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 Sels Prairie (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 Sels Prairie. 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 Sels Prairie ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
- A typical abbreviation for Sels Prairie: Sels Pr.
- While the name of this community is Sels Prairie, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Sels Prairie may originally have been Sel's Prairie.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Sels Prairie might be written as Sel Prairie.
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 doctors and hospitals 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.
Sels Prairie 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 Sels Prairie. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sels Prairie:
- Clarke County (The home county of Sels Prairie)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sels Prairie, with the one closest to Sels Prairie listed first.
- Gin ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Gin is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gin
- Junction City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Junction City is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- De Soto
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- De Soto is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Soto
- Shubuta
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shubuta is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shubuta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Quitman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Pachuta
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pachuta is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pachuta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 227 people
- Stonewall
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stonewall is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonewall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 946 people
- Barnett
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Barnett is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
- Enterprise
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sels Prairie, with the one closest to Sels Prairie listed first.
- Stafford Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Stafford Springs is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stafford Springs
- Vossburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Vossburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vossburg
- Orange
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Orange is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange
- Heidelberg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Kelona
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Kelona is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelona
- Fellowship ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 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
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rose Hill is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
- Waldrup ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Waldrup is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldrup
- Penantly
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Penantly is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penantly
- Fouke ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Fouke is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fouke
- Gridley ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Gridley is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gridley
- Ras
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Ras is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ras
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sels Prairie, with the one closest to Sels Prairie listed first.
- Sandersville
(25 miles [40.2 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
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Errata is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Errata
- Lauderdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sels Prairie, with the one closest to Sels Prairie listed first.
- Increase
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Increase is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Increase
- Increase has also been known as:
- Causeyville
- Whynot
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Whynot is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whynot
- Vimville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Vimville is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vimville
- Lost Gap
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lost Gap is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Gap
- Meridian
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sels Prairie, with the one closest to Sels Prairie listed first.
- Matherville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Matherville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matherville
- Waynesboro
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Whistler
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Whistler is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whistler
- Clara
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Clara is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clara
- Robinsons Junction
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Robinsons Junction is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinsons Junction
- Chicora
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Chicora is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicora
- Choctaw County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sels Prairie, with the one closest to Sels Prairie listed first.
- Melvin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Melvin is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
- Okatuppa
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Okatuppa is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okatuppa
- Emory
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Emory is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emory
- Isney
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Isney is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isney
- Needham
(17 miles [27.4 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
- Gilbertown
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Toxey
(18 miles [29 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
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Souwilpa is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Souwilpa
- Aquilla
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Aquilla is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aquilla
- Bolinger
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bolinger is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolinger
- Silas
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Red Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Red Springs is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Springs
- Clarke County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sels Prairie, with the one closest to Sels Prairie listed first.
- West Bend
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- West Bend is located in Clarke County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bend
- Fakit Chipunta ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fakit Chipunta is located in Clarke County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fakit Chipunta
- Washington County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sels Prairie, with the one closest to Sels Prairie listed first.
- Mehaffey ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mehaffey is located in Washington County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehaffey
- Healing Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Healing Springs is located in Washington County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healing Springs
- Copeland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Copeland is located in Washington County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copeland
- Millry
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sels Prairie, see our County-by-County Page for Sels Prairie.
Cemeteries Near Sels Prairie ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sels Prairie.
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 Sels Prairie - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sels Prairie covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sels Prairie, with the one closest to Sels Prairie listed first.
- White Liberty Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Bethea Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Liberty Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Andrews Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Jehu Oscar Everitt Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bethel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Heard Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Berry Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Providence Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Mt. Levy Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (269 more) ...
- Carmichael Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Manassa Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manassa Cemetery
- The Manassa Cemetery has also been known as:
- Manassa Methodist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #60655 <3>
- De Soto Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
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>
While we didn't find Sels Prairie in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Sels Prairie.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sels Prairie, with the one closest to Sels Prairie listed first.
- Carmichael
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Carmichael is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carmichael
- De Soto
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- De Soto is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Soto
- Shubuta
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shubuta is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shubuta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Matherville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Matherville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matherville
- Quitman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Melvin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Melvin is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
- Boice
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Boice is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boice
- Emory
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Emory is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emory
- Tokio
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Tokio is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tokio
- Isney
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Isney is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isney
- Hinton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hinton is located in Choctaw County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinton
- Eucutta
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Eucutta is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eucutta
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Stonewall
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stonewall is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonewall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 946 people
- Pachuta
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pachuta is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pachuta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 227 people
- Barnett
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Barnett is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sels Prairie. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sels Prairie.
Newspapers Published in Sels Prairie ...
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 29 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sels Prairie.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sels Prairie, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sels Prairie.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Sels Prairie:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Clarke County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Jasper County
- Jones County
- Lauderdale County
- Wayne County
- Choctaw County
- Clarke County
- Washington County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Mississippi
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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 Sels Prairie, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Sels Prairie) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |