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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 Gervais (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 Gervais. 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 southeast 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 south.

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 south 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.

Gervais is located in Marion County.

To see how the shape of Oregon's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Marion County: Benton, Clackamas, Deschutes, Linn, Polk, Wasco & Yamhill.

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

  • Marion County     (The home county of Gervais)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gervais, with the one closest to Gervais listed first.
    • Woodburn
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • McKee
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • McKee is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKee
    • Mount Angel
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Brooks
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Hubbard
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Downs
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Downs is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downs
    • Labish Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Labish Village is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Labish Village
    • Donald
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Saint Paul
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Chemawa
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Chemawa is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chemawa
    • Champoeg ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Champoeg is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champoeg
    • Hayesville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Hayesville is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayesville
  • Clackamas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gervais, with the one closest to Gervais listed first.
    • Needy ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Needy is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needy
    • Barlow
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Barlow is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
    • Macksburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Macksburg is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
    • Canby
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Canby is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,027 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Canby <1>
    • Liberal
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Liberal is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberal
    • Molalla
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Wilhoit
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Wilhoit is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilhoit
    • Wilsonville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Mulino
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Glen Avon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Glen Avon is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Avon
    • Tualatin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Carus
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Carus is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carus
  • Linn County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gervais, with the one closest to Gervais listed first.
    • Lyons
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Jordan
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Jordan is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
    • Scio
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • West Scio
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • West Scio is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Scio
    • Millersburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Millersburg is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,757 people
  • Multnomah County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gervais, with the one closest to Gervais listed first.
    • Milwaukie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hillsdale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Hillsdale is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
    • Fulton ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Fulton is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
    • Woodstock
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Woodstock is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
    • Portland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gervais, with the one closest to Gervais listed first.
    • Lincoln
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Lincoln is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
    • Salemtowne
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Salemtowne is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salemtowne
    • Zena
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Zena is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zena
    • Eola
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Eola is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola
    • Crowley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Crowley is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crowley
    • Smithfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Smithfield is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithfield
    • Rickreall
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Dolph Corner
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Dolph Corner is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dolph Corner
    • Independence
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Dallas
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Monmouth
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Ellendale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Ellendale is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gervais, with the one closest to Gervais listed first.
    • Middleton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Middleton is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleton
    • Sherwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Durham
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Durham is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,908 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Durham <1>
    • King City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Scholls
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Kinton ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Kinton is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinton
    • Tigard
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Tigard is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tigard
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 56,049 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tigard <1>
    • Farmington
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Farmington is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington
    • Metzger
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Metzger is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metzger
    • Progress
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Progress is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress
    • Beaverton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Gaston
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Yamhill County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gervais, with the one closest to Gervais listed first.
    • Hopewell
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Dayton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Dundee
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Eola Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Eola Village is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola Village
    • Newberg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Lafayette
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Amity
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Amity is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amity
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,722 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Amity <1>
    • Whiteson
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Whiteson is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteson
    • Saint Joseph
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Saint Joseph is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joseph
    • McMinnville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Carlton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Bellevue
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Bellevue is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue

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

Cemeteries Near Gervais ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gervais.

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

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

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

  • Gervaos Pioneer Masonic Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Sacred Heart Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Pioneers Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Belle Passi Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Louis Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Essen Family Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Lukes Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Skunkville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Fairfield Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • St. Mary Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Benedictine Sister of Mt. Anglel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benedictine Sister of Mt. Anglel Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Benedictine Sister of Mt. Anglel Cemetery is located outside and to the south of Mount Angel.
    • The Benedictine Sister of Mt. Anglel Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Queen of Angels Monastery Cemetery
  • Mt. Angel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (246 more) ...
    • Calvary Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Calvary Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northeast of Mount Angel.
      • The Calvary Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Mt. Angel Calvary Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #39165 <2>
    • Mt. Calvary Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Simmons 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Gervais had a population of 532 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Gervais had a population of 2,774 people.

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

  • Woodburn
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • McKee
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • McKee is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKee
  • Brooks
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Mount Angel
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Fairfield
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Fairfield is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
  • Downs
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Downs is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downs
  • Hubbard
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Wheatland
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Wheatland is located in Yamhill County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatland
  • Chemawa
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Chemawa is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chemawa
  • Saint Paul
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Champoeg ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Champoeg is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champoeg
  • Silverton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Marquam
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Marquam is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marquam
    • Needy ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Needy is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needy
    • Aurora
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Gervais ...

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 140 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gervais.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Gervais. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Gervais and those printed in the larger area surrounding Gervais.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4> of Gervais.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer websites 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 Gervais:

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 Gervais, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Gervais) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.