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Scott is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott
    • Lake Vista
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Lake Vista is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Vista
    • Lamont
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Lamont is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
    • Benoit
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Benoit is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benoit
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 419 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Benoit <1>
    • Dahomy
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Dahomy is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahomy
    • Grapeland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Grapeland is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grapeland
    • Christmas
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Christmas is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christmas
    • Beulah
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Beulah is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 329 people
    • Rosedale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Rosedale is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosedale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,559 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rosedale <1>
    • Longshot
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Longshot is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longshot
  • Washington County (MS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Masonville, with the one closest to Masonville listed first.
    • Metcalfe
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Metcalfe is located in Washington County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metcalfe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 935 people
    • Greenville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Greenville is located in Washington County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 28,315 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Greenville <1>
    • Stoneville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Stoneville is located in Washington County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoneville

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

Cemeteries Near Masonville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Masonville.

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

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

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

  • Bates Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • New Hope Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Youngs Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Coleman Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Beasley Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Holly Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Duncan Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • McDermott Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Austin Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Davis Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Bowie Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Palestine Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (186 more) ...
    • Austin Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • McCool Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Anderson 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 Masonville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Masonville.

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

  • McGehee
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Dermott
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Halley
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Halley is located in Desha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halley
  • Baxter
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Baxter is located in Drew County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter
  • Tillar
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Tillar is located in Drew County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tillar
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 210 people
  • Collins
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Collins is located in Drew County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
  • Hudspeth
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Hudspeth is located in Chicot County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudspeth
  • Arkansas City
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Arkansas City is located in Desha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkansas City
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
  • Selma
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Selma is located in Drew County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
  • Winchester
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Winchester is located in Drew County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
  • Hopedale ‑ Historic
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Hopedale is located in Desha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopedale
  • Eutaw
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Eutaw is located in Bolivar County (MS)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eutaw
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Mound Landing
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Mound Landing is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Landing
    • Scott
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Scott is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott
    • Florence
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Florence is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence

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

Newspapers Published in Masonville ...

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 54 newspapers that have been published in the area around Masonville.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Masonville, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Masonville.

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 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 Masonville:

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 Masonville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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- Masonville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.