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 Williams (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 Williams. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.
Williams is located in Lawrence County.
To see how the shape of Indiana's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Lawrence County: Greene, Jackson, Martin, Monroe, Orange & Washington.
Below are the counties that are near Williams. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Williams:
- Lawrence County (The home county of Williams)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Silverville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Silverville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silverville
- Coxton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Coxton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coxton
- Fayetteville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fayetteville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Huron
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Huron is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huron
- Hartleyville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Hartleyville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartleyville
- Georgia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Georgia is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgia
- Springville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Springville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springville
- Avoca
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Bedford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Oolitic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mitchell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Popcorn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Popcorn is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popcorn
- Judah
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Judah is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judah
- Brown County
- Story
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Story is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Story
- Davies's County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Odon
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Cannelburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cannelburg is located in Davies's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannelburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Alfordsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Alfordsville is located in Davies's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alfordsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
- Montgomery
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Elnora
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Elnora is located in Davies's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elnora
- Population from the 2020 Census: 676 people
- Plainville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Plainville is located in Davies's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 500 people
- Glendale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Glendale is located in Davies's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
- Capehart
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Capehart is located in Davies's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capehart
- Washington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Graham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Graham is located in Davies's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
- Dubois County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Hillham
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Hillham is located in Dubois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillham
- Norton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Norton is located in Dubois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norton
- Dubois
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Haysville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Haysville is located in Dubois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haysville
- Portersville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Portersville is located in Dubois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portersville
- Celestine
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Owensburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Owensburg is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owensburg
- Koleen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Koleen is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koleen
- Scotland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Scotland is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotland
- Mineral City
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Mineral City is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral City
- Solsberry
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Bloomfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Plummer
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Plummer is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plummer
- Newberry
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Newberry is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newberry
- Population from the 2020 Census: 186 people
- Hendricksville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Hendricksville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendricksville
- Elliston
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Elliston is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliston
- Tulip
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Tulip is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulip
- Newark
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Newark is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Calvertville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Calvertville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvertville
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Norman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Medora
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Medora is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medora
- Population from the 2020 Census: 693 people
- Kurtz
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Kurtz is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kurtz
- Houston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Houston is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston
- Vallonia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Freetown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Knox County
- Sandborn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Sandborn is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandborn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 403 people
- Martin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Mount Olive
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Mount Olive is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Shoals
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Burns City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Burns City is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns City
- Lacy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lacy is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacy
- Crane
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Loogootee
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Windom
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Windom is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windom
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Harrodsburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Harrodsburg is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrodsburg
- Kirksville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Kirksville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirksville
- Smithville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Stanford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Stanford is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanford
- Clear Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Clear Creek is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Creek
- Highland Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Highland Village is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Village
- Bloomington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Ellettsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Orange County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Orleans
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Prospect
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Prospect is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prospect
- Abydel
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Abydel is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abydel
- West Baden Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- West Baden Springs is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Baden Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 557 people
- French Lick
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Leipsic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Leipsic is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leipsic
- Paoli
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bromer
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bromer is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bromer
- Mahan Crossing
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mahan Crossing is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mahan Crossing
- Youngs Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Youngs Creek is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngs Creek
- Chambersburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Chambersburg is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambersburg
- Trotter Crossing
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Trotter Crossing is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trotter Crossing
- Owen County
- Freedom
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Freedom is located in Owen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freedom
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Saltillo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Saltillo is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saltillo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Campbellsburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Claysville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Claysville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claysville
- Livonia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Livonia is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Smedley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Smedley is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smedley
- Kossuth
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Kossuth is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kossuth
- Plattsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Plattsburg is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plattsburg
- Hardinsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Williams, see our County-by-County Page for Williams.
Cemeteries Near Williams ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Williams.
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 Williams - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Williams covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Cox Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Waggner Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Old Union Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Wagner Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Boone Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Huron Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bridge Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Ferguson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Connelly Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Knott Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Uno - Paton Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (318 more) ...
- Clarke Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Little York Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Grodey Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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 in 1895, Williams had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Mount Olive
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Mount Olive is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Silverville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Silverville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silverville
- Bryantsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bryantsville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryantsville
- Coxton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Coxton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coxton
- Fayetteville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fayetteville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Huron
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Huron is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huron
- Cale
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Cale is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cale
- Indian Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Indian Springs is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Springs
- Georgia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Georgia is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgia
- Willow Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Willow Valley is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Valley
- Yockey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Yockey is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yockey
- Dark Hollow
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Dark Hollow is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dark Hollow
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Owensburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Owensburg is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owensburg
- Bedford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Springville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Springville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Williams. See our List of 1890's Communities around Williams.
Newspapers Published in Williams ...
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 101 newspapers that have been published in the area around Williams.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Williams, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Williams.
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 Williams:
- Websites specific to Indiana
- Pages specific to Lawrence County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Brown County
- Davies's County
- Dubois County
- Greene County
- Jackson County
- Knox County
- Martin County
- Monroe County
- Orange County
- Owen County
- Washington County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Indiana
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 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Williams) 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 Williams, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |