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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 Melrose (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 Melrose. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.

Melrose is located in Nacogdoches 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 Nacogdoches County: Angelina, Cherokee, Rusk, San Augustine & Shelby.

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

  • Nacogdoches County     (The home county of Melrose)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
    • Swift
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Swift is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swift
    • Woden
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Attoyac
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Attoyac is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attoyac
    • Martinsville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Chireno
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Nacogdoches
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Etoile
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Appleby
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Appleby is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 444 people
    • Redfield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Redfield is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redfield
    • Whispering Pines
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Whispering Pines is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whispering Pines
    • Fitze
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Fitze is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitze
    • Alazan
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Alazan is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alazan
  • Angelina County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
    • Platt
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Platt is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Platt
    • Ewing
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Ewing is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewing
    • Thomas Crossing
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Thomas Crossing is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Crossing
    • River Crest Estates
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • River Crest Estates is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Crest Estates
    • Moffitt
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Moffitt is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moffitt
    • Alco
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Alco is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alco
    • Dunagan
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Dunagan is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunagan
    • Davisville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Davisville is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davisville
    • Rocky Springs
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Rocky Springs is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Springs
    • Herty
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Herty is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herty
    • Redland
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Redland is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redland
    • Cedar Grove
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Cedar Grove is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
  • Cherokee County
    • Wells
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Panola County
    • Dotson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Dotson is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotson
  • Rusk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
    • Caledonia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Caledonia is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
    • Concord
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Concord is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Mount Enterprise
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Sulphur Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Sulphur Springs is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
  • San Augustine County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
    • Denning
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Denning is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denning
    • San Augustine
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Broaddus
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Maxey Town
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Maxey Town is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxey Town
    • Zana ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Zana is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zana
    • White City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • White City is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
    • Rebecca
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Rebecca is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rebecca
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
    • Arcadia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Arcadia is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
    • Short
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Short is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
    • Choice
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Choice is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choice
    • Center
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Timpson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Africa ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Africa is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Africa
    • Shelbyville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Tenaha
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Melrose ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Melrose.

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

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

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

  • King Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Fellowview Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fellowview Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Fellowview Cemetery is located between<2> the communities of Nacogdoches and Woden.  The cemetery lies 3 miles [4.8 km]<3> to the northwest of Woden.
    • The Fellowview Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Fellowship Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #3567 <4>
  • Jacob Chapel Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Pilgrim Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Pine Knot Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Holmes Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Moroney Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Sardis Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Moss Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • King Moore Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Spring Ridge Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Post Oak Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (233 more) ...
    • Christian Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christian Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Christian Cemetery is located 5 miles [8 km]<3> to the south of Nacogdoches.
    • Miley Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Davis Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)

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 Melrose had a population of 316 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Swift
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Swift is located in Nacogdoches County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swift
  • Woden
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Martinsville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Chireno
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Nacogdoches
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Etoile
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Denning
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Denning is located in San Augustine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denning
  • Appleby
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Appleby is located in Nacogdoches County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleby
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 444 people
  • Redfield
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Redfield is located in Nacogdoches County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redfield
  • Ironosa
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Ironosa is located in San Augustine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironosa
  • Fitze
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Fitze is located in Nacogdoches County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitze
  • Garrison
    (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Ora
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Ora is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora
    • Short
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Short is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
    • Huber
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Huber is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huber

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

Newspapers Published in Melrose ...

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 63 newspapers that have been published in the area around Melrose.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Melrose, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Melrose.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Melrose:

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>To help visualize the location of the cemetery, we've drawn a straight line between the communities of Nacogdoches and Woden. The cemetery can be found near that line and roughly halfway between the two communities. Remember that this is just an approximate location.
<3>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Melrose) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Melrose, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.