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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 Fernwood (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 Fernwood. 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/Parishes ...

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

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

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties/parishes 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 south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties/parishes, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

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

Fernwood is located in Pike 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 Pike County: Tangipahoa (LA), Washington (LA), Amite, Lincoln & Walthall.

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

  • Pike County     (The home county of Fernwood)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fernwood, with the one closest to Fernwood listed first.
    • Bear Town
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Bear Town is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Town
    • Magnolia
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • McComb
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Bacots
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Bacots is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bacots
    • Summit
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Holmesville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Holmesville is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmesville
    • Chatawa
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Chatawa is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatawa
    • Topisaw
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Topisaw is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topisaw
    • Osyka
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Smithburg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Smithburg is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithburg
  • Amite County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fernwood, with the one closest to Fernwood listed first.
    • McElveen
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • McElveen is located in Amite County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McElveen
    • Glading
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Glading is located in Amite County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glading
    • Thompson
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Thompson is located in Amite County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
    • Huron
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Huron is located in Amite County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huron
    • Gillsburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Gillsburg is located in Amite County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillsburg
    • Mount Olive
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Mount Olive is located in Amite County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
    • Brookside
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Brookside is located in Amite County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
    • Liberty
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Liberty is located in Amite County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 634 people
    • O'Neil
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • O'Neil is located in Amite County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neil
    • Bewelcome
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Bewelcome is located in Amite County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bewelcome
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fernwood, with the one closest to Fernwood listed first.
    • McCall Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Eddiceton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Eddiceton is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddiceton
    • Bude
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Bude is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bude
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 987 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bude <1>
  • Lawrence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fernwood, with the one closest to Fernwood listed first.
    • Verna
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Verna is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verna
    • Tilton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Tilton is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilton
  • Lincoln County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fernwood, with the one closest to Fernwood listed first.
    • Norfield
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Norfield is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norfield
    • Wellman
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Wellman is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellman
    • Cobbs
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Cobbs is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobbs
    • Brookhaven
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Marion County
  • Walthall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fernwood, with the one closest to Fernwood listed first.
    • Tylertown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Sartinville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Sartinville is located in Walthall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sartinville
  • East Feliciana Parish (LA)
    • Troy ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Troy is located in East Feliciana Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
  • Saint Helena Parish (LA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fernwood, with the one closest to Fernwood listed first.
    • Chipola
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Chipola is located in Saint Helena Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chipola
    • Greensburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Coleman Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Coleman Town is located in Saint Helena Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman Town
  • Tangipahoa Parish (LA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fernwood, with the one closest to Fernwood listed first.
    • Kentwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Kentwood is located in Tangipahoa Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,452 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kentwood <1>
    • Tangipahoa
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Fluker
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Wilmer
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Wilmer is located in Tangipahoa Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmer
    • Roseland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Roseland is located in Tangipahoa Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,279 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roseland <1>
  • Washington Parish (LA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fernwood, with the one closest to Fernwood listed first.
    • Mount Hermon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Sunny Hill
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Sunny Hill is located in Washington Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Hill
    • Stoney Point
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Stoney Point is located in Washington Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Point
    • Franklinton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Fernwood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fernwood.

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

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

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

  • Fernwood Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Osby Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Lenoir Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Quin Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Alfred Cook Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Ansel Prewitt Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Martin Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Dinah Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Navilla Baptist Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navilla Baptist Church Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Navilla Baptist Church Cemetery is located outside and to the west of Bacots.
    • The Navilla Baptist Church Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Navilla Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #61318 <2>
  • Barnes Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Magnolia Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (825 more) ...
    • Martin Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Duff Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Memorial Gardens Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Fernwood had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Magnolia
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • McComb
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Summit
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Chatawa
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Chatawa is located in Pike County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatawa
  • Holmesville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Holmesville is located in Pike County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmesville
  • Johnstons Station
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Johnstons Station is located in Lincoln County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnstons Station
  • Huron
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Huron is located in Amite County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huron
  • Osyka
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Topisaw
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Topisaw is located in Pike County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topisaw
  • Thompson
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Thompson is located in Amite County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
  • East Fork
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • East Fork is located in Amite County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fork
  • Smithburg
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Smithburg is located in Pike County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithburg
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Ruth
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Ruth is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
    • Auburn
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Auburn is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
    • Norfield
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Norfield is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norfield

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

Newspapers Published in Fernwood ...

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 53 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fernwood.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Fernwood, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Fernwood.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Fernwood:

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