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 Clayton (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 Clayton. 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 northwest 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 north.
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 north 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.
Clayton is located in Obion 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 Obion County: Fulton (KY), Dyer, Gibson, Lake & Weakley.
Below are the counties that are near Clayton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Clayton:
- Obion County (The home county of Clayton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Woodland Mills
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Woodland Mills is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Mills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Englewood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Englewood is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Englewood
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,532 people
- Samburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hornbeak
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Troy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Union City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Rives
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rives is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rives
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Obion
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Obion is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obion
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,043 people
- Pierce Station
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Pierce Station is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierce Station
- South Fulton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- McConnell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- McConnell is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McConnell
- Kenton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kenton is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,190 people
- Dyer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Trimble
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Trimble is located in Dyer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimble
- Population from the 2020 Census: 602 people
- Churchton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Churchton is located in Dyer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchton
- Estimated population in 2014: 6,752 people
- Meacham
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Meacham is located in Dyer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meacham
- Newbern
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Bogota
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Bogota is located in Dyer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogota
- Tatumville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Tatumville is located in Dyer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tatumville
- Dyersburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Gibson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Tilghman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Tilghman is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilghman
- Yorkville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Yorkville is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
- Rutherford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Dyer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lake County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- New Markham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- New Markham is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Markham
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,354 people
- Proctor City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Proctor City is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proctor City
- Owl City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Owl City is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owl City
- Sunkist Beach
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sunkist Beach is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunkist Beach
- Estimated population in 2014: 547 people
- Tiptonville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ridgely
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Powells Ferry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Powells Ferry is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powells Ferry
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,319 people
- Weakley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Terrell
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Terrell is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrell
- Martin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Sidonia
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Sidonia is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sidonia
- Ralston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Ralston is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralston
- Sharon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Latham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Latham is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latham
- Carlisle County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Arlington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Arlington is located in Carlisle County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 296 people
- Milburn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Milburn is located in Carlisle County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milburn
- Fulton County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Hickman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Jordan
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Jordan is located in Fulton County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Cayce
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cayce is located in Fulton County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayce
- Fulton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Graves County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Water Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Wingo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hickman County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Moscow
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Moscow is located in Hickman County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Clinton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Columbus
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Columbus is located in Hickman County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 150 people
- Fulgham
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Fulgham is located in Hickman County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulgham
- Spring Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Hill is located in Hickman County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Mississippi County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Pinhook
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Pinhook is located in Mississippi County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinhook
- Estimated population in 2012: 30 people
- Wolf Island
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Wolf Island is located in Mississippi County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Island
- Thirtyfour Corner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Thirtyfour Corner is located in Mississippi County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thirtyfour Corner
- East Prairie
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Whiting
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Whiting is located in Mississippi County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiting
- Anniston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Anniston is located in Mississippi County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anniston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- New Madrid County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Point Pleasant
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Point Pleasant is located in New Madrid County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Point Pleasant
- New Madrid
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Marston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- La Forge
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- La Forge is located in New Madrid County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Forge
- Howardville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Howardville is located in New Madrid County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howardville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 329 people
- Lilbourn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Conran
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Conran is located in New Madrid County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conran
- Kewanee
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Kewanee is located in New Madrid County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kewanee
- North Lilbourn
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- North Lilbourn is located in New Madrid County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Lilbourn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 43 people
- Portageville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Ogden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ogden is located in New Madrid County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogden
- Catron
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Catron is located in New Madrid County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
- Pemiscot County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Stewart
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Stewart is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewart
- Hayward
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Hayward is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayward
- Caruthersville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Netherlands
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Netherlands is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Netherlands
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Clayton, see our County-by-County Page for Clayton.
Cemeteries Near Clayton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Clayton.
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 Clayton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Clayton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Antioch Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Fremont Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Beech Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Crescent Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Barnett Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Walker Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Cobbs Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Beech Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Salem Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Hogue Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hubbard Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (379 more) ...
- Obion Chapel Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Joyner Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Hornbeak Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Clayton had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Fremont
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Fremont is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
- Protemus
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Protemus is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Protemus
- Crystal
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Crystal is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal
- Woodland Mills
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Woodland Mills is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Mills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Samburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hickman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hornbeak
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Troy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Union City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Jordan
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Jordan is located in Fulton County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Moffatt
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Moffatt is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moffatt
- Rives
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rives is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rives
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Cayce
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cayce is located in Fulton County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayce
- Glass
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Glass is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glass
- Obion
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Obion is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obion
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,043 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Clayton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Clayton.
Newspapers Published in Clayton ...
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 69 newspapers that have been published in the area around Clayton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Clayton, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Clayton.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Clayton:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Obion County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dyer County
- Gibson County
- Lake County
- Weakley County
- Carlisle County
- Fulton County
- Graves County
- Hickman County
- Mississippi County
- New Madrid County
- Pemiscot County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Tennessee
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 Clayton, 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' (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- Clayton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |