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 West Sumner (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 West Sumner. 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 West Sumner ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for West Sumner: W. Sumner
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
West Sumner is located in Oxford County.
To see how the shape of Maine's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Oxford County: Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, York, Carroll (NH) & Coos (NH).
Below are the counties that are near West Sumner. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Sumner:
- Oxford County (The home county of West Sumner)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sumner, with the one closest to West Sumner listed first.
- Sumner
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- East Sumner
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- East Sumner is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sumner
- Hartford
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Hartford is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,229 people
- Buckfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- West Paris
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Woodstock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Paris
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Paris is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,162 people
- Dickvale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Dickvale is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickvale
- Canton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Canton is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,097 people
- Gilbertville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Gilbertville is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbertville
- Bryant Pond
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- North Woodstock
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- North Woodstock is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Woodstock
- Androscoggin County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sumner, with the one closest to West Sumner listed first.
- Livermore
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- North Turner
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- North Turner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Turner
- Chase Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Chase Mills is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chase Mills
- Howes Corner
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Howes Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howes Corner
- South Livermore
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- South Livermore is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Livermore
- North Livermore
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- North Livermore is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Livermore
- Turner
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Turner Center
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Turner Center is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turner Center
- West Minot
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- West Minot is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Minot
- East Livermore
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- East Livermore is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Livermore
- Livermore Falls
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- North Auburn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- North Auburn is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Auburn
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sumner, with the one closest to West Sumner listed first.
- Otisfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Otisfield is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otisfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,819 people
- Cobb Cove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Cobb Cove is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb Cove
- Harrison
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- North Bridgton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Casco
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Bridgton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Crescent Lake
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Crescent Lake is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent Lake
- Shaker Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Shaker Village is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaker Village
- Sandy Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sandy Creek is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Creek
- West Bridgton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- West Bridgton is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bridgton
- Naples
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- South Bridgton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- South Bridgton is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bridgton
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sumner, with the one closest to West Sumner listed first.
- Chisholm
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Chisholm is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chisholm
- Jay
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Jay is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jay
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,598 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jay <1>
- East Dixfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- East Dixfield is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Dixfield
- North Jay
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- North Jay is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Jay
- Carthage
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Carthage is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
- Population from the 2020 Census: 536 people
- Berry Mills
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Berry Mills is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berry Mills
- Dryden
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Dryden is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dryden
- Wilton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Perkin's Plantation ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Perkin's Plantation is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perkin's Plantation
- East Wilton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- East Wilton is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Wilton
- Chesterville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Chesterville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,348 people
- North Chesterville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- North Chesterville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Chesterville
- Kennebec County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sumner, with the one closest to West Sumner listed first.
- Wayne
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- North Fayette
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- North Fayette is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fayette
- North Wayne
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- North Wayne is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Wayne
- Fayette
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- North Monmouth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Kents Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Monmouth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Maranacook
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Maranacook is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maranacook
- Readfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Winthrop
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- East Monmouth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- East Monmouth is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Monmouth
- Locks Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Locks Corner is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locks Corner
- Carroll County (NH)
- Chatham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Coos County (NH)
- Shelburne
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Sumner, see our County-by-County Page for West Sumner.
Cemeteries Near West Sumner ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Sumner.
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 West Sumner - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Sumner covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Sumner, with the one closest to West Sumner listed first.
- Hersey Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Stetson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Tuell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sumner Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Black Mtn. Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Forbes Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Grays Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Fields Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- North Paris Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Stearns Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Partridge Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Prince Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (354 more) ...
- Buckfield Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Summerfield Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Summerfield Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<3> to the north of Buckfield.
- The Summerfield Cemetery has also been known as:
- Chaffin Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #679121 <2>
- Howard Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
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 West Sumner had a population of 215 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Sumner, with the one closest to West Sumner listed first.
- Sumner
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- North Paris
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- North Paris is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Paris
- North Buckfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- North Buckfield is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Buckfield
- East Sumner
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- East Sumner is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sumner
- South Woodstock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- South Woodstock is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Woodstock
- Hartford
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Hartford is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,229 people
- West Paris
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Buckfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Paris
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Paris is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,162 people
- Canton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Canton is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,097 people
- Dickvale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Dickvale is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickvale
- Gilbertville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Gilbertville is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbertville
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- East Peru
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- East Peru is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peru
- North Woodstock
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- North Woodstock is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Woodstock
- Bryant Pond
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Sumner. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Sumner.
Newspapers Published in West Sumner ...
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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Sumner.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Sumner, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Sumner.
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 West Sumner:
- Websites specific to Maine
- Pages specific to Oxford County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Androscoggin County
- Cumberland County
- Franklin County
- Kennebec County
- Carroll County
- Coos County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Maine
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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- West Sumner) 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 West Sumner, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |