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 Willette (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 Willette. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.
Willette is located in Macon 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 Macon County: Allen (KY), Monroe (KY), Clay, Jackson, Smith, Sumner & Trousdale.
Below are the counties that are near Willette. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Willette:
- Macon County (The home county of Willette)
- The following are listed by their distance from Willette, with the one closest to Willette listed first.
- Gibbs Crossroads
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Gibbs Crossroads is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbs Crossroads
- Mill Town
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mill Town is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Town
- Red Boiling Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Walnut Shade
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Walnut Shade is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Shade
- Frog Pond
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Frog Pond is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frog Pond
- Meadorville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Meadorville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadorville
- Lafayette
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Green Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Green Grove is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Grove
- Siloam
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Siloam is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siloam
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willette, with the one closest to Willette listed first.
- Jenkins Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jenkins Village is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenkins Village
- Hermitage Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Hermitage Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hermitage Springs
- Clementsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Clementsville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clementsville
- Boles
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Boles is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boles
- Butlers Landing ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Butlers Landing is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butlers Landing
- Moss
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Moss is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss
- Celina
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Free Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Free Hill is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Free Hill
- Cave Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Cave Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave Springs
- Thompsons Store
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Thompsons Store is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsons Store
- Estimated population in 2014: 3,180 people
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willette, with the one closest to Willette listed first.
- Temperance Hall
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Temperance Hall is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Temperance Hall
- Population from the 2010 Census: 5,791 people
- Alexandria
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Dowelltown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Liberty
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Liberty is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Population from the 2020 Census: 330 people
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willette, with the one closest to Willette listed first.
- North Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- North Springs is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Springs
- Haydenburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Haydenburg is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haydenburg
- Rough Point
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rough Point is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rough Point
- Whitleyville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Whitleyville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitleyville
- Gainesboro
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Columbus Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Columbus Hill is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 36,071 people
- Nameless
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Nameless is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nameless
- Mayfield ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mayfield is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
- Burristown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Burristown is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burristown
- Dodson Branch
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Dodson Branch is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodson Branch
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,074 people
- Overton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willette, with the one closest to Willette listed first.
- Grey ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Grey is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grey
- Duncan's Chapel ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Duncan's Chapel is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan's Chapel
- Livingston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Garretts Mill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Garretts Mill is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garretts Mill
- Oak Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Oak Hill is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Oakley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Oakley is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willette, with the one closest to Willette listed first.
- Pekin ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Pekin is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pekin
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,114 people
- Lafayette
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Lafayette is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,962 people
- Avoton ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Avoton is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoton
- Baxter
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Boma
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Boma is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boma
- Bangham Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bangham Village is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangham Village
- Estimated population in 2014: 504 people
- Cookeville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Algood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Park Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Park Village is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Village
- Burton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Burton is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton
- Ditty
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ditty is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ditty
- Huntland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Huntland is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntland
- Estimated population in 2014: 860 people
- Boiling Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Boiling Springs is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boiling Springs
- Smith County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willette, with the one closest to Willette listed first.
- Difficult
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Difficult is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Difficult
- Estimated population in 2014: 14,993 people
- Pleasant Shade
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Defeated
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Defeated is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Defeated
- Monoville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Monoville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monoville
- Dixon Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dixon Springs is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon Springs
- Carthage
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- South Carthage
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- South Carthage is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Carthage
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,406 people
- Bluff Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Bluff Creek is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Creek
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,734 people
- Chestnut Mound
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Chestnut Mound is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut Mound
- Rock City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rock City is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Gordonsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Hickman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Hickman is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickman
- Shaver Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Shaver Town is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaver Town
- Sumner County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willette, with the one closest to Willette listed first.
- Bledsoe
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Bledsoe is located in Sumner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bledsoe
- Bransford
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Bransford is located in Sumner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bransford
- Population from the 2010 Census: 170 people
- Chipman
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Chipman is located in Sumner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chipman
- Westmoreland
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Bethpage
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Castalian Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Sugar Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sugar Grove is located in Sumner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
- Rogana
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Rogana is located in Sumner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogana
- Fairfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fairfield is located in Sumner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
- Rock Bridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Rock Bridge is located in Sumner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Bridge
- Trousdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Trousdale is located in Sumner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trousdale
- Trousdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willette, with the one closest to Willette listed first.
- Johntown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Johntown is located in Trousdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johntown
- Hartsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Wilson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willette, with the one closest to Willette listed first.
- Centerville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Centerville is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Estimated population in 2014: 3,595 people
- Commerce
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Commerce is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Saulsbury
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Saulsbury is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saulsbury
- Estimated population in 2014: 96 people
- Linwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Linwood is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
- Watertown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Greenwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Greenwood is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Lebanon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Possum Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Possum Town is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possum Town
- Allen County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Willette, with the one closest to Willette listed first.
- Holland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Holland is located in Allen County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holland
- Oak Forest
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Forest is located in Allen County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Forest
- Adolphus
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Petroleum
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Petroleum is located in Allen County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petroleum
- Scottsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Springs is located in Allen County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Springs
- Barren County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Willette, with the one closest to Willette listed first.
- Etoile
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Etoile is located in Barren County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etoile
- Austin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Austin is located in Barren County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin
- Nobob
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Nobob is located in Barren County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nobob
- Cumberland County (KY)
- Cloyds Landing
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cloyds Landing is located in Cumberland County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloyds Landing
- Monroe County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Willette, with the one closest to Willette listed first.
- Gamaliel
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Akersville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Akersville is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akersville
- Boles
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Boles is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boles
- Hestand
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hestand is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hestand
- Tompkinsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Fountain Run
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Mud Lick
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Mud Lick is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mud Lick
- Forkton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Forkton is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkton
- Martinsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Martinsburg is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsburg
- Mount Hermon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Mount Hermon is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hermon
- Meshack
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Meshack is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meshack
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Willette, see our County-by-County Page for Willette.
Cemeteries Near Willette ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Willette.
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 Willette - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Willette covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Willette, with the one closest to Willette listed first.
- Thomas Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Clark Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Cortez Adams Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Young Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Davis Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jones Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wakefield - Kirby Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- William Brockett Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- John B Goad Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Knight Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Draper Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- West Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (587 more) ...
- Wakefield Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Minchey Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Graves and Teele Graveyard
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Willette had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Willette, with the one closest to Willette listed first.
- Gibbs Crossroads
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Gibbs Crossroads is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbs Crossroads
- Difficult
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Difficult is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Difficult
- Estimated population in 2014: 14,993 people
- North Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- North Springs is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Springs
- Pleasant Shade
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kempville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Kempville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kempville
- Highland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Highland is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Haydenburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Haydenburg is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haydenburg
- Red Boiling Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Gladdice
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Gladdice is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladdice
- Defeated
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Defeated is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Defeated
- Donoho
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Donoho is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donoho
- Rough Point
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rough Point is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rough Point
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Whitleyville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Whitleyville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitleyville
- Miles Crossroads
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Miles Crossroads is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miles Crossroads
- Walnut Shade
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Walnut Shade is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Shade
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Willette. See our List of 1890's Communities around Willette.
Newspapers Published in Willette ...
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 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around Willette.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Willette, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Willette.
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 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 Willette:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Macon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clay County
- DeKalb County
- Jackson County
- Overton County
- Putnam County
- Smith County
- Sumner County
- Trousdale County
- Wilson County
- Allen County
- Barren County
- Cumberland County
- Monroe 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 Willette, 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- Willette) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |