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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 Boswell (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 Boswell. 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 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.

Boswell is located in Somerset County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Somerset County: Allegany (MD), Garrett (MD), Bedford, Cambria, Fayette & Westmoreland.

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

  • Somerset County     (The home county of Boswell)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Boswell, with the one closest to Boswell listed first.
    • Coleman
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Coleman is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
    • Shanksville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Friedens
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Mostoller
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Mostoller is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mostoller
    • Indian Lake
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Indian Lake is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 375 people
    • Downey
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Downey is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
    • Kantner
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Kantner is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kantner
    • Stoystown
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Buckstown
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Buckstown is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckstown
    • Gideon
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Gideon is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gideon
    • Berlin
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Somerset
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Bedford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Boswell, with the one closest to Boswell listed first.
    • Kegg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Kegg is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kegg
    • Schellsburg
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Hyndman
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • New Paris
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Manns Choice
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Pleasantville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Pleasantville is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasantville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 205 people
    • Cooks Mills
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Cooks Mills is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
    • Stringtown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Stringtown is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
    • Wolfsburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Wolfsburg is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolfsburg
    • Charlesville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Charlesville is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlesville
    • Bedford
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Beans Cove
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Beans Cove is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Cove
  • Cambria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Boswell, with the one closest to Boswell listed first.
    • Ingleside
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Ingleside is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside
    • Scalp Level
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Scalp Level is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scalp Level
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 691 people
    • Belmont
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Belmont is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
    • Elim
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Elim is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elim
    • Ferndale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Dale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Dale is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,110 people
    • Geistown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Geistown is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geistown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,242 people
    • Lorain
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Lorain is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorain
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 680 people
    • Southmont
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Southmont is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southmont
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,048 people
    • Daisytown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Daisytown is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daisytown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 290 people
    • Johnstown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Lilly
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Lilly is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 873 people
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Boswell, with the one closest to Boswell listed first.
    • Seven Springs
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Champion
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Indian Head
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Indian Head is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Head
    • White
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • White is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
    • Bear Rocks
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Bear Rocks is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Rocks
    • Laurelville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Laurelville is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelville
    • Ohiopyle
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Indiana County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Boswell, with the one closest to Boswell listed first.
    • Robinson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Robinson is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
    • Armagh
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Westmoreland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Boswell, with the one closest to Boswell listed first.
    • Laughlintown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Laurel Mountain
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Laurel Mountain is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Mountain
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 153 people
      • Laurel Mountain has also been known as:
      • Laurel Mountain Park
    • Rector
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Ligonier
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Oak Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Oak Grove is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Stahlstown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Donegal
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • West Fairfield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • West Fairfield is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Fairfield
    • Darlington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Darlington is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington
    • New Florence
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Robb
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Robb is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robb
    • Kingston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Kingston is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
  • Allegany County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Boswell, with the one closest to Boswell listed first.
    • Barrelville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Barrelville is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrelville
    • Mount Savage
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Ellerslie
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Ellerslie is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellerslie
    • Zihlman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Zihlman is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zihlman
    • Corriganville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Corriganville is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corriganville
    • Eckhart Mines
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Eckhart Mines is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eckhart Mines
    • Frostburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Mount Savage Junction
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Mount Savage Junction is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Savage Junction
    • Clarysville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Clarysville is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarysville
    • La Vale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Midlothian
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Midlothian is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midlothian
    • Borden Shaft
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Borden Shaft is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borden Shaft
  • Garrett County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Boswell, with the one closest to Boswell listed first.
    • Grantsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Avilton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Avilton is located in Garrett County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avilton
  • Mineral County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Boswell, with the one closest to Boswell listed first.
    • Carpendale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Carpendale is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpendale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 900 people
    • Ridgeley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Wiley Ford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Boswell ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Boswell.

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

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

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

  • Pugh Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Mispah Lutheran Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mispah Lutheran Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Mispah Lutheran Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<3> to the west of Shanksville.
    • The Mispah Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Mispah Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2188400 <2>
  • Pike Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Listie Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Walker Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Friedens Luthern Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friedens Luthern Church Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Friedens Luthern Church Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Friedens.
    • The Friedens Luthern Church Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Friedens Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2207909 <2>
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Lichty Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Husband Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Union Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • St. Josephs Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Sarver Church Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (172 more) ...
    • Schmucker Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Weller Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Garden of Memories Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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 Boswell in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Boswell.

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

  • Coleman
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Coleman is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
  • Shanksville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Friedens
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Mostoller
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Mostoller is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mostoller
  • Geiger
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Geiger is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geiger
  • Downey
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Downey is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
  • Glade
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Glade is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glade
  • Lambertsville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Lambertsville is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambertsville
  • Berlin
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Boone
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Boone is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boone
  • Buckstown
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Buckstown is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckstown
  • Stoystown
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Gideon
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Gideon is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gideon
    • Somerset
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Beachdale
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Beachdale is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beachdale

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Boswell ...

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 51 newspapers that have been published in the area around Boswell.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Boswell. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Boswell and those printed in the larger area surrounding Boswell.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<3> of Boswell.

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 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 Boswell:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Boswell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Boswell, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.