RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Florida >> Lake County >> Saint Francis >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Saint Francis (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 Saint Francis. 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.

Name Variations for Saint Francis ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Saint Francis: St. Francis

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Saint Francis. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Saint Francis.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 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 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.

Saint Francis is located in Lake County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Lake County: Marion, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, Sumter & Volusia.

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

  • Lake County     (The home county of Saint Francis)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Francis, with the one closest to Saint Francis listed first.
    • Lake Mack - Forest Hills
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Lake Kathryn
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Lake Kathryn is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Kathryn
    • Pine Lakes
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Pine Lakes is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lakes
    • Acron ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Acron is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acron
    • Paisley
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Astor
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Cassia
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Cassia is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassia
    • Pittman
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Pittman is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittman
    • Altoona
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Ethel
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Ethel is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ethel
    • Lakeview Terrace Retirement Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Umatilla
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Flagler County
    • Korona
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Korona is located in Flagler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Korona
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Francis, with the one closest to Saint Francis listed first.
    • Electra
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Electra is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Electra
    • Salt Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Eastlake Weir
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Ocklawaha
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Weirsdale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Orange County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Francis, with the one closest to Saint Francis listed first.
    • Tangerine
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Zellwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Apopka
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Plymouth
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • South Apopka
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • South Apopka is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Apopka
    • Eatonville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Lockhart
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Maitland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Clarcona
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Paradise Heights
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Paradise Heights is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise Heights
    • Aloma
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Fairview Shores
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Fairview Shores is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Shores
  • Putnam County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Francis, with the one closest to Saint Francis listed first.
    • Crescent City Station
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Crescent City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Georgetown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Seminole County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Francis, with the one closest to Saint Francis listed first.
    • Lake Monroe
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Heathrow
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Sanford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake Mary
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Indian Mound Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Indian Mound Village is located in Seminole County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Mound Village
    • Midway
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Midway is located in Seminole County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Cameron City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Cameron City is located in Seminole County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron City
    • Longwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Wekiwa Springs
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Wekiwa Springs is located in Seminole County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wekiwa Springs
    • Sanlando Springs
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Sanlando Springs is located in Seminole County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanlando Springs
    • Winter Springs
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Altamonte Springs
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
  • Volusia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Francis, with the one closest to Saint Francis listed first.
    • Highland Park ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Highland Park is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
    • Beresford
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Beresford is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beresford
    • West De Land
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • West De Land is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West De Land
    • Glenwood
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • De Land Southwest
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • De Land Southwest is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Land Southwest
    • De Land
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • North De Land
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • North De Land is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North De Land
    • De Leon Springs
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • De Land Highlands
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • De Land Highlands is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Land Highlands
    • Orange City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Daytona Park Estates
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Daytona Park Estates is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daytona Park Estates
    • Barberville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Saint Francis ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Saint Francis.

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 Saint Francis - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Glenwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Glenwood African-American Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood African-American Cemetery
    • The Glenwood African-American Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Church Street Cemetery
    • Glenwood Black Cemetery
  • Beresford Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Baker Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Union Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Cemetery
    • The Union Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Orange Cemetery
    • Union / Baker / Wright Cemetery
    • Wright Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #72710 <2>
  • Charitable Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charitable Cemetery
    • The Charitable Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Community Cemetery
  • Oakdale Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Oakdale Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Potters Field
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potters Field
    • The Potters Field has also been known as:
    • Charnel Cemetery
    • Stone Cemetery
    • Volusia County Cemetery
  • Bethel Church Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel Church Cemetery
    • The Bethel Church Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Bethel Cemetery
  • DeLand Memorial Gardens
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeLand Memorial Gardens
    • The DeLand Memorial Gardens has also been known as:
    • De Land Memorial Gardens
  • Pentecostal Holiness Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pentecostal Holiness Cemetery
    • The Pentecostal Holiness Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Pentecostal Holiness Church Cemetery
  • Continue List   (104 more) ...
    • Pinehurst Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinehurst Cemetery
      • The Pinehurst Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Fairport Cemetery
    • Johnson Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson Cemetery
      • The Johnson Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Daugharty Cemetery
      • Mt. Olive Primitive Baptist Cemetery
    • Shockley Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Saint Francis had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Crows Bluff
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Crows Bluff is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crows Bluff
  • Highland Park ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Highland Park is located in Volusia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
  • Beresford
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Beresford is located in Volusia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beresford
  • West De Land
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • West De Land is located in Volusia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West De Land
  • Glenwood
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Fatio
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Fatio is located in Volusia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fatio
  • Paisley
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Orange City
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Barberville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Cassia
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Cassia is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassia
  • Astor
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Emporia
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Emporia is located in Volusia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emporia
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Lake Helen
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Eldridge
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Eldridge is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldridge
    • Pittman
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Pittman is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittman

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Saint Francis ...

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 42 newspapers that have been published in the area around Saint Francis.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Saint Francis. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Saint Francis and those printed in the larger area surrounding Saint Francis.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 18 miles [29 km]<4> of Saint Francis.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Saint Francis:

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 Saint Francis, 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' (or 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- Saint Francis) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.