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 Owentown (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 Owentown. 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 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.
Owentown is located in Smith 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 Smith County: Cherokee, Gregg, Henderson, Upshur, Van Zandt & Wood.
Below are the counties that are near Owentown. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Owentown:
- Smith County (The home county of Owentown)
- The following are listed by their distance from Owentown, with the one closest to Owentown listed first.
- Winona
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Starrville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Starrville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starrville
- Red Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Red Springs is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Springs
- Browning
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Browning is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browning
- Tyler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- New Chapel Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- New Chapel Hill is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Chapel Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 667 people
- Swan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Swan is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Lindale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Jamestown ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jamestown is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Jamestown has also been known as:
- Jimtown
- Whitehouse
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Omen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Omen is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omen
- Hideaway
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Hideaway is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hideaway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,208 people
- Arp
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Owentown, with the one closest to Owentown listed first.
- Troup
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Bullard
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Mixon
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Mixon is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixon
- Henrys Chapel
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Henrys Chapel is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrys Chapel
- Mount Selman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Mount Selman is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Selman
- Gould
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Gould is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
- Blackjack
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Blackjack is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackjack
- Larissa ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Larissa is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larissa
- Griffin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Griffin is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- Cherokee Landing
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cherokee Landing is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Landing
- Reese
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Reese is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reese
- Cuney
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gregg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Owentown, with the one closest to Owentown listed first.
- Liberty City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Liberty City is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty City
- Gladewater
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Clarksville City
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Clarksville City is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksville City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 945 people
- Warren City
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Warren City is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
- Kilgore
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- White Oak
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Danville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Danville is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Rolling Meadows
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Rolling Meadows is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rolling Meadows
- East Mountain
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- East Mountain is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Mountain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 878 people
- Fredonia
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Fredonia is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Greggton
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Greggton is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greggton
- Teneryville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Teneryville is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teneryville
- Seven Pines
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Seven Pines is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Pines
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Owentown, with the one closest to Owentown listed first.
- Chandler
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Coffee City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Coffee City is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffee City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
- Brownsboro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Moore Station
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Moore Station is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 223 people
- Berryville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Berryville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,066 people
- Leagueville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Leagueville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leagueville
- Rusk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Owentown, with the one closest to Owentown listed first.
- Overton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Laird Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Sexton City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Sexton City is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexton City
- New London
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Pirtle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pirtle is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pirtle
- Selman City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Friars
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Friars is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friars
- Jacobs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jacobs is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacobs
- Turnertown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Turnertown is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnertown
- Joinerville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Price
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Monroe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Monroe is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Big Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Big Springs is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Springs
- Upshur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Owentown, with the one closest to Owentown listed first.
- Big Sandy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wilkins
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Wilkins is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkins
- Center Point
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Center Point is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
- Pritchett
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Pritchett is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pritchett
- Union Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Union Grove is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 372 people
- Rhonesboro
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Rhonesboro is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhonesboro
- Rosewood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Rosewood is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosewood
- Kelsey
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Kelsey is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsey
- Glenwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Glenwood is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Grice
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Grice is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grice
- Gilmer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Indian Rock
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Indian Rock is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Rock
- Delrose
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Delrose is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delrose
- Van Zandt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Owentown, with the one closest to Owentown listed first.
- Edom
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Van
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Van is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,778 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Van <1>
- Ben Wheeler
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Wood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Owentown, with the one closest to Owentown listed first.
- Hawkins
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Pine Mills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Pine Mills is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
- Hainesville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hainesville is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hainesville
- Mineola
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Quitman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Perryville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Perryville is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perryville
- Golden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stout
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Stout is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stout
- Forest Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Hill is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Owentown, see our County-by-County Page for Owentown.
Cemeteries Near Owentown ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Owentown.
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 Owentown - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Owentown covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Owentown, with the one closest to Owentown listed first.
- McDougle Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Marsh Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marsh Cemetery
- The Marsh Cemetery has also been known as:
- Marsh / Wiggins Cemetery
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery (African-American)
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Antioch Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Seastrunk Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Old Butler Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Pine Springs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- St. Viola Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Viola Cemetery
- The St. Viola Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Violet's Cemetery
- High Cemetery (African-American)
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ingram Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingram Cemetery
- The Ingram Cemetery has also been known as:
- Dale / Hall / Ingram Cemetery
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Shamburger Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (236 more) ...
- Liberty Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Hill Cemetery
- The Liberty Hill Cemetery has also been known as:
- Liberty Hill Memorial Gardens
- Belcher Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Oliver's Chapel Cemetery (African-American)
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
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 Owentown in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Owentown.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Owentown, with the one closest to Owentown listed first.
- Winona
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Starrville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Starrville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starrville
- Browning
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Browning is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browning
- Tyler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Swan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Swan is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Hawkins
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Big Sandy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lindale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Wilkins
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Wilkins is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkins
- Omen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Omen is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omen
- Mount Sylvan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Mount Sylvan is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sylvan
- Overton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Gladewater
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shady Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Shady Grove is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
- Chandler
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Owentown. See our List of 1890's Communities around Owentown.
Newspapers Published in Owentown ...
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 88 newspapers that have been published in the area around Owentown.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Owentown, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Owentown.
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 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 Owentown:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Smith County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cherokee County
- Gregg County
- Henderson County
- Rusk County
- Upshur County
- Van Zandt County
- Wood County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Texas
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 Owentown, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Owentown) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |