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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 Glessner (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 Glessner. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and 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.

Glessner 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 Glessner. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Glessner:

  • Somerset County     (The home county of Glessner)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Glessner, with the one closest to Glessner listed first.
    • Jenners Crossroads
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Jenners Crossroads is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenners Crossroads
    • Jennerstown
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Jerome
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Jerome is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
    • Thomas Mill
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Thomas Mill is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Mill
    • Jenners
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Jenners is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenners
    • Davidsville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Laurel Mountain Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Benson
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Benson is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
    • Hollsopple
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Blough
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Blough is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blough
    • Hooversville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Hooversville is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooversville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 589 people
    • Roytown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Roytown is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roytown
  • Bedford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Glessner, with the one closest to Glessner listed first.
    • New Paris
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Kegg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Kegg is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kegg
    • Pleasantville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Pleasantville is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasantville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 205 people
    • Schellsburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Pavia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Pavia is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavia
    • Osterburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Manns Choice
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Wolfsburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Wolfsburg is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolfsburg
    • Saint Clairsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Saint Clairsville is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clairsville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 75 people
    • Hyndman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • King
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • King is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King
  • Blair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Glessner, with the one closest to Glessner listed first.
    • Blue Knob
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Blue Knob is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Knob
    • Cotton Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Cotton Town is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Town
  • Cambria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Glessner, with the one closest to Glessner listed first.
    • Elim
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Elim is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elim
    • Ferndale
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Ingleside
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Ingleside is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside
    • Southmont
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Southmont is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southmont
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,048 people
    • Belmont
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Belmont is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
    • Dale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Dale is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,110 people
    • Lilly
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Lilly is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 873 people
    • Lorain
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Lorain is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorain
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 680 people
    • Westmont
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Westmont is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westmont
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,625 people
    • Brownstown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Cambria City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Cambria City is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambria City
    • Conemaugh
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Conemaugh is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conemaugh
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Glessner, with the one closest to Glessner listed first.
    • Seven Springs
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Champion
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Indian Head
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Indian Head is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Head
    • Bear Rocks
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Bear Rocks is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Rocks
    • White
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • White is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
    • Laurelville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Laurelville is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelville
    • Everson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Everson is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 744 people
  • Indiana County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Glessner, with the one closest to Glessner listed first.
    • Robinson
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Robinson is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
    • Armagh
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Dilltown
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Heshbon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Heshbon is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heshbon
    • Wehrum
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Wehrum is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wehrum
    • Claghorn ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Claghorn is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claghorn
    • Palmertown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Blairsville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Josephine
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Josephine is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Josephine
    • Rexis
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Rexis is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rexis
    • Black Lick
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Black Lick is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Lick
    • Coral
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
  • Westmoreland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Glessner, with the one closest to Glessner listed first.
    • Laurel Mountain
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • 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
    • Laughlintown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Oak Grove
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Oak Grove is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Ligonier
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Rector
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • West Fairfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • West Fairfield is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Fairfield
    • New Florence
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Robb
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Robb is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robb
    • Darlington
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Darlington is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington
    • Seward
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Seward is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seward
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 458 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Seward <1>
    • Bolivar
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Stahlstown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Glessner ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Glessner.

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

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

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

  • St.s Peter & Paul Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Old Calvary Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Mt. Carmel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Jenners Crossroads Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • St. Stanislaus Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Friedline Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Garden of Memories Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Schmucker Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • St. Josephs Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Custer Community Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer Community Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Custer Community Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southeast of Hollsopple.
    • The Custer Community Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Custer Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #44661 <2>
  • Kaufman Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (178 more) ...

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 in 1895, Glessner had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Jennerstown
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Jenners Crossroads
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Jenners Crossroads is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenners Crossroads
  • Davidsville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Hollsopple
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Sipesville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Sipesville is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sipesville
  • Stoystown
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Hooversville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Hooversville is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooversville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 589 people
  • Edie
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Edie is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edie
  • Gideon
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Gideon is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gideon
  • Laughlintown
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Mostoller
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Mostoller is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mostoller
  • Hillsboro
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Hillsboro is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsboro
  • Continue List   (19 more) ...
    • Ingleside
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Ingleside is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside
    • Walsall
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Walsall is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walsall
    • Ferndale
      (9 miles [14.5 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 Glessner. See our List of 1890's Communities around Glessner.

Newspapers Published in Glessner ...

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 39 newspapers that have been published in the area around Glessner.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Glessner, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Glessner.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Glessner:

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 Glessner, 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 from Point A (ie- Glessner) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.