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 Hays (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 Hays. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Hays is located in Fayette 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 Fayette County: Benton (MS), Marshall (MS), Hardeman, Haywood, Shelby & Tipton.
Below are the counties that are near Hays. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Hays:
- Fayette County (The home county of Hays)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Moscow
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- New Bethel
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- New Bethel is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Bethel
- Estimated population in 2014: 3,324 people
- Rossville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Macon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Macon is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macon
- Elba
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Elba is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Piperton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Piperton is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piperton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,128 people
- Forty Five
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Forty Five is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forty Five
- Williston
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Williston is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Canadaville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Canadaville is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadaville
- La Grange
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- La Grange is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Oakland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Oakland is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,669 people
- Feathers Chapel
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Feathers Chapel is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Feathers Chapel
- Estimated population in 2014: 7,102 people
- Somerville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hancock County
- Keeling
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Keeling is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeling
- Hardeman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Hickory Valley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Hickory Valley is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Newcastle
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Newcastle is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newcastle
- Saulsbury
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Saulsbury is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saulsbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 90 people
- Whiteville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rogers Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Rogers Springs is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogers Springs
- Bolivar
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Haywood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Fredonia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Fredonia is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Dancyville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Dancyville is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dancyville
- Stanton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Eurekaton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Eurekaton is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eurekaton
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Collierville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Bailey
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Bailey is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
- Forest Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Forest Hill is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
- Arlington
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Cordova
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Germantown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Lakeland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bartlett
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Capleville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Capleville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capleville
- Parkway Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Parkway Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkway Village
- The Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- The Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
- Spring Lake
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Lake is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Lake
- Estimated population in 2014: 34,269 people
- Oakville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Oakville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
- Tipton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Mason
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Gailor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Gailor is located in Tipton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gailor
- Estimated population in 2014: 468 people
- Gainesville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Gainesville is located in Tipton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gainesville
- Estimated population in 2014: 958 people
- Idaville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Idaville is located in Tipton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idaville
- Clopton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Clopton is located in Tipton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clopton
- Estimated population in 2014: 9,889 people
- Benton County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Michigan City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Snow Lake Shores
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Snow Lake Shores is located in Benton County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Lake Shores
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Canaan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Canaan is located in Benton County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
- Ashland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pine Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pine Grove is located in Benton County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove
- DeSoto County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Ingrams Mill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ingrams Mill is located in DeSoto County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingrams Mill
- Olive Branch
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Bright
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bright is located in DeSoto County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bright
- Alphaba
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Alphaba is located in DeSoto County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alphaba
- Southaven
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- De Soto Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- De Soto Village is located in DeSoto County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Soto Village
- Marshall County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Mount Pleasant
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Slayden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Slayden is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slayden
- Cayce
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cayce is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayce
- Taska
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Taska is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taska
- Atway
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Atway is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atway
- Hudsonville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hudsonville is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudsonville
- Barton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Barton is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton
- Red Banks
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Victoria
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Victoria is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victoria
- Byhalia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Holly Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Marianna
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Marianna is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marianna
- Chulahoma
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Chulahoma is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chulahoma
- Tate County (MS)
- Wyatte
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wyatte is located in Tate County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatte
- Tippah County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Whitten Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Whitten Town is located in Tippah County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitten Town
- Gravestown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Gravestown is located in Tippah County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravestown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Hays, see our County-by-County Page for Hays.
Cemeteries Near Hays ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hays.
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 Hays - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Hays covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Teague Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Knox Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Stout Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Parr Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Van Pelt Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Sales Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Good Springs Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Farley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Thomas Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- McRee Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (536 more) ...
- McRee Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Teel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Mt. Vernon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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.<3>
While we didn't find Hays in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Hays.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Moscow
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Rossville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mount Pleasant
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Early Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Early Grove is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Early Grove
- Elba
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Elba is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Macon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Macon is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macon
- Piperton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Piperton is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piperton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,128 people
- Williston
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Williston is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Cayce
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cayce is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayce
- Canadaville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Canadaville is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadaville
- Collierville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Oakland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Oakland is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,669 people
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Lamar
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- La Grange
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- La Grange is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Barton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Barton is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Hays. See our List of 1890's Communities around Hays.
Newspapers Published in Hays ...
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 46 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hays.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hays, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Hays.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Hays:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Fayette County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Hancock County
- Hardeman County
- Haywood County
- Shelby County
- Tipton County
- Benton County
- DeSoto County
- Marshall County
- Tate County
- Tippah 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> | 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 Hays, 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- Hays) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |