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 Midway (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 Midway. 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/Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring parishes/counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northwest corner of their home parish. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next parish to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the parish to the north.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring parishes/counties instead of the parish in which they lived: their home parish contained property and probate records; the parish to the west contained birth and death records; the parish to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring parishes/counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Midway is located in Webster 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 Webster Parish: Columbia (AR), Lafayette (AR), Bienville, Bossier & Claiborne.
Below are the parishes/counties that are near Midway. For each of these parishes/counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Midway:
- Webster Parish (The home parish of Midway)
- The following are listed by their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Sarepta
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Cullen
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Springhill
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Cotton Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Shongaloo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Dixie Inn
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Dixie Inn is located in Webster Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie Inn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 266 people
- Minden
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Doyline
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Sibley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Dubberly
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bossier Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Ivan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ivan is located in Bossier Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivan
- Plain Dealing
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Bellevue
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Bellevue is located in Bossier Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
- Alden Bridge
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Alden Bridge is located in Bossier Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alden Bridge
- Benton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Princeton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Fillmore
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Fillmore is located in Bossier Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
- Eastwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Eastwood is located in Bossier Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
- Red Chute
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Red Chute is located in Bossier Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Chute
- Bodcau
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Bodcau is located in Bossier Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bodcau
- Espanita Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Espanita Village is located in Bossier Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Espanita Village
- Haughton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Parkland Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Parkland Village is located in Bossier Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkland Village
- Caddo Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Missionary
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Missionary is located in Caddo Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missionary
- Gilliam
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Hosston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Belcher
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ida
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Ida is located in Caddo Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ida
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Black Bayou ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Black Bayou is located in Caddo Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Bayou
- Frog Level ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Frog Level is located in Caddo Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frog Level
- Claiborne Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Dykesville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Dykesville is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dykesville
- Blackburn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Blackburn is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackburn
- Haynesville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Holly Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Holly Springs is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
- Gordon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Gordon is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
- Homer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Arizona
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Arizona is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arizona
- Columbia County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Welcome
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Welcome is located in Columbia County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welcome
- Western
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Western is located in Columbia County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western
- Taylor
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Horsehead
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Horsehead is located in Columbia County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horsehead
- Emerson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Emerson is located in Columbia County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
- Macedonia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Macedonia is located in Columbia County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
- Philadelphia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Philadelphia is located in Columbia County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Calhoun
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Calhoun is located in Columbia County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
- Magnolia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lafayette County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Bradley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Walnut Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Walnut Hill is located in Lafayette County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Hill
- Gin City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gin City is located in Lafayette County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gin City
- McKamie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- McKamie is located in Lafayette County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKamie
- Kress City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Kress City is located in Lafayette County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kress City
- Buckner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Buckner is located in Lafayette County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckner
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- Stamps
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Stamps is located in Lafayette County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stamps
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,467 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Stamps <1>
- Miller County (AR)
- Doddridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Union County (AR)
- Dodge City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Dodge City is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Midway, see our Parish-by-Parish Page for Midway.
Cemeteries Near Midway ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Midway.
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 Midway - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Midway covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- St. Moriah Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- St. Peter Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Taylor Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Garden of Memory Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Cason Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Coyle Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Rogers Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Slack Memorial Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Timothy Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Emma Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Boggs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Stubbs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (222 more) ...
- Boucher Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Springhill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Haynes Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
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>
While we didn't find Midway in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Midway.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Sarepta
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Welcome
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Welcome is located in Columbia County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welcome
- Cotton Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Carterville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Carterville is located in Bossier Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carterville
- Ivan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ivan is located in Bossier Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivan
- Shongaloo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Redland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Redland is located in Bossier Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redland
- Plainfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Plainfield is located in Columbia County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield
- Rocky Mount
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rocky Mount is located in Bossier Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Mount
- Dykesville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Dykesville is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dykesville
- Millerton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Millerton is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
- Arkana
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Arkana is located in Bossier Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkana
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Plain Dealing
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Blackburn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Blackburn is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackburn
- Collinsburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Collinsburg is located in Bossier Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collinsburg
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Midway. See our List of 1890's Communities around Midway.
Newspapers Published in Midway ...
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 38 newspapers that have been published in the area around Midway.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Midway, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Midway.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Midway:
- Websites specific to Louisiana
- Pages specific to Webster Parish
- Genealogy information for nearby parishes
- Bossier Parish
- Caddo Parish
- Claiborne Parish
- Columbia County
- Lafayette County
- Miller County
- Union County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Louisiana
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 Midway, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Midway) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |