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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 Abiff (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 Abiff. 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 Abiff ...

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.

Another variation: Abif.

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 and 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.

Abiff is located in Dickson County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Dickson County: Cheatham, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery & Williamson.

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

  • Dickson County     (The home county of Abiff)
  • Cheatham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Abiff, with the one closest to Abiff listed first.
    • Bell Town
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Bell Town is located in Cheatham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Town
    • Kingston Springs
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Pegram
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Lillamay
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Doziers ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Doziers is located in Cheatham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doziers
      • Estimated population in 2014: 543 people
    • Ashland City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Marrowbone
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Cheap Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Cheap Hill is located in Cheatham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheap Hill
      • Estimated population in 2014: 173,778 people
    • Neptune
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Lockertsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Bearwallow
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Sycamore
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Davidson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Abiff, with the one closest to Abiff listed first.
    • Linton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Bellevue
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Tennessee Towne ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Tennessee Towne is located in Davidson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tennessee Towne
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,347 people
    • Watkins ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Watkins is located in Davidson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
    • Belle Meade
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Belle Meade is located in Davidson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Meade
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,788 people
    • Forest Hills
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Forest Hills is located in Davidson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,721 people
    • Green Hills
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Green Hills is located in Davidson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hills
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 6,618 people
    • Oak Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Oak Hill is located in Davidson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,432 people
  • Hickman County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Abiff, with the one closest to Abiff listed first.
    • Bon Aqua Junction
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Bon Aqua Junction is located in Hickman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bon Aqua Junction
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,230 people
    • Lyles
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Wrigley
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Wrigley is located in Hickman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrigley
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 281 people
    • Graham
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Primm Springs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Nunnelly
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Littlelot
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Graytown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Graytown is located in Hickman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graytown
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,528 people
    • Tottys Bend
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Salt Lick
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Salt Lick is located in Hickman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salt Lick
      • Estimated population in 2014: 508 people
    • Centerville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Whitehouse
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Whitehouse is located in Hickman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehouse
  • Houston County
    • Omega ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Omega is located in Houston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
  • Humphreys County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Abiff, with the one closest to Abiff listed first.
    • Bethpage
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Bethpage is located in Humphreys County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethpage
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 288 people
    • McEwen
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Grandmother Ford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Grandmother Ford is located in Humphreys County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandmother Ford
      • Estimated population in 2014: 307 people
    • Hurricane Mills
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Buffalo
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Waverly
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Pigeon Roost
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Pigeon Roost is located in Humphreys County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon Roost
      • Estimated population in 2014: 6,132 people
  • Lewis County
  • Maury County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Abiff, with the one closest to Abiff listed first.
    • Fly
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • New Flys Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • New Flys Village is located in Maury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Flys Village
    • Hill Town
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Hill Town is located in Maury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill Town
    • Chartersville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Chartersville is located in Maury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chartersville
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,494 people
    • Santa Fe
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Greenfield Bend
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Williamsport
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Theta
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Arkland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Sawdust
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Sawdust is located in Maury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawdust
      • Estimated population in 2014: 7,053 people
    • Mowd ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Mowd is located in Maury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mowd
    • New Hope
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • New Hope is located in Maury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,070 people
  • Montgomery County
  • Perry County
    • Lobelville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Williamson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Abiff, with the one closest to Abiff listed first.
    • Fairview
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Loriland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Loriland is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loriland
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,735 people
    • Fernvale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Leipers Fork
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Forest Home
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Old Town ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Old Town is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
    • Burwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Southall
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Berrys Chapel Heights
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Berrys Chapel Heights is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berrys Chapel Heights
      • Estimated population in 2014: 551 people
    • Franklin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Lynnwood Downs
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Lynnwood Downs is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnwood Downs
      • Estimated population in 2014: 282 people
    • Parry
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Parry is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parry
      • Estimated population in 2014: 262 people

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

Cemeteries Near Abiff ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Abiff.

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

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

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

  • Dunnagan Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Yates Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Luther Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Frazier Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Hood Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Dunnagan Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Weems Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Potts Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Green Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Rainey Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Tidwell Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Jordan Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (1082 more) ...
    • Porter Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Register Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Wiley Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 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.<2>

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

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

  • Iron Hill
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Iron Hill is located in Dickson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Hill
  • Bon Aqua
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Tidwell
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Lyles
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Spencers Mill
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Pomona
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Burns
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Colesburg
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Colesburg is located in Dickson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colesburg
  • Dickson
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Rodemer
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Rodemer is located in Hickman County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodemer
  • Little Rock Mills
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Little Rock Mills is located in Hickman County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock Mills
  • Pinewood
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Pinewood is located in Hickman County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinewood
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Lick Creek ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Lick Creek is located in Hickman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lick Creek
    • Graham
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Pond
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Abiff ...

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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around Abiff.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Abiff, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Abiff.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Abiff:

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>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 Abiff, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Abiff) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.