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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 Whetstone (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 Whetstone. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals 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.

Whetstone is located in Oconee 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 Oconee County: Franklin (GA), Habersham (GA), Hart (GA), Rabun (GA), Stephens (GA), Jackson (NC), Macon (NC), Transylvania (NC), Anderson & Pickens.

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

  • Oconee County     (The home county of Whetstone)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whetstone, with the one closest to Whetstone listed first.
    • Mountain Rest
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Longcreek
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Walhalla
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Battle Creek
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Battle Creek is located in Oconee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battle Creek
    • Tamassee
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • West Union
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Salem
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Harbin ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Harbin is located in Oconee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harbin
    • Westminster
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Madison
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Madison is located in Oconee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
    • Richland
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Newry
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Anderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whetstone, with the one closest to Whetstone listed first.
    • Townville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Pendleton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • La France
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Leisure Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Leisure Village is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure Village
    • Sandy Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Pickens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whetstone, with the one closest to Whetstone listed first.
    • Nine Times
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Nine Times is located in Pickens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nine Times
    • Six Mile
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Clemson
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Central
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Crow Creek
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Crow Creek is located in Pickens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow Creek
    • Isaqueena Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Isaqueena Village is located in Pickens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isaqueena Village
    • Sunset
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Norris
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Rocky Bottom
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Rocky Bottom is located in Pickens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Bottom
    • Pickens
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Liberty
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Knob ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Knob is located in Pickens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob
  • Franklin County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whetstone, with the one closest to Whetstone listed first.
    • Gumlog
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Gumlog is located in Franklin County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gumlog
    • Lavonia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Lavonia is located in Franklin County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavonia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,187 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lavonia <1>
    • Parhams
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Parhams is located in Franklin County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parhams
  • Habersham County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whetstone, with the one closest to Whetstone listed first.
    • Tugaloo
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Tugaloo is located in Habersham County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tugaloo
    • Turnerville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Clarkesville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Hills
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Hills is located in Habersham County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills
    • Demorest
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Demorest is located in Habersham County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Demorest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,143 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Demorest <1>
    • Mauldins ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Mauldins is located in Habersham County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mauldins
      • Estimated population in 2019: 225 people
    • Mount Airy
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Cornelia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Cornelia is located in Habersham County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornelia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,799 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cornelia <1>
  • Rabun County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whetstone, with the one closest to Whetstone listed first.
    • Antioch
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Antioch is located in Rabun County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
    • Mountain City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Sky Valley
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Clayton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Clayton is located in Rabun County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,103 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clayton <1>
    • Tallulah Falls
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Lakemont
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Tiger
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Tiger is located in Rabun County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiger
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 418 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tiger <1>
    • Wiley
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Dillard
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Germany
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Germany is located in Rabun County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germany
  • Stephens County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whetstone, with the one closest to Whetstone listed first.
    • Jarrett
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Jarrett is located in Stephens County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
      • Estimated population in 2019: 3,974 people
    • Toccoa Falls
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Toccoa
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Toccoa is located in Stephens County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toccoa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,300 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Toccoa <1>
    • Carnes Creek
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Carnes Creek is located in Stephens County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnes Creek
      • Estimated population in 2019: 601 people
    • Eastanollee
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Avalon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Avalon is located in Stephens County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avalon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people
    • Martin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Martin is located in Stephens County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Martin <1>
  • Towns County (GA)
    • Tate City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Tate City is located in Towns County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tate City
  • White County (GA)
    • Sautee - Nacoochee
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Jackson County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whetstone, with the one closest to Whetstone listed first.
    • Highlands
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Cashiers
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Glenville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Erastus
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Erastus is located in Jackson County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erastus
    • Tuckasegee
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Argura
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Argura is located in Jackson County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argura
  • Macon County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whetstone, with the one closest to Whetstone listed first.
    • Scaly Mountain
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Lickskillet
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Lickskillet is located in Macon County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickskillet
    • Orlando
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Orlando is located in Macon County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
    • Otto
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Riverside
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Riverside is located in Macon County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
    • Ellijay
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Ellijay is located in Macon County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
    • Franklin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Transylvania County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whetstone, with the one closest to Whetstone listed first.
    • Sapphire
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake Toxaway
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Toxaway Falls ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Toxaway Falls is located in Transylvania County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxaway Falls
    • Rosman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Rosman is located in Transylvania County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 624 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rosman <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Whetstone ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Whetstone.

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

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

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

  • Belmont Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Mountain Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Monte Vista Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Bethlehem Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Snyder Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Holden Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Speed Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Laurel Springs Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Collins Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Burrell Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Brasstown Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Page Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (342 more) ...
    • Hamby Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Billingsley Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Rocky Fork Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)

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, Whetstone had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Mountain Rest
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Longcreek
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Pine Mountain
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Pine Mountain is located in Rabun County (GA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mountain
  • Battle Creek
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Battle Creek is located in Oconee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battle Creek
  • Walhalla
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • West Union
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Salem
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Clayton
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Clayton is located in Rabun County (GA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,103 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clayton <1>
  • Tallulah Falls
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Tugaloo
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Tugaloo is located in Habersham County (GA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tugaloo
  • Harbin ‑ Historic
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Harbin is located in Oconee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harbin
  • Westminster
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Scaly Mountain
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Tiger
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Tiger is located in Rabun County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiger
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 418 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tiger <1>
    • Highlands
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in Whetstone ...

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 21 newspapers that have been published in the area around Whetstone.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Whetstone, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Whetstone.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Whetstone:

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 Whetstone, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Whetstone) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.