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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 Payne (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 Payne. 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/Parishes ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties/parishes.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals 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/parishes 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/parishes, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Payne is located in Marion 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 Marion County: Caddo (LA), Cass, Harrison, Morris & Upshur.

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

  • Marion County     (The home county of Payne)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Payne, with the one closest to Payne listed first.
    • Lodi
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Jefferson
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Kellyville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Kellyville is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyville
    • Sarber
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Sarber is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarber
    • Macedonia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Macedonia is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
    • Jackson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Jackson is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Payne, with the one closest to Payne listed first.
    • Kildare
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Linden
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Bivins
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Huffins
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Huffins is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffins
    • McLeod
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Avinger
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Atlanta
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Red Hill
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Red Hill is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
    • Queen City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Hughes Springs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Douglassville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Bloomburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
  • Harrison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Payne, with the one closest to Payne listed first.
    • Baldwin
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Baldwin is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin
    • Pope City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Pope City is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pope City
    • Woodlawn
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Woodlawn is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
    • Uncertain
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Karnack
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Harleton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Nesbitt
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Nesbitt is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nesbitt
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 281 people
    • Marshall
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Scottsville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Morton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Morton is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morton
    • Jonesville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Noonday
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Noonday is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noonday
  • Morris County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Payne, with the one closest to Payne listed first.
    • Lone Star
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Jenkins
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Jenkins is located in Morris County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenkins
    • Daingerfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Rocky Branch
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Rocky Branch is located in Morris County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Branch
  • Upshur County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Payne, with the one closest to Payne listed first.
    • Ore City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Coffeeville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Coffeeville is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffeeville
    • James
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • James is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James
    • Diana
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Graceton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Graceton is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graceton
  • Miller County (AR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Payne, with the one closest to Payne listed first.
    • Capps City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Capps City is located in Miller County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capps City
    • Doddridge
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Caddo Parish (LA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Payne, with the one closest to Payne listed first.
    • Garfield ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Garfield is located in Caddo Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield
    • Vivian
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Vivian is located in Caddo Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vivian
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,443 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vivian <1>
    • Rodessa
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Oil City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Zylks
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Zylks is located in Caddo Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zylks
    • Black Bayou ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Black Bayou is located in Caddo Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Bayou
    • Frog Level ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Frog Level is located in Caddo Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frog Level
    • Mooringsport
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Hosston
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Gilliam
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Ida
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Ida is located in Caddo Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ida
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
    • Belcher
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Payne ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Payne.

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

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

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

  • Old Foundry Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Whitaker Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Judea Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Rand Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Prospect Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prospect Cemetery
    • The Prospect Cemetery has also been known as:
    • New Prospect Cemetery
  • Whatley Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Shiloh Methodist Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Lockett Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Valley Plains Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Cedar Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Sinai Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Oakwood Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (168 more) ...
    • Douglas Shady Grove Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Moseley Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Ferrell Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)

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 Payne in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Payne.

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

  • Lodi
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Kildare
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Jefferson
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Smithland
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Smithland is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithland
  • Lanier
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Lanier is located in Cass County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanier
  • Kellyville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Kellyville is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyville
  • Linden
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Bivins
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Woodlawn
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Woodlawn is located in Harrison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
  • Huffins
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Huffins is located in Cass County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffins
  • Orrs
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Orrs is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrs
  • Garfield ‑ Historic
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Garfield is located in Caddo Parish (LA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Avinger
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Sardis
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Sardis is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
    • O'Farrell
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • O'Farrell is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Farrell

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

Newspapers Published in Payne ...

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 64 newspapers that have been published in the area around Payne.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Payne, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Payne.

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 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 Payne:

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