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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 Dowdel Settlement (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 Dowdel Settlement. 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 hospitals 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.

Dowdel Settlement is located in Liberty 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 Liberty County: Chambers, Hardin, Harris, Montgomery, Polk & San Jacinto.

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

  • Liberty County     (The home county of Dowdel Settlement)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dowdel Settlement, with the one closest to Dowdel Settlement listed first.
    • Hull
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Hardin
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Mariam
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Mariam is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mariam
    • Daisetta
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Coushatta Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Coushatta Village is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coushatta Village
    • Woodson
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Woodson is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodson
    • Dayton Lakes
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Dayton Lakes is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton Lakes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
    • Ames
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Ames is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ames
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,275 people
    • Raywood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Kenefick
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Kenefick is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenefick
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 722 people
    • Liberty
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Devers
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Dayton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Chambers County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dowdel Settlement, with the one closest to Dowdel Settlement listed first.
    • Hankamer
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Old River - Winfree
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Old River - Winfree is located in Chambers County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old River - Winfree
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,453 people
    • Wallisville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Turtle Bayou
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Turtle Bayou is located in Chambers County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turtle Bayou
    • Mont Belvieu
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Cove
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Cove is located in Chambers County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 586 people
    • Monroe City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Monroe City is located in Chambers County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe City
    • Anahuac
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Hardin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dowdel Settlement, with the one closest to Dowdel Settlement listed first.
    • Batson
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Saratoga
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Thicket
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Grayburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Grayburg is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayburg
    • Sour Lake
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Votaw
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Bragg ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Bragg is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg
    • Pinewood Estates
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Pinewood Estates is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinewood Estates
    • Kountze
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Village Mills
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Lumberton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Loeb
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Loeb is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loeb
    • Rose Hill Acres
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Rose Hill Acres is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill Acres
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 435 people
  • Harris County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dowdel Settlement, with the one closest to Dowdel Settlement listed first.
    • Huffman
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Crosby
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dowdel Settlement, with the one closest to Dowdel Settlement listed first.
    • Nome
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Nome is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nome
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 592 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nome <1>
    • China
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • China is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for China
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,204 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for China <1>
    • Bevil Oaks
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Bevil Oaks is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bevil Oaks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,209 people
    • Pine Island
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Pine Island is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Island
    • Voth
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Amelia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Amelia is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amelia
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dowdel Settlement, with the one closest to Dowdel Settlement listed first.
    • Roman Forest
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Roman Forest is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roman Forest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,035 people
    • Splendora
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Patton Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Patton Village is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patton Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,207 people
    • Woodbranch
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Woodbranch is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbranch
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,498 people
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dowdel Settlement, with the one closest to Dowdel Settlement listed first.
    • Oak Shade
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Oak Shade is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Shade
    • Ace
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Schwab City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Schwab City is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schwab City
    • Dallardsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • San Jacinto County
    • Shepherd
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Dowdel Settlement ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dowdel Settlement.

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 Dowdel Settlement - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Guedry Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Moss Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Oak Dale Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Old Hardin Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Neyland Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Branch Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Wells Memorial Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Fairlawn Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Middle Town Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Felps Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • McNulty Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (93 more) ...
    • Fields Cemetery
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Lums Cemetery
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Linney Cemetery
      (15 miles [24.1 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.<3>

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

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

  • Ames
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Ames is located in Liberty County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ames
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,275 people
  • Liberty
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Saratoga
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Felicia
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Felicia is located in Liberty County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felicia
  • Sour Lake
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
  • Dayton
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Moss Bluff
    (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Moss Bluff is located in Liberty County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Bluff
  • China
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • China is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for China
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,204 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for China <1>
  • Wallisville
    (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
  • Turtle Bayou
    (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Turtle Bayou is located in Chambers County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turtle Bayou
  • Nona
    (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Nona is located in Hardin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nona
  • Kountze
    (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (9 more) ...
    • Huffman
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Mont Belvieu
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Pine Island
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Pine Island is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Island

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

Newspapers Published in Dowdel Settlement ...

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 22 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dowdel Settlement.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dowdel Settlement, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Dowdel Settlement.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Dowdel Settlement:

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 Dowdel Settlement, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Dowdel Settlement) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.