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 Old Lawton (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 Old Lawton. 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 and hospitals 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.
Old Lawton is located in McNairy 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 McNairy County: Alcorn (MS), Chester, Hardeman & Hardin.
Below are the counties that are near Old Lawton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Old Lawton:
- McNairy County (The home county of Old Lawton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Lawton, with the one closest to Old Lawton listed first.
- Purdy
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Purdy is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purdy
- Adamsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Stantonville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Stantonville is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stantonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
- Leapwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Leapwood is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leapwood
- Selmer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Falcon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Falcon is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falcon
- Bethel Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Eastview
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Eastview is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 702 people
- Caffey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Caffey is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caffey
- Michie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Tulu
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tulu is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulu
- Estimated population in 2014: 18,899 people
- Finger
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Chester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Lawton, with the one closest to Old Lawton listed first.
- Enville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Enville is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Milledgeville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Milledgeville is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milledgeville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 267 people
- Sweet Lips
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Sweet Lips is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Lips
- Masseyville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Masseyville is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masseyville
- Montezuma
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Montezuma is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montezuma
- Jacks Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Henderson
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Silerton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Silerton is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
- Deanburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Deanburg is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deanburg
- Estimated population in 2014: 7,395 people
- Mifflin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Mifflin is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mifflin
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Lawton, with the one closest to Old Lawton listed first.
- Dunbar
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Dunbar is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbar
- Scotts Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Hill is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 566 people
- Hardeman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Lawton, with the one closest to Old Lawton listed first.
- Hornsby
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Hornsby is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornsby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
- Essary Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Essary Springs is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essary Springs
- Middleton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Teague
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Teague is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teague
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,181 people
- Shandy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Shandy is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shandy
- Bolivar
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Toone
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Toone is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toone
- Population from the 2020 Census: 336 people
- Rogers Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Rogers Springs is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogers Springs
- Hardin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Lawton, with the one closest to Old Lawton listed first.
- Crump
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Pittsburg Landing Ferry
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pittsburg Landing Ferry is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg Landing Ferry
- Estimated population in 2014: 555 people
- Shiloh
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Savannah
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Hamburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hamburg is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamburg
- Belle Meade
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Belle Meade is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Meade
- Estimated population in 2014: 3,017 people
- New Town
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- New Town is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Sibley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Sibley is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sibley
- Nash Landing
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Nash Landing is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash Landing
- Nixon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Nixon is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixon
- Estimated population in 2014: 718 people
- Pyburn
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pyburn is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyburn
- Paulks ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Paulks is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paulks
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Lawton, with the one closest to Old Lawton listed first.
- Sardis
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Rhodes Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Rhodes Town is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes Town
- Cedar Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Grove is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Middle Fork
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Middle Fork is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middle Fork
- Reagan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Huron
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Huron is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huron
- Lexington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- White Fern
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- White Fern is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Fern
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Lawton, with the one closest to Old Lawton listed first.
- Cisco Indian Village ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cisco Indian Village is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cisco Indian Village
- Pinson
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Parkburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Parkburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkburg
- Estimated population in 2014: 10,156 people
- Medon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Malesus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Malesus is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malesus
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Lawton, with the one closest to Old Lawton listed first.
- Clifton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lutts
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Lauderdale County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Lawton, with the one closest to Old Lawton listed first.
- Haddock ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Haddock is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haddock
- Waterloo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Alcorn County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Lawton, with the one closest to Old Lawton listed first.
- Corinth
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Farmington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Farmington is located in Alcorn County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,160 people
- Glen
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Glen is located in Alcorn County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 406 people
- Glens
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Glens is located in Alcorn County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glens
- Allentown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Allentown is located in Alcorn County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allentown
- Kossuth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Biggersville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Biggersville is located in Alcorn County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggersville
- Searcy Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Searcy Town is located in Alcorn County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searcy Town
- Hightown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Hightown is located in Alcorn County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightown
- Tippah County (MS)
- Walnut
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Tishomingo County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Lawton, with the one closest to Old Lawton listed first.
- Short
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Short is located in Tishomingo County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
- Burnsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Old Lawton, see our County-by-County Page for Old Lawton.
Cemeteries Near Old Lawton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Old Lawton.
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 Old Lawton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Old Lawton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Old Lawton, with the one closest to Old Lawton listed first.
- Clear Creek Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Sanders Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Pounds Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Brackin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- McKenzie Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sanders Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Gilchrist Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Williams Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Combs Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Good Hope Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Meeks Grove Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Brooks Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (652 more) ...
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Mt. Vinson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Adamsville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
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 Old Lawton in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Old Lawton.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Old Lawton, with the one closest to Old Lawton listed first.
- Purdy
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Purdy is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purdy
- Stantonville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Stantonville is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stantonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
- Adamsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Selmer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hurley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hurley is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurley
- Falcon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Falcon is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falcon
- Bethel Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Gravel Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Gravel Hill is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravel Hill
- Pittsburg Landing
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pittsburg Landing is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg Landing
- Caffey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Caffey is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caffey
- Michie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Morris Chapel
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Morris Chapel is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morris Chapel
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- McNairy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- McNairy is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNairy
- Ramer
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hamburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hamburg is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamburg
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Old Lawton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Old Lawton.
Newspapers Published in Old Lawton ...
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 Old Lawton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Old Lawton, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Old Lawton.
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 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 Old Lawton:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to McNairy County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chester County
- Decatur County
- Hardeman County
- Hardin County
- Henderson County
- Madison County
- Wayne County
- Lauderdale County
- Alcorn County
- Tippah County
- Tishomingo 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 Old Lawton, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Old Lawton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |