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 Gillespie (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 Gillespie. 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.
Gillespie 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 Gillespie. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Gillespie:
- Fayette County (The home county of Gillespie)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gillespie, with the one closest to Gillespie listed first.
- Redstone
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Redstone is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redstone
- Brownstown
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Brownstown is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownstown
- Fayette City
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Fayette City is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 569 people
- Kenneth
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Kenneth is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenneth
- Arnold City
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Arnold City is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold City
- Fairhope
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Fairhope is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairhope
- Lynnwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Lynnwood is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnwood
- Chamouni
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Chamouni is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamouni
- Belle Vernon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Newell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Newell is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 492 people
- Fuller
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Fuller is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
- Banning
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Banning is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banning
- Grindstone
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Allegheny County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gillespie, with the one closest to Gillespie listed first.
- Sunny Side
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Sunny Side is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Side
- Buena Vista
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Buena Vista is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Elizabeth
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- West Elizabeth
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Clairton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Boston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Jefferson Hills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- 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
- Lincoln
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Lincoln is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,013 people
- Mendelssohn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Mendelssohn is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendelssohn
- Cochrans Mill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cochrans Mill is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrans Mill
- Coal Valley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Coal Valley is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Valley
- Liberty
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Liberty is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,438 people
- Versailles
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Versailles is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Versailles
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,452 people
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gillespie, with the one closest to Gillespie listed first.
- Rices Landing
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Clarksville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Stringtown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Stringtown is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
- Chartiers
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Chartiers is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chartiers
- Cumberland Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cumberland Village is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Village
- Nemacolin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Nemacolin is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemacolin
- Carmichaels
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Fairdale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Fairdale is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
- Jefferson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Jefferson is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Ceylon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ceylon is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceylon
- Khedive
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Khedive is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Khedive
- Lippincott
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Lippincott is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lippincott
- Greensboro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Somerset County
- Draketown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Draketown is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draketown
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gillespie, with the one closest to Gillespie listed first.
- Roscoe
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Roscoe is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 791 people
- Allenport
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Speers
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Speers is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Speers
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,061 people
- Dunlevy
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Twilight
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Twilight is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilight
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- California
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Coal Center
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Elco
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Elco is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elco
- Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
- Long Branch
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Long Branch is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
- Population from the 2020 Census: 431 people
- Stockdale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Blainsburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Blainsburg is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blainsburg
- West Brownsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- West Brownsville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Brownsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 960 people
- Charleroi
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Westmoreland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gillespie, with the one closest to Gillespie listed first.
- North Belle Vernon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- North Belle Vernon is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Belle Vernon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,842 people
- Gibsonton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Gibsonton is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibsonton
- Monessen
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Smithton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Webster
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Webster is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- West Newton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Sutersville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Wyano
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wyano is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyano
- Blackburn ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Blackburn is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackburn
- Yukon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hawkeye
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Hawkeye is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkeye
- Scottdale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Alverton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Alverton is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alverton
- Monongalia County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gillespie, with the one closest to Gillespie listed first.
- Bowlby
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Bowlby is located in Monongalia County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowlby
- Maidsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Maidsville is located in Monongalia County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maidsville
- Baker Ridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Baker Ridge is located in Monongalia County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker Ridge
- Canyon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Canyon is located in Monongalia County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon
- Cheat Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Cheat Lake is located in Monongalia County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheat Lake
- Osage
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Osage is located in Monongalia County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage
- Star City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Star City is located in Monongalia County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,984 people
- Preston County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gillespie, with the one closest to Gillespie listed first.
- Clifton Mills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Clifton Mills is located in Preston County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton Mills
- Brandonville
(30 miles [48.3 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
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Gillespie, see our County-by-County Page for Gillespie.
Cemeteries Near Gillespie ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gillespie.
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 Gillespie - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Gillespie covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Gillespie, with the one closest to Gillespie listed first.
- Mt. Auburn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Auburn Cemetery
- The Mt. Auburn Cemetery has also been known as:
- Fayette City Cemetery
- Havely Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Eastern Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Belle Vernon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Gregg Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Highland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Washington Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. John the Baptist RC Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. John the Baptist RC Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. John the Baptist RC Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southeast of Perryopolis.
- The St. John the Baptist RC Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Johns Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #46044 <2>
- East Salem Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gibson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Calvary Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (440 more) ...
- Green Lane Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bridgeport Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Redstone Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
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 Gillespie in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Gillespie.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Gillespie, with the one closest to Gillespie listed first.
- Kenneth
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Kenneth is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenneth
- Redstone
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Redstone is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redstone
- Fayette City
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Fayette City is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 569 people
- Chamouni
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Chamouni is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamouni
- Roscoe
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Roscoe is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 791 people
- Allenport
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Speers
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Speers is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Speers
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,061 people
- Coal Center
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- California
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Woodglen
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Woodglen is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodglen
- Belle Vernon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Stockdale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Elco
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Elco is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elco
- Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
- West Brownsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- West Brownsville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Brownsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 960 people
- Linn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Linn is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linn
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Gillespie. See our List of 1890's Communities around Gillespie.
Newspapers Published in Gillespie ...
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 60 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gillespie.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gillespie, there are papers which were published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Gillespie.
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 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 Gillespie:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Fayette County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegheny County
- Greene County
- Somerset County
- Washington County
- Westmoreland County
- Monongalia County
- Preston County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Pennsylvania
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 Gillespie, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Gillespie) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |