RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Mississippi >> Choctaw County >> Fentress >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Fentress (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 Fentress. 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 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.

Fentress is located in Choctaw 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 Choctaw County: Attala, Montgomery, Oktibbeha, Webster & Winston.

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

  • Choctaw County     (The home county of Fentress)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fentress, with the one closest to Fentress listed first.
    • Ackerman
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Weir
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Weir is located in Choctaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weir
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 422 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Weir <1>
    • Williams
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Williams is located in Choctaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williams
    • Reform
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Reform is located in Choctaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reform
    • Bankston ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Bankston is located in Choctaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bankston
    • French Camp
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Attala County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fentress, with the one closest to Fentress listed first.
    • McCool
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • McCool is located in Attala County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCool
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 123 people
    • Gregory ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Gregory is located in Attala County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gregory
    • Ethel
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Ethel is located in Attala County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ethel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 381 people
    • Langley ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Langley is located in Attala County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langley
    • Kosciusko
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Hesterville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Hesterville is located in Attala County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesterville
    • Auris ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Auris is located in Attala County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auris
    • Rocky Point
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Rocky Point is located in Attala County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Point
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fentress, with the one closest to Fentress listed first.
    • Pheba
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Cedar Bluff
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Cedar Bluff is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fentress, with the one closest to Fentress listed first.
    • Sibleyton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Sibleyton is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sibleyton
      • Sibleyton has also been known as:
      • Sibleton
    • Kilmichael
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Kilmichael is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilmichael
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 538 people
    • Minerva
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Minerva is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minerva
  • Noxubee County
    • Fairport ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Fairport is located in Noxubee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
  • Oktibbeha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fentress, with the one closest to Fentress listed first.
    • Sturgis
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Bradley
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Bradley is located in Oktibbeha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
    • Double Springs
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Double Springs is located in Oktibbeha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Double Springs
    • Longview
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Longview is located in Oktibbeha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longview
    • Maben
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Maben is located in Oktibbeha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maben
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 817 people
    • Adaton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Adaton is located in Oktibbeha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adaton
    • Starkville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Clayton Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Clayton Village is located in Oktibbeha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton Village
    • Sessums
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Webster County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fentress, with the one closest to Fentress listed first.
    • Eupora
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Mathiston
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Sapa
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Sapa is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sapa
    • Walthall
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Walthall is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walthall
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
    • Clarkson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Clarkson is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
    • Cumberland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Cumberland is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
    • Fame
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Fame is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fame
    • Montevista
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Montevista is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montevista
    • Hohenlinden
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Hohenlinden is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hohenlinden
  • Winston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fentress, with the one closest to Fentress listed first.
    • Louisville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Hinze
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Hinze is located in Winston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinze
    • Vowell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Vowell is located in Winston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vowell
    • Noxapater
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Plattsburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Plattsburg is located in Winston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plattsburg
    • Randalls Bluff ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Randalls Bluff is located in Winston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randalls Bluff
    • Fearns Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Fearns Springs is located in Winston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fearns Springs
    • Handle
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Handle is located in Winston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Handle

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

Cemeteries Near Fentress ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fentress.

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

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

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

  • Fentress Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • South Union Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Lebanon Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Weir Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Penderville Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Enon Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Keen Family Cemetery
    • The Keen Family Cemetery is located on private property - be sure to secure permission before visiting.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keen Family Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2480824 <2>
  • Weir Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • First Unity UMC Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Chester Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Big Jerusalem Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Head Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (403 more) ...
    • New Zion Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Beulah Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Old Concord Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Fentress had a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Ackerman
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Weir
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Weir is located in Choctaw County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weir
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 422 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Weir <1>
  • Chester
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Chester is located in Choctaw County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chester
  • McCool
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • McCool is located in Attala County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCool
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 123 people
  • Bywy
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Bywy is located in Choctaw County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bywy
  • Sturgis
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Reform
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Reform is located in Choctaw County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reform
  • Bankston ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Bankston is located in Choctaw County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bankston
  • French Camp
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Rome
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Rome is located in Winston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
  • Webster
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Webster is located in Winston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
  • Bradley
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Bradley is located in Oktibbeha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Huntsville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Huntsville is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntsville
    • Rural Hill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Rural Hill is located in Winston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rural Hill
    • Grady
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Grady is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grady

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

Newspapers Published in Fentress ...

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 40 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fentress.

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

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Fentress:

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 Fentress, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Fentress) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.