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 West Eldred (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 West Eldred. 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.
Name Variations for West Eldred ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for West Eldred: W. Eldred
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
West Eldred is located in McKean 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 McKean County: Allegany (NY), Cattaraugus (NY), Cameron, Elk, Forest, Potter & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near West Eldred. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Eldred:
- McKean County (The home county of West Eldred)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Eldred, with the one closest to West Eldred listed first.
- Eldred
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Larabee
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Larabee is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larabee
- Duke Center
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Duke Center is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duke Center
- Sartwell
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Sartwell is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sartwell
- Rixford
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Rixford is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rixford
- Wrights Corners
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wrights Corners is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrights Corners
- Summit
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Summit is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
- Rew
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rew is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rew
- Dallas City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Dallas City is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas City
- Myrtle
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Myrtle is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Derrick City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Gilmore
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Gilmore is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
- Elk County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Eldred, with the one closest to West Eldred listed first.
- Instanter
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Instanter is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Instanter
- Streights
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Streights is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Streights
- Wilcox
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Potter County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Eldred, with the one closest to West Eldred listed first.
- Shinglehouse
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- East Sharon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- East Sharon is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sharon
- Williston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Williston is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williston
- Honeoye
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Honeoye is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honeoye
- Millport
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Millport is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millport
- Coneville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Coneville is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coneville
- Roulette
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Chrystal
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Chrystal is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chrystal
- Oswayo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Oswayo is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswayo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
- Hebron
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hebron is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Coudersport
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Inez
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Inez is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inez
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Eldred, with the one closest to West Eldred listed first.
- Sugar Run ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Sugar Run is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Run
- Kinzua ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Kinzua is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinzua
- Allegany County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Eldred, with the one closest to West Eldred listed first.
- Bowler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Bowler is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowler
- Little Genesee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bolivar
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- West Clarksville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- West Clarksville is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Clarksville
- Kossuth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Kossuth is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kossuth
- Richburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sawyer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sawyer is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer
- Alma
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Alma is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
- Vosburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Vosburg is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vosburg
- Pikeville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Pikeville is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pikeville
- Cuba
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Cuba is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,460 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cuba <1>
- Allentown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cattaraugus County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Eldred, with the one closest to West Eldred listed first.
- Four Mile
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Four Mile is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Mile
- Rock City
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Rock City is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Portville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Westons Mills
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Olean
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Olean is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olean
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,371 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olean <1>
- Weston Mills
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Weston Mills is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston Mills
- Harrisburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Harrisburg is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
- Saint Bonaventure
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Allegany
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Chipmunk
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Chipmunk is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chipmunk
- Limestone
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- New Ireland ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- New Ireland is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Ireland
- New Ireland has also been known as:
- Irish Town
- Little Ireland
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Eldred, see our County-by-County Page for West Eldred.
Cemeteries Near West Eldred ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Eldred.
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 West Eldred - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Eldred covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Eldred, with the one closest to West Eldred listed first.
- Lamphier Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Rixford Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Moody Hollow Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- East Portville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Mt. View Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Smith Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Chestnut Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Portville Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portville Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Portville Cemetery is located outside and to the northeast of Weston Mills (NY).
- The Portville Cemetery has also been known as:
- Haskell Cemetery
- Oakley Hill Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #65704 <2>
- St. Bonaventure Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Continue List (131 more) ...
- St. Elizabeths Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Lewis Hill Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- St. Gabriels Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
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 West Eldred in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Eldred.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Eldred, with the one closest to West Eldred listed first.
- Eldred
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Prentisvale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Prentisvale is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prentisvale
- Haymaker
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Haymaker is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haymaker
- Larabee
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Larabee is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larabee
- Bullis Mills
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bullis Mills is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullis Mills
- Duke Center
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Duke Center is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duke Center
- Rixford
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Rixford is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rixford
- Sartwell
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Sartwell is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sartwell
- Four Mile
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Four Mile is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Mile
- Portville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Summit
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Summit is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
- Rew
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rew is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rew
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Coleville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Coleville is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleville
- Farmers Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Farmers Valley is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmers Valley
- Ceres
(7 miles [11.3 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 West Eldred. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Eldred.
Newspapers Published in West Eldred ...
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 55 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Eldred.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Eldred, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Eldred.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 West Eldred:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to McKean County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Elk County
- Potter County
- Warren County
- Allegany County
- Cattaraugus 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 West Eldred, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- West Eldred) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |