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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Balm is located in Cooke County.
To see how the shape of Texas' counties may 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)
- Callisburg is located in Cooke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callisburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 367 people
- Dexter
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Dexter is located in Cooke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
- Coesfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Coesfield is located in Cooke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coesfield
- Custer City ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Custer City is located in Cooke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer City
- Oak Ridge
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Ridge is located in Cooke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Ridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 255 people
- Lake Kiowa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Gainesville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Burns City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Burns City is located in Cooke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns City
- Lindsay
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bloomfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Bloomfield is located in Cooke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield
- Valley View
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Marysville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Marysville is located in Cooke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marysville
- 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)
- Aubrey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Bolivar
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bolivar is located in Denton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivar
- 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)
- Dixie is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie
- Sandusky
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Sandusky is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- 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)
- Basin Springs is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Basin Springs
- Sadler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Mills is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Mills
- Sherwood Shores
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sherwood Shores is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood Shores
- Locust
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Locust is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust
- Gage
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Gage is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gage
- Collinsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Southmayd
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Montague County
- Illinois Bend
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Illinois Bend is located in Montague County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinois Bend
- 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)
- 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)
- Brock is located in Carter County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brock
- Dickson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Dickson is located in Carter County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,256 people
- Johnston County (OK)
- Mannsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- 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)
- 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)
- Jimtown is located in Love County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jimtown
- Overbrook
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Leon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- 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)
- Shay is located in Marshall County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shay
- Kingston
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- McBride
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- McBride is located in Marshall County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBride
- New Woodville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- New Woodville is located in Marshall County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Woodville
- Population from the 2010 Census: 132 people
- Madill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland is located in Marshall County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,161 people
- Cumberland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cumberland is located in Marshall County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Balm, see our County-by-County Page for 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.
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 Balm - one of the links might be able to help.
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)
- County Line Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for County Line Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the County Line Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<2> to the northwest of Whitesboro.
- The County Line Cemetery has also been known as:
- Eskew Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #3069 <3>
- Bacon Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Newell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Thompson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Callisburg Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Akers Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Dixie Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Henry Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henry Cemetery
- The Henry Cemetery has also been known as:
- Sandusky Cemetery
- Sandy Springs Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2315900 <3>
- Union Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Allison Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (225 more) ...
- Porter Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter Cemetery
- The Porter Cemetery has also been known as:
- South Rich Cemetery
- Blassingame Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Center Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
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.<4>
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)
- Callisburg is located in Cooke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callisburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 367 people
- Dexter
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Dexter is located in Cooke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
- Sandusky
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Sandusky is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Coesfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Coesfield is located in Cooke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coesfield
- Custer City ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Custer City is located in Cooke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer City
- Red Branch
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Red Branch is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Branch
- 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)
- Basin Springs is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Basin Springs
- Woodbine
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Woodbine is located in Cooke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbine
- Cedar Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Mills is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Mills
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Steedham
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Steedham is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steedham
- Gainesville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- 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.
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]<2>. 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 start with 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 Balm:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Cooke County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Denton County
- Grayson County
- Montague County
- Bryan County
- Carter County
- Johnston County
- Love County
- Marshall County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Texas
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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Balm) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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. |