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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 Clayton (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 Clayton. 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/Parishes ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties/parishes.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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/parishes 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/parishes, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Clayton is located in Panola 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 Panola County: Caddo (LA), De Soto (LA), Harrison, Rusk & Shelby.

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

  • Panola County     (The home county of Clayton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Delray
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Delray. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delray
      • Delray is located in Panola County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Delray
      • From Clayton to Delray
    • Buncome
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Long Branch
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Murvaul
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Murvaul. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murvaul
      • Murvaul is located in Panola County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Murvaul
      • From Clayton to Murvaul
    • Gary City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Dotson
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Carthage
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Beckville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Woods
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Woods. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods
      • Woods is located in Panola County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Woods
      • From Clayton to Woods
    • Center Point ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Center Point have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
      • Center Point is located in Panola County
    • Midyett
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Midyett. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midyett
      • Midyett is located in Panola County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Midyett
      • From Clayton to Midyett
    • De Berry
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Panola
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Panola have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
      • Panola is located in Panola County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Panola <2>
  • Gregg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Easton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Easton have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easton
      • Easton is located in Gregg County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 525 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Easton <2>
    • Elderville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Elderville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elderville
      • Elderville is located in Gregg County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Elderville
      • From Clayton to Elderville
    • Lakeport
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lakeport have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeport
      • Lakeport is located in Gregg County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 997 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lakeport <2>
    • Fredonia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Danville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Rolling Meadows
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rolling Meadows have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rolling Meadows
      • Rolling Meadows is located in Gregg County
    • Kilgore
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Harrison County
  • Nacogdoches County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Garrison
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Fitze
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Fitze. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitze
      • Fitze is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Fitze
      • From Clayton to Fitze
    • Whispering Pines
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Appleby
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Trawick
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Trawick. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trawick
      • Trawick is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Trawick
      • From Clayton to Trawick
    • Cushing
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cushing have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushing
      • Cushing is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 614 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cushing <2>
  • Rusk County
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Timpson
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Timpson have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timpson
      • Timpson is located in Shelby County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,130 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Timpson <2>
    • Tenaha
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Arcadia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Joaquin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Joaquin have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joaquin
      • Joaquin is located in Shelby County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 793 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Joaquin <2>
    • Haslam
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Center
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Africa ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Africa. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Africa
      • Africa is located in Shelby County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Africa
      • From Clayton to Africa
  • Smith County
    • Wright City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wright City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright City
      • Wright City is located in Smith County
  • De Soto Parish (LA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Logansport
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Logansport have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Logansport
      • Logansport is located in De Soto Parish (LA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,546 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Logansport <2>
    • Longstreet
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Longstreet have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longstreet
      • Longstreet is located in De Soto Parish (LA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Longstreet <2>

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

Cemeteries Near Clayton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Clayton.

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 Clayton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • Roquemore Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Heath Long Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Heath Long Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Heath Long Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Ross - Etheridge Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ross - Etheridge Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ross - Etheridge Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Page Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Page Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Page Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Carrico Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Carrico Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Carrico Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Miller Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Miller Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Miller Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Snap Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Snap Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Snap Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Walton Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Walton Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Walton Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Harris Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Harris Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Harris Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Union Murvaul Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Lindsey Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lindsey Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lindsey Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Macedonia Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Macedonia Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Macedonia Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (224 more) ...
    • Davis Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Davis Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Davis Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Williams Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Williams Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Williams Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Thomas Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Thomas Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Thomas Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.<5>

While we didn't find Clayton in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Clayton.

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

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

Newspapers Published in Clayton ...

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 37 newspapers that have been published in the area around Clayton.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Clayton, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Clayton.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Clayton:

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

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

Footnotes ...

<1>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.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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.
<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>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 Clayton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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 from Point A (ie- Clayton) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Clayton. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 32.0987, Longitude: -94.4747       In this case, the coordinates for Clayton have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025