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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 Gillis (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 Gillis. 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 and doctors 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.

Gillis is located in Morris 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 Morris County: Bowie, Camp, Cass, Marion, Titus & Upshur.

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

  • Morris County     (The home county of Gillis)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillis, with the one closest to Gillis listed first.
    • Daingerfield
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Cason
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Jenkins
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Jenkins is located in Morris County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenkins
    • Rocky Branch
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Rocky Branch is located in Morris County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Branch
    • Lone Star
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Omaha
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Naples
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Naples is located in Morris County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naples
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,305 people
      • Former name for Naples:
      • Station Belden
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Naples <1>
  • Bowie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillis, with the one closest to Gillis listed first.
    • Bassett
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Bassett is located in Bowie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bassett
    • Dalby Springs
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Dalby Springs is located in Bowie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalby Springs
    • Simms
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Carbondale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Carbondale is located in Bowie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbondale
  • Camp County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillis, with the one closest to Gillis listed first.
    • Center Point ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Center Point is located in Camp County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
    • Harvard
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Harvard is located in Camp County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard
    • Pittsburg
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Pine
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Pine is located in Camp County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine
    • Rocky Mound
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Rocky Mound is located in Camp County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Mound
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 78 people
    • Leesburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillis, with the one closest to Gillis listed first.
    • Hughes Springs
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Avinger
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Marietta
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Bryans Mill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Bryans Mill is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryans Mill
    • Linden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Red Hill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Red Hill is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
    • Douglassville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Kildare
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillis, with the one closest to Gillis listed first.
    • Scroggins
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Mount Vernon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Purley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Purley is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purley
    • Winnsboro
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Gregg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillis, with the one closest to Gillis listed first.
    • East Mountain
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • East Mountain is located in Gregg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Mountain
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 878 people
    • Judson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Seven Pines
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Seven Pines is located in Gregg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Pines
  • Harrison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillis, with the one closest to Gillis listed first.
    • Morton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Morton is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morton
    • Harleton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillis, with the one closest to Gillis listed first.
    • Jackson
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Jackson is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
    • Sarber
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Sarber is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarber
    • Macedonia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Macedonia is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
    • Kellyville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Kellyville is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyville
    • Lodi
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Jefferson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Titus County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillis, with the one closest to Gillis listed first.
    • Cookville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Pleasant
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Green Hill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Green Hill is located in Titus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
    • Miller's Cove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Miller's Cove is located in Titus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller's Cove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
    • Winfield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Talco
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Upshur County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillis, with the one closest to Gillis listed first.
    • LaFayette
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • LaFayette is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaFayette
    • Coffeeville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Coffeeville is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffeeville
    • Ewell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Ewell is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewell
    • Ore City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Bettie
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Bettie is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bettie
    • Delrose
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Delrose is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delrose
    • Diana
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Graceton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Graceton is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graceton
    • Piney Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Piney Grove is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piney Grove
    • Simpsonville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Simpsonville is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpsonville
    • Thomas
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Thomas is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas
    • Indian Rock
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Indian Rock is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Rock
    • Gilmer
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
  • Wood County
    • Perryville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Perryville is located in Wood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perryville

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

Cemeteries Near Gillis ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gillis.

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 Gillis - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Daingerfield Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Slaton Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Clark Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Blevens Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Whitmore Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • South Union Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Jones Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Lev Olds Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Springhill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Iron Bluff Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Day Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Wakefield Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (163 more) ...
    • Hall Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hickory Hill Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Holly Springs Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)

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>

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

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

  • Daingerfield
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Cason
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Rocky Branch
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Rocky Branch is located in Morris County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Branch
  • Hughes Springs
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • LaFayette
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • LaFayette is located in Upshur County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaFayette
  • Omaha
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Pittsburg
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Cookville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Sardis
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Sardis is located in Cass County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
  • Coffeeville
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Coffeeville is located in Upshur County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffeeville
  • Ewell
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Ewell is located in Upshur County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewell
  • Mount Pleasant
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Avinger
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Marietta
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Argo
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Argo is located in Titus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argo

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

Newspapers Published in Gillis ...

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 53 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gillis.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gillis, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Gillis.

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 Gillis:

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 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Gillis) 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 Gillis, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.