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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 Penfield (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 Penfield. 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.

Penfield is located in Clearfield 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 Clearfield County: Cameron, Centre, Clinton, Elk, Indiana & Jefferson.

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

  • Clearfield County     (The home county of Penfield)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Penfield, with the one closest to Penfield listed first.
    • Winterburn
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Winterburn is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winterburn
    • Tyler
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Tyler is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyler
    • Treasure Lake
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Treasure Lake is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Treasure Lake
    • Rockton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Rockton is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockton
    • DuBois
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • DuBois is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DuBois
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,287 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for DuBois <1>
    • Mount Joy
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Mount Joy is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Joy
    • Sandy
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Sandy is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy
    • Laborde
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Laborde is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laborde
    • Plymptonville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Plymptonville is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymptonville
    • Luthersburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Clearfield
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Hyde
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Hyde is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hyde
    • Helvetia
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Helvetia is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helvetia
  • Cameron County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Penfield, with the one closest to Penfield listed first.
    • Beechwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Beechwood is located in Cameron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood
    • Mix Run
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Mix Run is located in Cameron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mix Run
    • Driftwood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Huntley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Huntley is located in Cameron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntley
    • Wyside
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Wyside is located in Cameron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyside
    • Cameron
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Cameron is located in Cameron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
    • Weber City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Weber City is located in Cameron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber City
    • Emporium
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Centre County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Penfield, with the one closest to Penfield listed first.
    • Casanova
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Casanova is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casanova
    • Pine Glen
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Pine Glen is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Glen
    • North Philipsburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • North Philipsburg is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Philipsburg
    • Philipsburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • South Philipsburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • South Philipsburg is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Philipsburg
    • Glass City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Glass City is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glass City
    • New Town
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • New Town is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
  • Elk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Penfield, with the one closest to Penfield listed first.
    • Scattertown
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Scattertown is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scattertown
    • Byrnedale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Caledonia
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Caledonia is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
    • Brockport
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Challenge
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Challenge is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challenge
    • Kylers Corners
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Kylers Corners is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kylers Corners
    • Shawmut
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Shawmut is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawmut
    • Dagus Mines
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Dagus Mines is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dagus Mines
    • Horton City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Horton City is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton City
    • Benezette
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint Marys
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Grant
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Grant is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
    • Ridgway
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Forest County
  • Indiana County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Penfield, with the one closest to Penfield listed first.
    • Johnsonburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Johnsonburg is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
    • Rossiter
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Urey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Urey is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urey
    • Glen Campbell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Penfield, with the one closest to Penfield listed first.
    • Crenshaw
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Crenshaw is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
    • Falls Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Pancoast
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Pancoast is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pancoast
    • Brockway
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Red Mill
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Red Mill is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Mill
    • Sykesville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Prescottville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Prescottville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescottville
    • Allens Mills
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Allens Mills is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Mills
    • Sandy Valley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Sandy Valley is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Valley
    • Reynoldsville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Schoffner Corner
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Schoffner Corner is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schoffner Corner
    • Warsaw
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Warsaw is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warsaw
    • Hazen
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Hazen is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazen
  • Lawrence County
    • Big Run
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Big Run is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 594 people

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

Cemeteries Near Penfield ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Penfield.

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

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

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

  • Bundy Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Kooker Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Conway Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Laurel Run Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Bundy Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bundy Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Bundy Cemetery is located 6 miles [9.7 km]<2> to the northeast of DuBois.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #44475 <3>
  • Dressler Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Zion Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Mt. Zion Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<2> to the northeast of Byrnedale.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2135193 <3>
  • Holy Cross Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Brockport Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Morningside Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (133 more) ...
    • Gray Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • St. Tobias Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Wildwood Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)

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 Penfield had a population of 603 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Winterburn
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Winterburn is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winterburn
  • Tyler
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Tyler is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyler
  • Sabula
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Sabula is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sabula
  • Weedville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Narrows Creek
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Narrows Creek is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Narrows Creek
  • Kylers Corners
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Kylers Corners is located in Elk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kylers Corners
  • Caledonia
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Caledonia is located in Elk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
  • Challenge
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Challenge is located in Elk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challenge
  • Brockport
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Rockton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Rockton is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockton
  • Brandy Camp
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Brandy Camp is located in Elk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandy Camp
  • Cartwright
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Cartwright is located in Elk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartwright
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Kersey
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Crenshaw
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Crenshaw is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
    • Lanes Mills
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Lanes Mills is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanes Mills

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

Newspapers Published in Penfield ...

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 71 newspapers that have been published in the area around Penfield.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Penfield, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Penfield.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Penfield:

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>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Penfield) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<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 Penfield, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.