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 Wells (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 Wells. 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 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.
Wells is located in Muhlenberg County.
To see how the shape of Kentucky's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Muhlenberg County: Butler, Christian, Hopkins, Logan, McLean, Ohio & Todd.
Below are the counties that are near Wells. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wells:
- Muhlenberg County (The home county of Wells)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wells, with the one closest to Wells listed first.
- Beech Creek
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Beech Creek is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Creek
- Belton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Belton is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belton
- Former name for Belton:
- Yost
- Beechmont
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rosewood
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Rosewood is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosewood
- Browder
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Drakesboro
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Nonnell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Nonnell is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nonnell
- Former name for Nonnell:
- Tarma
- Ennis
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ennis is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ennis
- Dunmor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bevier
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Bevier is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bevier
- Cleaton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Cleaton is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleaton
- Greenville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Powderly
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wells, with the one closest to Wells listed first.
- Huntsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Huntsville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntsville
- Rochester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rochester is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Harreldsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Harreldsville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harreldsville
- Quality
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Quality is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quality
- Silver City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Silver City is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
- Provo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Provo is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Provo
- Dunbar
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Dunbar is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbar
- Mining City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Mining City is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mining City
- Aberdeen
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Morgantown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Richelieu
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Richelieu is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richelieu
- Woodbury
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Woodbury is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 88 people
- Brooklyn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Brooklyn is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
- Christian County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wells, with the one closest to Wells listed first.
- Bluff Spring
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bluff Spring is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Spring
- Fearsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Fearsville is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fearsville
- Crofton
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Empire
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Empire is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire
- Fairview
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hopkinsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pembroke
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hopkins County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wells, with the one closest to Wells listed first.
- White Plains
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Nortonville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Oak Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Oak Hill is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Mortons Gap
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Earlington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Madisonville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Charles
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Saint Charles is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Charles
- Population from the 2020 Census: 269 people
- Vandetta
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Vandetta is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandetta
- Hanson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jewel City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jewel City is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewel City
- Richland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Richland is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
- Logan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wells, with the one closest to Wells listed first.
- Agnes
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Agnes is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agnes
- Deer Lick
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Deer Lick is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Lick
- Wolf Lick
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wolf Lick is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Lick
- Lewisburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lost City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lost City is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost City
- Justice
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Justice is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Justice
- Gordonsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Gordonsville is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordonsville
- Russellville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cave Spring
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Cave Spring is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave Spring
- Ferguson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Ferguson is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferguson
- Olmstead
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Olmstead is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmstead
- Auburn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- South Union
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- McLean County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wells, with the one closest to Wells listed first.
- Island
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Sacramento
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Livermore
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Buel
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Buel is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buel
- Rumsey
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Rumsey is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rumsey
- Calhoun
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Calhoun is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
- Population from the 2020 Census: 723 people
- Former names for Calhoun:
- Calhoon
- Fort Vienna
- Vienna Station
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Calhoun <1>
- Ohio County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wells, with the one closest to Wells listed first.
- Rockport
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Rockport is located in Ohio County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockport
- Population from the 2020 Census: 263 people
- Echols
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Echols is located in Ohio County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echols
- Ceralvo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Ceralvo is located in Ohio County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceralvo
- McHenry
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- McHenry is located in Ohio County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McHenry
- Population from the 2020 Census: 380 people
- Centertown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Centertown is located in Ohio County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centertown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 430 people
- Cromwell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cromwell is located in Ohio County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell
- Beaver Dam
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hartford
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Select
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Select is located in Ohio County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Select
- Former name for Select:
- Stweartsville
- Mount Pleasant
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Ohio County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Beda
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Beda is located in Ohio County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beda
- Arnold
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Arnold is located in Ohio County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
- Rosine
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Todd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wells, with the one closest to Wells listed first.
- Clifty
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Clifty is located in Todd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifty
- Kirkmansville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kirkmansville is located in Todd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkmansville
- Sharon Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Sharon Grove is located in Todd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon Grove
- Allegre
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Allegre is located in Todd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allegre
- Elkton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Allensville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Allensville is located in Todd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allensville
- Population from the 2010 Census: 157 people
- Trenton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wells, with the one closest to Wells listed first.
- Hadley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Hadley is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hadley
- Rockland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Rockland is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockland
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wells, see our County-by-County Page for Wells.
Cemeteries Near Wells ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wells.
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 Wells - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wells covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wells, with the one closest to Wells listed first.
- Union Ridge General Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Penrod Baptist Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cornett Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Craig Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Browder Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browder Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Browder Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<3> to the northeast of Browder.
- The Browder Cemetery has also been known as:
- Rhoads Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #73181 <2>
- Shutt Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- McPhearson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Ennis Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lear Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Wilcox Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Continue List (281 more) ...
- Dearmond Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Company Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- West End 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.<4>
While we didn't find Wells in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Wells.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wells, with the one closest to Wells listed first.
- Belton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Belton is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belton
- Former name for Belton:
- Yost
- Penrod
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Penrod is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penrod
- Drakesboro
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Dunmor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bevier
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Bevier is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bevier
- Greenville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Deer Lick
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Deer Lick is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Lick
- Powderly
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Paradise ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Paradise is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise
- Clifty
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Clifty is located in Todd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifty
- Huntsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Huntsville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntsville
- Skilesville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Skilesville is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skilesville
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Depoy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Depoy is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Depoy
- Central City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Central City is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,692 people
- Former names for Central City:
- Moreheads Horse Mill
- Stroud City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Central City <1>
- Wolf Lick
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wolf Lick is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Lick
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wells. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wells.
Newspapers Published in Wells ...
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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wells.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wells, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wells.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Wells:
- Websites specific to Kentucky
- Pages specific to Muhlenberg County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Butler County
- Christian County
- Hopkins County
- Logan County
- McLean County
- Ohio County
- Todd County
- Warren County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Kentucky
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> | 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 from Point A (ie- Wells) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Wells, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |