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 Rather (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 Rather. 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 doctors and 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.
Rather 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 Rather. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rather:
- Fayette County (The home county of Rather)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rather, with the one closest to Rather listed first.
- Forty Five
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Forty Five is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forty Five
- La Grange
(3 miles [4.8 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
- Moscow
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Grand Junction
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Williston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Williston is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Somerville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Macon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Macon is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macon
- New Bethel
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- New Bethel is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Bethel
- Estimated population in 2014: 3,324 people
- Feathers Chapel
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Feathers Chapel is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Feathers Chapel
- Estimated population in 2014: 7,102 people
- Rossville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Elba
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Elba is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Oakland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oakland is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,669 people
- 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 Rather, with the one closest to Rather listed first.
- Hickory Valley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hickory Valley is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Saulsbury
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Saulsbury is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saulsbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 90 people
- Newcastle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Newcastle is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newcastle
- Rogers Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Rogers Springs is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogers Springs
- Whiteville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bolivar
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Middleton
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Shandy
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Shandy is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shandy
- Vildo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Vildo is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vildo
- Essary Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Essary Springs is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essary Springs
- Toone
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Toone is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toone
- Population from the 2020 Census: 336 people
- Hornsby
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hornsby is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornsby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
- Haywood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rather, with the one closest to Rather listed first.
- Dancyville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Dancyville is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dancyville
- Fredonia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Fredonia is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Eurekaton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Eurekaton is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eurekaton
- Hillville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Hillville is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillville
- Ko Ko
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Ko Ko is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ko Ko
- Stanton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rather, with the one closest to Rather listed first.
- Collierville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Arlington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bailey
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Bailey is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
- Forest Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Forest Hill is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
- Cordova
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Lakeland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Germantown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Tipton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rather, with the one closest to Rather listed first.
- Gailor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gailor is located in Tipton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gailor
- Estimated population in 2014: 468 people
- Mason
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gainesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Gainesville is located in Tipton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gainesville
- Estimated population in 2014: 958 people
- Benton County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rather, with the one closest to Rather listed first.
- Michigan City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Canaan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Canaan is located in Benton County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
- Snow Lake Shores
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- 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
- Ashland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pine Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Pine Grove is located in Benton County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove
- Marshall County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rather, with the one closest to Rather listed first.
- Slayden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Slayden is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slayden
- Hudsonville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Hudsonville is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudsonville
- Atway
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Atway is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atway
- Mount Pleasant
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Taska
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Taska is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taska
- Cayce
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cayce is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayce
- Holly Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Red Banks
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Barton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Barton is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton
- Victoria
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Victoria is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victoria
- Byhalia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Potts Camp
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Tippah County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rather, with the one closest to Rather listed first.
- Walnut
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Gravestown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Gravestown is located in Tippah County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravestown
- Whitten Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Whitten Town is located in Tippah County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitten Town
- Falkner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Tiplersville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Tiplersville is located in Tippah County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiplersville
- Lowrey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lowrey is located in Tippah County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowrey
- Ripley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rather, see our County-by-County Page for Rather.
Cemeteries Near Rather ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rather.
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 Rather - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rather covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rather, with the one closest to Rather listed first.
- Franklin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Mayos Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Shepherd Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- New Friendship Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Ambrose Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Green Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Shepherd Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rives Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Rives Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- LaGrange Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Moody Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (535 more) ...
- Hickory Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Johnson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Smiths Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
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>
While we didn't find Rather in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rather.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rather, with the one closest to Rather listed first.
- La Grange
(3 miles [4.8 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
- Moscow
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Michigan City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Grand Junction
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Early Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Early Grove is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Early Grove
- Williston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Williston is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Lamar
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Spring Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Hill is located in Benton County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Hickory Valley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hickory Valley is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Somerville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Saulsbury
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Saulsbury is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saulsbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 90 people
- Macon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Macon is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macon
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Canaan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Canaan is located in Benton County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
- Newcastle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Newcastle is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newcastle
- Mount Pleasant
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rather. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rather.
Newspapers Published in Rather ...
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 55 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rather.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rather, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rather.
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 helpful 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 Rather:
- 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
- Marshall 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> | 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 Rather, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Rather) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |