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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 Pinkerton (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 Pinkerton. 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 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 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.

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

  • Somerset County     (The home county of Pinkerton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pinkerton, with the one closest to Pinkerton listed first.
    • Markleton
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Casselman
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Casselman is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casselman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
    • New Centerville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • New Centerville is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Centerville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
    • New Lexington
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • New Lexington is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lexington
    • Rockwood
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Confluence
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Draketown
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Draketown is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draketown
    • Listonburg
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Listonburg is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Listonburg
    • Addison
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Ursina
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Ursina is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ursina
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
    • Garrett
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Summit Mills
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Summit Mills is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit Mills
    • Coal Run
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Coal Run is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Run
  • Bedford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pinkerton, with the one closest to Pinkerton listed first.
    • Stringtown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Stringtown is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
    • Cooks Mills
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Cooks Mills is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
    • Hyndman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Kegg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Kegg is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kegg
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pinkerton, with the one closest to Pinkerton listed first.
    • Seven Springs
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Markleysburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Ohiopyle
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Indian Head
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Indian Head is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Head
    • Champion
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Farmington
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • White
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • White is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
    • Mount Washington
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Mount Washington is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Washington
    • South Connellsville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Connellsville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Dunbar
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Elliottsville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Elliottsville is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliottsville
    • Bear Rocks
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Bear Rocks is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Rocks
  • Westmoreland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pinkerton, with the one closest to Pinkerton listed first.
    • Donegal
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Stahlstown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Rector
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Iron Bridge
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Iron Bridge is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Bridge
    • Mount Joy
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Mount Joy is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Joy
    • Laughlintown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Laurel Mountain
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • 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
    • Scottdale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • West Overton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • West Overton is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Overton
    • Hawkeye
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Hawkeye is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkeye
    • Kecksburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Kecksburg is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kecksburg
    • Mount Pleasant
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Alverton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Alverton is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alverton
  • Allegany County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pinkerton, with the one closest to Pinkerton listed first.
    • Frostburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Midlothian
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Midlothian is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midlothian
    • Mount Savage
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Zihlman
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Zihlman is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zihlman
    • Borden Shaft
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Borden Shaft is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borden Shaft
    • Eckhart Mines
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Eckhart Mines is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eckhart Mines
    • Klondike
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Klondike is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klondike
    • Woodland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Woodland is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
    • Barrelville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Barrelville is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrelville
    • Clarysville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Clarysville is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarysville
    • Gilmore
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Gilmore is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Lonaconing
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Midland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Midland is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
  • Garrett County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pinkerton, with the one closest to Pinkerton listed first.
    • Grantsville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Accident
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Friendsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Bittinger
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Avilton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Avilton is located in Garrett County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avilton
    • McHenry
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Swanton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Bloomington
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Bloomington is located in Garrett County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomington
    • Altamont
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Altamont is located in Garrett County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altamont
    • Deer Park
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Mineral County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pinkerton, with the one closest to Pinkerton listed first.
    • Piedmont
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Windom ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Windom is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windom
    • Carpendale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Carpendale is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpendale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 900 people
    • Ridgeley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Wiley Ford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Shaw
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Shaw is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw
    • Short Gap
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Short Gap is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Gap
  • Preston County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pinkerton, with the one closest to Pinkerton listed first.
    • Hazelton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Clifton Mills
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Clifton Mills is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton Mills
    • Brandonville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Brandonville is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
    • Bruceton Mills
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Morgans Glade
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Morgans Glade is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgans Glade
    • Orr
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Orr is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orr
    • Lenox
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Lenox is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenox
    • Little Sandy
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Little Sandy is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Sandy
    • Rockville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Rockville is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville

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

Cemeteries Near Pinkerton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pinkerton.

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

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

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

  • Younkin Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Ursina Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Crossroads Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Old Jersey Church Turkeyfoot Baptist Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Turney Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Highland Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Garrett Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Sands Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Maple Glen Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Imel Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • St. John's English Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (220 more) ...
    • Grantsville Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Union Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Great Crossings Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 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>

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

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

  • Markleton
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Fort Hill
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Casselman
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Casselman is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casselman
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
  • Kingwood
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Kingwood is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingwood
  • Harnedsville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Harnedsville is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harnedsville
  • Savage
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Savage is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savage
  • Confluence
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Dumas
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Dumas is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumas
  • Rockwood
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • New Lexington
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • New Lexington is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lexington
  • Draketown
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Draketown is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draketown
  • Barronvale
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Barronvale is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barronvale
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Listonburg
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Listonburg is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Listonburg
    • Scullton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Scullton is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scullton
    • Gebhart
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Gebhart is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gebhart

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

Newspapers Published in Pinkerton ...

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 Pinkerton.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Pinkerton, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Pinkerton.

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 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 Pinkerton:

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