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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 Lydia Mills (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 Lydia Mills. 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 Lydia Mills ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Lydia Mills: Lydia Mls. (or less commonly used: Lydia Mlls.)

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.

Lydia Mills is located in Laurens County.

To see how the shape of South Carolina's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Laurens County: Abbeville, Anderson, Greenville, Greenwood, Newberry, Spartanburg & Union.

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

  • Laurens County     (The home county of Lydia Mills)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lydia Mills, with the one closest to Lydia Mills listed first.
    • Clinton
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Dover ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Dover is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
    • Joanna
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Lisbon ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Lisbon is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
    • Renno
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Renno is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renno
    • Laurens
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Mountville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Tylersville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Tylersville is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
    • Kinards
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Cold Point
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Cold Point is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cold Point
    • Cross Hill
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Waterloo
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Simpson ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Simpson is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
  • Abbeville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lydia Mills, with the one closest to Lydia Mills listed first.
    • Ware Shoals
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Donalds
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Honea Path
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Due West
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Cana ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Cana is located in Abbeville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cana
  • Fairfield County
  • Greenville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lydia Mills, with the one closest to Lydia Mills listed first.
    • Fountain Inn
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Fork Shoals
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Fork Shoals is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fork Shoals
    • Lickville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Lickville is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickville
    • Simpsonville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Woodland Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Woodland Village is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
    • Five Forks
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Five Forks is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
  • Greenwood County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lydia Mills, with the one closest to Lydia Mills listed first.
    • Coronaca
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Coronaca is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coronaca
    • Ninety Six
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Springdale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Springdale is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
    • Cokesbury
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Cokesbury is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cokesbury
    • Grendel Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Grendel Village is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grendel Village
    • Hodges
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairforest
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Fairforest is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairforest
    • Greenwood Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Greenwood Village is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood Village
    • Greenwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Mathews Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Mathews Village is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mathews Village
    • Panola Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Panola Village is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola Village
    • Promised Land
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Promised Land is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promised Land
  • Newberry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lydia Mills, with the one closest to Lydia Mills listed first.
    • Mudlick
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Mudlick is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mudlick
    • Whitmire
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Smyrna
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Chappells
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Helena
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Helena is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
    • Silverstreet
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Newberry
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Old Town Ferry
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Old Town Ferry is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town Ferry
    • Union
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Union is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Sondleys ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Sondleys is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sondleys
    • Glymphville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Glymphville is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glymphville
    • Prosperity
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Stoney Hill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Stoney Hill is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Hill
  • Saluda County
    • Hickory Grove
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Hickory Grove is located in Saluda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
  • Spartanburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lydia Mills, with the one closest to Lydia Mills listed first.
    • Cross Anchor
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Enoree
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Woodruff
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Crescent
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Crescent is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
    • Pauline
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Green Pond
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Green Pond is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
    • Moore
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Roebuck
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Reidville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lydia Mills, with the one closest to Lydia Mills listed first.
    • Sedalia
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Sedalia is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
    • Bishop Town ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Bishop Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop Town
    • Colerain
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Colerain is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
    • Delta
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Delta is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta
    • Sartor Town
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Sartor Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sartor Town
    • Red Town ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Red Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Town
    • Buffalo
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Union
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Tuckertown
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Tuckertown is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckertown
    • Carlisle
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Bonham
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Bonham is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
    • Meador ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Meador is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meador
    • Jonesville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Lydia Mills ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lydia Mills.

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 Lydia Mills - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Clinton Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton Cemetery
    • The Clinton Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Clinton City Cemetery
    • First Presbyterian Church Cemetery
  • Rosemont Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Leesville Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Memory Gardens
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Holy Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Hurricane Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Bethlehem Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Rocky Springs Presbyterian Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Forest Lawn Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Beaverdam Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Duncan Creek Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Jersey Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (320 more) ...
    • Langston Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Lisbon Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Sandy Springs Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)

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 Lydia Mills in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Lydia Mills.

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

  • Clinton
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Dover ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Dover is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
  • Lisbon ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lisbon is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
  • Mountville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Milton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Milton is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milton
  • Renno
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Renno is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renno
  • Kinards
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Huntington ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Huntington is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington
  • Tylersville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Tylersville is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
  • Ora
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Ora is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora
  • Waterloo
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Cross Hill
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Gary
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Gary is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gary
    • Cross Anchor
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Cross Keys
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Cross Keys is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Keys

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

Newspapers Published in Lydia Mills ...

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 34 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lydia Mills.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lydia Mills, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lydia Mills.

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 helpful 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 Lydia Mills:

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