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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 Balm (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 Balm. 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 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.

Balm is located in Cooke County.

To see how the shape of Texas' counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Cooke County: Love (OK), Denton, Grayson, Montague & Wise.

Below are the counties that are near Balm. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Balm:

  • Cooke County     (The home county of Balm)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Balm, with the one closest to Balm listed first.
    • Callisburg
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Callisburg have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callisburg
      • Callisburg is located in Cooke County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 367 people
    • Dexter
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
      • Dexter is located in Cooke County
    • Custer City ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Custer City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer City
      • Custer City is located in Cooke County
    • Oak Ridge
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oak Ridge have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Ridge
      • Oak Ridge is located in Cooke County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 255 people
    • Lake Kiowa
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lake Kiowa have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Kiowa
      • Lake Kiowa is located in Cooke County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lake Kiowa <2>
    • Gainesville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gainesville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gainesville
      • Gainesville is located in Cooke County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,876 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gainesville <2>
    • Burns City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns City
      • Burns City is located in Cooke County
    • Lindsay
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bloomfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield
      • Bloomfield is located in Cooke County
    • Valley View
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Valley View have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley View
      • Valley View is located in Cooke County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 865 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Valley View <2>
    • Marysville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marysville
      • Marysville is located in Cooke County
    • Myra
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Hemming
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemming
      • Hemming is located in Cooke County
  • Denton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Balm, with the one closest to Balm listed first.
    • Pilot Point
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Sanger
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sanger have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanger
      • Sanger is located in Denton County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,133 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sanger <2>
    • Aubrey
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Bolivar
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivar
      • Bolivar is located in Denton County
  • Grayson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Balm, with the one closest to Balm listed first.
    • Dixie
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie
      • Dixie is located in Grayson County
    • Gordonville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Whitesboro
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Basin Springs
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Basin Springs have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Basin Springs
      • Basin Springs is located in Grayson County
    • Sadler
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Cedar Mills
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Mills
      • Cedar Mills is located in Grayson County
    • Sherwood Shores
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood Shores
      • Sherwood Shores is located in Grayson County
    • Locust
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust
      • Locust is located in Grayson County
    • Gage
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gage have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gage
      • Gage is located in Grayson County
    • Collinsville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Southmayd
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Ethel
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ethel
      • Ethel is located in Grayson County
    • Pottsboro
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
  • Montague County
    • Illinois Bend
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinois Bend
      • Illinois Bend is located in Montague County
  • Bryan County (OK)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Balm, with the one closest to Balm listed first.
    • Cartwright
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Platter
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Colbert
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colbert
      • Colbert is located in Bryan County (OK)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,268 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Colbert <2>
  • Carter County (OK)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Balm, with the one closest to Balm listed first.
    • Brock
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brock
      • Brock is located in Carter County (OK)
    • Dickson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dickson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickson
      • Dickson is located in Carter County (OK)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,256 people
  • Johnston County (OK)
    • Mannsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mannsville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mannsville
      • Mannsville is located in Johnston County (OK)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 844 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mannsville <2>
  • Love County (OK)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Balm, with the one closest to Balm listed first.
    • Thackerville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Thackerville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thackerville
      • Thackerville is located in Love County (OK)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 521 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Thackerville <2>
    • Marietta
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Burneyville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jimtown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jimtown
      • Jimtown is located in Love County (OK)
    • Overbrook
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Leon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Leon have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leon
      • Leon is located in Love County (OK)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Leon <2>
  • Marshall County (OK)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Balm, with the one closest to Balm listed first.
    • Lebanon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Shay
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shay
      • Shay is located in Marshall County (OK)
    • Kingston
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Kingston have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
      • Kingston is located in Marshall County (OK)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,689 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kingston <2>
    • McBride
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for McBride have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBride
      • McBride is located in Marshall County (OK)
    • New Woodville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Woodville
      • New Woodville is located in Marshall County (OK)
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 132 people
    • Madill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madill
      • Madill is located in Marshall County (OK)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,064 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Madill <2>
    • Oakland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oakland have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
      • Oakland is located in Marshall County (OK)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,161 people
    • Cumberland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
      • Cumberland is located in Marshall County (OK)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Balm, see our County-by-County Page for Balm.

Newspapers Published in Balm ...

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 86 newspapers that have been published in the area around Balm.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Balm, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Balm.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Balm:

Cemeteries Near Balm ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Balm.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Balm covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Balm, with the one closest to Balm listed first.

  • Liberty Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Johnson Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Johnson Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Johnson Cemetery
  • County Line Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the County Line Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<3> to the southeast of Whitesboro.
    • The County Line Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Eskew Cemetery
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the County Line Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #3069 <4>
  • Bacon Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bacon Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bacon Cemetery
  • Newell Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Newell Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Newell Cemetery
  • Thompson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for the Thompson Cemetery. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<5>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Thompson Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2371531 <4>
  • Callisburg Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Callisburg Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Callisburg Cemetery
  • Akers Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Akers Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Akers Cemetery
  • Dixie Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Henry Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for the Henry Cemetery. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<5>
    • The Henry Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Sandusky Cemetery
    • Sandy Springs Cemetery
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Henry Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2315900 <4>
  • Union Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Union Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Union Hill Cemetery
  • Allison Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (222 more) ...
    • Porter Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for the Porter Cemetery. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<5>
      • The Porter Cemetery has also been known as:
      • South Rich Cemetery
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Porter Cemetery
    • Blassingame Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for the Blassingame Cemetery. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<5>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Blassingame Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2509465 <4>
    • Center Hill Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Center Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Center Hill Cemetery

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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Balm had a post office and no railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Balm, with the one closest to Balm listed first.

  • Callisburg
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Callisburg have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callisburg
    • Callisburg is located in Cooke County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 367 people
  • Dexter
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
    • Dexter is located in Cooke County
  • Sandusky
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sandusky have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
    • Sandusky is located in Grayson County
  • Coesfield
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Coesfield have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coesfield
    • Coesfield is located in Cooke County
  • Custer City ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Custer City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer City
    • Custer City is located in Cooke County
  • Red Branch
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Red Branch have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Branch
    • Red Branch is located in Grayson County
  • Whitesboro
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Gordonville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Sadler
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Basin Springs
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Basin Springs have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Basin Springs
    • Basin Springs is located in Grayson County
  • Woodbine
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Woodbine have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbine
    • Woodbine is located in Cooke County
  • Cedar Mills
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Mills
    • Cedar Mills is located in Grayson County
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Steedham
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Steedham have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steedham
      • Steedham is located in Grayson County
    • Gainesville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gainesville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gainesville
      • Gainesville is located in Cooke County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,876 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gainesville <2>
    • Collinsville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Balm. See our List of 1890's Communities around Balm.

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Balm. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Cooke County: www.co.cooke.tx.us/

The official website for State of Texas: https://texas.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Balm) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Balm. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 33.7468, Longitude: -96.9767       In this case, the coordinates for Balm have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<4>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.
<5>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<6>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 Balm, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 07 Apr 2024