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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 Ferguson (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 Ferguson. 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 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.

Ferguson is located in Fayette 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 Fayette County: Garrett (MD), Greene, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland, Monongalia (WV) & Preston (WV).

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

  • Fayette County     (The home county of Ferguson)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ferguson, with the one closest to Ferguson listed first.
    • Dunbar
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Rogerstown
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Rogerstown is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogerstown
    • Sitka
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Sitka is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitka
    • Leisenring
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Leisenring is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisenring
    • Mount Independence
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Mount Independence is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Independence
    • South Connellsville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Lemont Furnace
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Connellsville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Evans
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Evans is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
    • Laurel Hill
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Laurel Hill is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Hill
    • East Uniontown
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • East Uniontown is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Uniontown
    • Oliver
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Oliver is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oliver
    • Bitner
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Bitner is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bitner
  • Allegheny County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ferguson, with the one closest to Ferguson listed first.
    • Sunny Side
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Sunny Side is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Side
    • Buena Vista
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Buena Vista is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
    • Elizabeth
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • West Elizabeth
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Boston
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Clairton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Lincoln
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Lincoln is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,013 people
    • Mendelssohn
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Mendelssohn is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendelssohn
    • Versailles
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Versailles is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Versailles
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,452 people
    • White Oak
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Coal Valley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Coal Valley is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Valley
    • Jefferson Hills
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Jefferson Hills is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson Hills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,136 people
      • Jefferson Hills has also been known as:
      • Jefferson
    • Liberty
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Liberty is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,438 people
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ferguson, with the one closest to Ferguson listed first.
    • Nemacolin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Nemacolin is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemacolin
    • Stringtown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Stringtown is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
    • Cumberland Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Cumberland Village is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Village
    • Fairdale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Fairdale is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
    • Greensboro
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Carmichaels
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Rices Landing
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Ceylon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Ceylon is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceylon
    • Dilliner
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Dilliner is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dilliner
    • Chartiers
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Chartiers is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chartiers
    • Clarksville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Khedive
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Khedive is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Khedive
    • Dunkard
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Dunkard is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkard
  • Somerset County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ferguson, with the one closest to Ferguson listed first.
    • Draketown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Draketown is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draketown
    • Confluence
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • New Lexington
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • New Lexington is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lexington
    • Addison
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Ursina
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Ursina is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ursina
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
    • Markleton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Listonburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Listonburg is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Listonburg
    • Bakersville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Bakersville is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakersville
    • Casselman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Casselman is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casselman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
    • New Centerville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • New Centerville is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Centerville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
    • Lavansville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Lavansville is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavansville
    • Rockwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Milford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Milford is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ferguson, with the one closest to Ferguson listed first.
    • Blainsburg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Blainsburg is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blainsburg
    • California
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Speers
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Speers is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Speers
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,061 people
    • West Brownsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • West Brownsville is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Brownsville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 960 people
    • Allenport
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Coal Center
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Elco
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Elco is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elco
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
    • Roscoe
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Roscoe is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 791 people
    • Stockdale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Dunlevy
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Long Branch
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Long Branch is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 431 people
    • Twilight
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Twilight is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilight
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
    • Daisytown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
  • Westmoreland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ferguson, with the one closest to Ferguson listed first.
    • Scottdale
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Hawkeye
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Hawkeye is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkeye
    • Iron Bridge
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Iron Bridge is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Bridge
    • West Overton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • West Overton is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Overton
    • Alverton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Alverton is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alverton
    • Mount Pleasant
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Mount Joy
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Mount Joy is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Joy
    • Smithton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Wyano
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Wyano is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyano
    • Donegal
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hunker
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Hunker is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunker
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hunker <1>
    • New Stanton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Kecksburg
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Kecksburg is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kecksburg
  • Garrett County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ferguson, with the one closest to Ferguson listed first.
    • Friendsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Accident
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Grantsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Monongalia County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ferguson, with the one closest to Ferguson listed first.
    • Cheat Lake
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Cheat Lake is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheat Lake
    • Canyon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Canyon is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon
    • Baker Ridge
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Baker Ridge is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker Ridge
    • Bowlby
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Bowlby is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowlby
    • Maidsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Maidsville is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maidsville
    • Brookhaven
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Brookhaven is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookhaven
    • Morgantown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Morgantown is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgantown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 30,847 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Morgantown <1>
    • Star City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Star City is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,984 people
    • Westover
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Westover is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,220 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Westover <1>
    • Granville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Granville is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,156 people
    • Osage
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Osage is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage
    • Cassville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Cassville is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassville
  • Preston County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ferguson, with the one closest to Ferguson listed first.
    • Clifton Mills
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Clifton Mills is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton Mills
    • Brandonville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Brandonville is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
    • Bruceton Mills
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Hazelton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Little Sandy
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Little Sandy is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Sandy
    • Rockville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Rockville is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
    • Morgans Glade
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Morgans Glade is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgans Glade
    • Lenox
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Lenox is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenox
    • Orr
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Orr is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orr
    • Masontown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Ferguson ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ferguson.

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

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

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

  • Franklin Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Lincoln Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Stephens Byzantine Catholic Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • St. John's Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Chestnut Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Hill Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Josephs Cemetery (Old)
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Laurel Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Sylvan Heights Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan Heights Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Sylvan Heights Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<3> to the northeast of Uniontown.
    • The Sylvan Heights Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Sylvan Heights Memorial Gardens
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #46449 <2>
  • Park Place Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Dickerson Run - Union Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Roebuck Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (332 more) ...
    • St. Josephs Cemetery (New)
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • St. Ritas Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Holy Trinity Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holy Trinity Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Holy Trinity Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Connellsville.
      • The Holy Trinity Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Holy Trinity RC Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1993674 <2>

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>

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

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

  • Mount Braddock
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Mount Braddock is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Braddock
  • Dunbar
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Morgan
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Morgan is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
  • Percy
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Percy is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
  • Leisenring
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Leisenring is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisenring
  • Sitka
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Sitka is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitka
  • Monarch
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Monarch is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monarch
  • Lemont Furnace
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Wheeler
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Wheeler is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
  • Trotter
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Trotter is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trotter
  • Evans
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Evans is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
  • Connellsville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • New Haven
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • New Haven is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Haven
    • Laurel Hill
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Laurel Hill is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Hill
    • West Leisenring
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • West Leisenring is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Leisenring

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

Newspapers Published in Ferguson ...

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 44 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ferguson.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ferguson, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ferguson.

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 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 Ferguson:

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 'straight-line' (or 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- Ferguson) 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 Ferguson, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.