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 Elwood (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 Elwood. 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 and doctors 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.
Elwood is located in Clarke County.
To see how the shape of Mississippi's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Clarke County: Choctaw (AL), Jasper, Lauderdale & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Elwood. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Elwood:
- Clarke County (The home county of Elwood)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elwood, with the one closest to Elwood listed first.
- Quitman
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- De Soto
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- De Soto is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Soto
- Pachuta
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Pachuta is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pachuta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 227 people
- Barnett
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Barnett is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
- Stonewall
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Stonewall is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonewall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 946 people
- Enterprise
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Gin ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Gin is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gin
- Shubuta
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Shubuta is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shubuta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Junction City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Junction City is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elwood, with the one closest to Elwood listed first.
- Orange
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Orange is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange
- Stafford Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Stafford Springs is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stafford Springs
- Vossburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Vossburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vossburg
- Kelona
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Kelona is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelona
- Fellowship ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fellowship is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fellowship
- Former name for Fellowship:
- Masengale
- Fellowship has also been known as:
- Old Fellowship
- Rose Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rose Hill is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
- Heidelberg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Penantly
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Penantly is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penantly
- Fouke ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Fouke is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fouke
- Gridley ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Gridley is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gridley
- Waldrup ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Waldrup is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldrup
- Ras
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Ras is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ras
- McNeal ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- McNeal is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNeal
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elwood, with the one closest to Elwood listed first.
- Sandersville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sandersville is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 721 people
- Errata
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Errata is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Errata
- Laurel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Antioch
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Antioch is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Lauderdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elwood, with the one closest to Elwood listed first.
- Increase
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Increase is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Increase
- Increase has also been known as:
- Causeyville
- Lost Gap
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Lost Gap is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Gap
- Meridian
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Vimville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Vimville is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vimville
- Nellieburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Nellieburg is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nellieburg
- Whynot
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Whynot is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whynot
- Hookston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Hookston is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hookston
- Marion
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Suqualena
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Suqualena is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suqualena
- Russell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Russell is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Newton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elwood, with the one closest to Elwood listed first.
- Chunky
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Hickory
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hickory is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory
- Population from the 2020 Census: 515 people
- Newton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Six Towns ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Six Towns is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Six Towns
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elwood, with the one closest to Elwood listed first.
- Matherville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Matherville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matherville
- Whistler
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Whistler is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whistler
- Waynesboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Clara
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Clara is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clara
- Choctaw County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elwood, with the one closest to Elwood listed first.
- Melvin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Melvin is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
- Okatuppa
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Okatuppa is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okatuppa
- Emory
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Emory is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emory
- Isney
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Isney is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isney
- Needham
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Needham is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 79 people
- Pushmataha
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pushmataha is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pushmataha
- Gilbertown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Toxey
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Toxey is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
- Souwilpa
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Souwilpa is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Souwilpa
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Elwood, see our County-by-County Page for Elwood.
Cemeteries Near Elwood ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Elwood.
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 Elwood - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Elwood covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Elwood, with the one closest to Elwood listed first.
- Old Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Elwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Harmony Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- McGowan Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- White Oak Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- King Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Salem Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Confederate Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Quitman Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Old Souenlovie Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pachuta Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (265 more) ...
- De Soto Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Covington Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Sullers Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
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 Elwood in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Elwood.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Elwood, with the one closest to Elwood listed first.
- De Soto
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- De Soto is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Soto
- Quitman
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Pachuta
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Pachuta is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pachuta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 227 people
- Barnett
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Barnett is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
- Stonewall
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Stonewall is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonewall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 946 people
- Vossburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Vossburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vossburg
- Enterprise
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Shubuta
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Shubuta is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shubuta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Roy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Roy is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roy
- Carmichael
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Carmichael is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carmichael
- Paulding
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Paulding is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paulding
- Heidelberg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Fellowship ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fellowship is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fellowship
- Former name for Fellowship:
- Masengale
- Fellowship has also been known as:
- Old Fellowship
- Rose Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rose Hill is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
- Eucutta
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Eucutta is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eucutta
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Elwood. See our List of 1890's Communities around Elwood.
Newspapers Published in Elwood ...
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 52 newspapers that have been published in the area around Elwood.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Elwood, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Elwood.
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 either 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 Elwood:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Clarke County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Jasper County
- Jones County
- Lauderdale County
- Newton County
- Wayne County
- Choctaw County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Mississippi
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 Elwood, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Elwood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |