RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Texas >> Freestone County >> Cotton Gin >> Genealogy HelperIndex...










Learn About
The Commemorative
Quarter for
Texas

The Commemorative Quarter for Texas





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 Cotton Gin (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 Cotton Gin. 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.

Cotton Gin is located in Freestone 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 Freestone County: Anderson, Leon, Limestone & Navarro.

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

  • Freestone County     (The home county of Cotton Gin)
  • Anderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cotton Gin, with the one closest to Cotton Gin listed first.
    • Yard ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Yard have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yard
      • Yard is located in Anderson County
    • Greens Bluff
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Cayuga
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Massey Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Bethel
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Falls County
    • Otto
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Otto have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otto
      • Otto is located in Falls County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Otto <2>
  • Hill County
    • Hubbard
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hubbard have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hubbard
      • Hubbard is located in Hill County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,418 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hubbard <2>
  • Leon County
  • Limestone County
  • McLennan County
    • Mart
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mart have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mart
      • Mart is located in McLennan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,983 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mart <2>
  • Navarro County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cotton Gin, with the one closest to Cotton Gin listed first.
    • Richland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Richland have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
      • Richland is located in Navarro County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
    • Pursley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Pursley. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pursley
      • Pursley is located in Navarro County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Pursley
      • From Cotton Gin to Pursley
    • Angus
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Angus have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angus
      • Angus is located in Navarro County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
    • Navarro
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Navarro have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navarro
      • Navarro is located in Navarro County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
    • Eureka
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Eureka have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
      • Eureka is located in Navarro County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
    • Mustang
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mustang have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mustang
      • Mustang is located in Navarro County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
    • Purdon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Mildred
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mildred have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mildred
      • Mildred is located in Navarro County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
    • Oak Valley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oak Valley have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Valley
      • Oak Valley is located in Navarro County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
    • Dawson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dawson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawson
      • Dawson is located in Navarro County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 798 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dawson <2>
    • Retreat
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Retreat have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Retreat
      • Retreat is located in Navarro County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 384 people
    • Silver City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Silver City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
      • Silver City is located in Navarro County
    • Navarro Mills
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Robertson County
    • Seale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Seale. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seale
      • Seale is located in Robertson County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Seale
      • From Cotton Gin to Seale

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

Cemeteries Near Cotton Gin ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cotton Gin.

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

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

  • Oak Island Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Oak Island Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Oak Island Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Grove Island Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Grove Island Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Grove Island Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Shanks Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • New Hope Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the New Hope Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the New Hope Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Hopewell Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hopewell Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hopewell Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Greenwood Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Greenwood Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Antioch Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Antioch Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Antioch Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Spillers Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Spillers Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Spillers Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Sessions Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Lindley Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lindley Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lindley Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • George Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the George Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the George Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Woodland Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Woodland Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Woodland Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (168 more) ...
    • New Home Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the New Home Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the New Home Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Mexia City Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Red Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Red Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Red Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Cotton Gin had a population of 125 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Mexia
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Prairie Grove
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Prairie Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Grove
    • Prairie Grove is located in Limestone County
  • Wortham
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wortham have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wortham
    • Wortham is located in Freestone County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,007 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wortham <2>
  • Personville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Fairfield
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Tehuacana
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Luna
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Luna have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luna
    • Luna is located in Freestone County
  • Stewards Mill ‑ Historic
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Groesbeck
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Dew
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Farrar
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
  • Horn Hill
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Horn Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horn Hill
    • Horn Hill is located in Limestone County
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Richland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Richland have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
      • Richland is located in Navarro County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
    • Rodney
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rodney have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodney
      • Rodney is located in Navarro County
    • Young
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Young have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Young
      • Young is located in Freestone County

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Cotton Gin ...

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 52 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cotton Gin.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Cotton Gin. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Cotton Gin and those printed in the larger area surrounding Cotton Gin.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<6> of Cotton Gin.

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 Cotton Gin:

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

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>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.
<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 Cotton Gin, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Cotton Gin) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Cotton Gin. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 31.6808, Longitude: -96.3595    









 

Copyright 2025
All Rights Reserved

Thank you for visiting our website.

In closing, please keep in mind that we can not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information on this website, so use with care. We encourage you to double-check the information that is critical to you.

If you've found an error or have additional information that you would like to share, please don't hesitate to write: Click here to contact us.

This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025