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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 Brownell (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 Brownell. 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 Parishes ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring parishes.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southeast corner of their home parish. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next parish to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the parish to the south.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring parishes instead of the parish in which they lived:  their home parish contained property and probate records; the parish to the east contained birth and death records; the parish to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring parishes, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Brownell is located in Franklin Parish.

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

The following parishes adjoin and form the boundaries of Franklin Parish: Caldwell, Catahoula, Madison, Richland & Tensas.

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

  • Franklin Parish     (The home parish of Brownell)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownell, with the one closest to Brownell listed first.
    • Chase
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Winnsboro
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Jigger
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Gilbert
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Fort Necessity
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Liddieville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Liddieville is located in Franklin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liddieville
    • Baskin
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Extension
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Extension is located in Franklin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Extension
    • Wisner
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Swampers
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Swampers is located in Franklin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swampers
    • Big Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Big Creek is located in Franklin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
    • Crowville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Elam
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Elam is located in Franklin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elam
  • Caldwell Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownell, with the one closest to Brownell listed first.
    • Fredericksburg ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Fredericksburg is located in Caldwell Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredericksburg
    • Columbia
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Banks Springs
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Banks Springs is located in Caldwell Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banks Springs
    • Grayson
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Clarks
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Mount Pleasant
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Mount Pleasant is located in Caldwell Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
    • Kelly
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Catahoula Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownell, with the one closest to Brownell listed first.
    • Enterprise
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Enterprise is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Sicily Island
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Sicily Island is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sicily Island
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 438 people
    • Rosefield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Rosefield is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosefield
    • Harrisonburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Greenville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Greenville is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenville
    • Wildwood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Wildwood is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
    • Aimwell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Concordia Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownell, with the one closest to Brownell listed first.
    • Dunbarton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Dunbarton is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbarton
    • Clayton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Madison Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownell, with the one closest to Brownell listed first.
    • Waverly
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Waverly is located in Madison Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
    • Tendal
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Tendal is located in Madison Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tendal
  • Ouachita Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownell, with the one closest to Brownell listed first.
    • Bosco
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Bosco is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bosco
    • Cuba
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Cuba is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
    • Pino Bayou Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Pino Bayou Village is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pino Bayou Village
    • Richwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Richwood is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,375 people
  • Richland Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownell, with the one closest to Brownell listed first.
    • New Light
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • New Light is located in Richland Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Light
    • Mangham
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Archibald
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Alto
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Alto is located in Richland Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alto
    • Rayville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Dunn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Dunn is located in Richland Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
    • Holly Ridge
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Holly Ridge is located in Richland Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Ridge
    • Start
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Delhi
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Delhi is located in Richland Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,753 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Delhi <1>
  • Tensas Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownell, with the one closest to Brownell listed first.
    • Newlight
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Newlight is located in Tensas Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newlight
    • Highland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Highland is located in Tensas Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
    • Newellton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Waterproof
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Brownell ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brownell.

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

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

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

  • Oak Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Chase Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Henry Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Myrtle Memorial Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • New Winnsboro Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • New Zion Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Old Winnsboro Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • True Light Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Wooldrige Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Wayside Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Boeuf Prairie Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Lone Cedar Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (167 more) ...
    • Turner Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Ft. Necessity Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Pine Grove Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)

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 Brownell in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Brownell.

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

  • Winnsboro
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Fort Necessity
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Gilbert
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Como
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Como is located in Franklin Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Como
  • Oakley
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Oakley is located in Franklin Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
  • Crowville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Holly Grove
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Holly Grove is located in Franklin Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Grove
  • Baskinton
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Baskinton is located in Franklin Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baskinton
  • Mangham
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Fredericksburg ‑ Historic
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Fredericksburg is located in Caldwell Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredericksburg
  • Enterprise
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Enterprise is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
  • Charlieville
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Charlieville is located in Richland Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlieville
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Archibald
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Lamar
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Lamar is located in Franklin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamar
    • Copenhagen
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Copenhagen is located in Caldwell Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copenhagen

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

Newspapers Published in Brownell ...

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 25 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brownell.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brownell, 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 Brownell.

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 Brownell:

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 Brownell, 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- Brownell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.