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 Big 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 Big 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 Big 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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Big Prairie: Big Pr.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Big Prairie. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Big 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals 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.
Big Prairie is located in Holmes County.
To see how the shape of Ohio's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Holmes County: Ashland, Coshocton, Knox, Stark, Tuscarawas & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Big Prairie. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Big Prairie:
- Holmes County (The home county of Big Prairie)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Prairie, with the one closest to Big Prairie listed first.
- Miley Crossroads
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Miley Crossroads is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miley Crossroads
- Nashville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Nashville is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nashville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 183 people
- Holmesville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Glenmont
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Millersburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Benton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Benton is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Killbuck
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Stillwell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Stillwell is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stillwell
- Mount Hope
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Berlin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Charm
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Farmerstown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Farmerstown is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmerstown
- Ashland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Prairie, with the one closest to Big Prairie listed first.
- Loudonville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- McKay
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- McKay is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKay
- Jeromesville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hayesville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hayesville is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 459 people
- Perrysville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Rowsburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Rowsburg is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowsburg
- Mifflin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mifflin is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mifflin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Redhaw
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Redhaw is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redhaw
- Ashland
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Polk
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Polk is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 331 people
- Albion
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Albion is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Bailey Lakes
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Bailey Lakes is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 364 people
- Savannah
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Coshocton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Prairie, with the one closest to Big Prairie listed first.
- Layland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Layland is located in Coshocton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Layland
- Metham
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Metham is located in Coshocton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metham
- Owls Town ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Owls Town is located in Coshocton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owls Town
- Walhonding
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Nellie
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Nellie is located in Coshocton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nellie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 131 people
- Mohawk Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Mohawk Village is located in Coshocton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mohawk Village
- Warsaw
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- New Bedford
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- White Womans Town ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- White Womans Town is located in Coshocton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Womans Town
- New Guilford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- New Guilford is located in Coshocton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Guilford
- Chili
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Chili is located in Coshocton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chili
- West Bedford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- West Bedford is located in Coshocton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bedford
- Canal Lewisville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Canal Lewisville is located in Coshocton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canal Lewisville
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Prairie, with the one closest to Big Prairie listed first.
- Gann
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Gann is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gann
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
- Jelloway
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Jelloway is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jelloway
- Nunda
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Nunda is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nunda
- Buckeye City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Buckeye City is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye City
- Danville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- North Liberty
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- North Liberty is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Liberty
- Amity
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Amity is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amity
- Millwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Millwood is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millwood
- Hollisters ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Hollisters is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollisters
- Zuck ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Zuck is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zuck
- Esto ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Esto is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esto
- Pipesville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Pipesville is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pipesville
- Palmyra
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Palmyra is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Licking County
- Frampton ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Frampton is located in Licking County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frampton
- Lorain County
- Huntington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Huntington is located in Lorain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington
- Medina County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Prairie, with the one closest to Big Prairie listed first.
- Friendsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Friendsville is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendsville
- Homer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Homer is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer
- Lodi
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Westfield Center
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Westfield Center is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westfield Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,188 people
- Seville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pawnee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Pawnee is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pawnee
- Gloria Glens Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Gloria Glens Park is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gloria Glens Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 449 people
- Chippewa Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Chippewa Lake is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippewa Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 749 people
- Former name for Chippewa Lake:
- Chippewa-on-the-Lake
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Chippewa Lake <1>
- Spencer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Acme
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Acme is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acme
- Briarwood Beach ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Briarwood Beach is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briarwood Beach
- River Corners
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- River Corners is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Corners
- Richland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Prairie, with the one closest to Big Prairie listed first.
- Newville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Newville is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newville
- Lucas
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Butler
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Bellville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Bellville is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,935 people
- Bellville has also been known as:
- McClures Settlement
- McClure
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bellville <1>
- Mansfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Olivesburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Olivesburg is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivesburg
- Hanley Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Hanley Village is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanley Village
- Alta
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Alta is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
- Lexington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Shenandoah
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Shenandoah is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shenandoah
- Ontario
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Maybee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Maybee is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maybee
- Ganges
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ganges is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ganges
- Stark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Prairie, with the one closest to Big Prairie listed first.
- Wilmot
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- East Greenville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- East Greenville is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Greenville
- Beach City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Brewster
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Justus
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Justus is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Justus
- Sippo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Sippo is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sippo
- North Lawrence
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- West Brookfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- West Brookfield is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Brookfield
- Mayflower Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Mayflower Village is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayflower Village
- Rolling Hills Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Westarado
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Westarado is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westarado
- Forty Corners Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Canal Fulton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Summit County
- Clinton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Tuscarawas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Prairie, with the one closest to Big Prairie listed first.
- Baltic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Shanesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Shanesville is located in Tuscarawas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanesville
- Barrs Mills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Barrs Mills is located in Tuscarawas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrs Mills
- Dundee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Sugarcreek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Strasburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Prairie, with the one closest to Big Prairie listed first.
- Shreve
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Funk
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Funk is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funk
- Millbrook
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Millbrook is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
- Moreland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Moreland is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moreland
- Jefferson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Jefferson is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Fredericksburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- New Pittsburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- New Pittsburg is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Pittsburg
- Wooster
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Devil Town
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Devil Town is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devil Town
- Lattasburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Lattasburg is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lattasburg
- Apple Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Boys Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Boys Village is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boys Village
- East Union
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- East Union is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Union
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Big Prairie, see our County-by-County Page for Big Prairie.
Cemeteries Near Big Prairie ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Big 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 Big Prairie - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Big Prairie covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Big Prairie, with the one closest to Big Prairie listed first.
- Lakeville Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Newkirk Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Ripley Twp. Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bigelow Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigelow Cemetery
- The Bigelow Cemetery has also been known as:
- Biglow Cemetery
- Manley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pioneer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Old Sixteen Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fairview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Drake Valley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drake Valley Cemetery
- The Drake Valley Cemetery has also been known as:
- Haudenschild Farm Cemetery
- Stout Cemetery
- Nashville Methodist Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Presbyterian Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Old Dutch Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (639 more) ...
- Temple Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Hopewell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Moorehead Mennonite Church 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.<3>
While we didn't find Big Prairie in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Big Prairie.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Big Prairie, with the one closest to Big Prairie listed first.
- Shreve
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- McZena
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- McZena is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McZena
- Nashville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Nashville is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nashville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 183 people
- Springville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Springville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springville
- Lake Fork
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Fork is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Fork
- Millbrook
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Millbrook is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
- Blachleyville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Blachleyville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blachleyville
- Loudonville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Paint Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Paint Valley is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint Valley
- McKay
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- McKay is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKay
- Welcome
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Welcome is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welcome
- Holmesville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Reedsburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Reedsburg is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedsburg
- Jeromesville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- New Pittsburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- New Pittsburg is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Pittsburg
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Big Prairie. See our List of 1890's Communities around Big Prairie.
Newspapers Published in Big 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 69 newspapers that have been published in the area around Big Prairie.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Big Prairie, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Big 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 Big Prairie:
- Websites specific to Ohio
- Pages specific to Holmes County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Ashland County
- Coshocton County
- Knox County
- Licking County
- Lorain County
- Medina County
- Richland County
- Stark County
- Summit County
- Tuscarawas County
- Wayne County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Ohio
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 Big Prairie, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Big Prairie) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |