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 Waters Bluff (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 Waters Bluff. 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.
Name Variations for Waters Bluff ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
- A typical abbreviation for Waters Bluff: Waters Blf. (or less commonly used: Waters Bluf.)
- While the name of this community is Waters Bluff, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Waters Bluff may originally have been Water's Bluff.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Waters Bluff might be written as Water Bluff.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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.
Waters Bluff 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 Waters Bluff. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Waters Bluff:
- Smith County (The home county of Waters Bluff)
- The following are listed by their distance from Waters Bluff, with the one closest to Waters Bluff listed first.
- Starrville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Starrville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starrville
- Winona
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Browning
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Browning is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browning
- Red Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Red Springs is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Springs
- 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
- New Chapel Hill
(14 miles [22.5 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
- Tyler
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lindale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Swan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Swan is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Arp
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Omen
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Omen is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omen
- Hideaway
(19 miles [30.6 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
- Whitehouse
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Camp County
- Pine
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Pine is located in Camp County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waters Bluff, with the one closest to Waters Bluff listed first.
- Troup
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Henrys Chapel
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Henrys Chapel is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrys Chapel
- Bullard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mixon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Mixon is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixon
- Gould
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Gould is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
- Gregg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waters Bluff, with the one closest to Waters Bluff listed first.
- Gladewater
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Liberty City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Liberty City is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty City
- Warren City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Warren City is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
- Clarksville City
(13 miles [20.9 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
- White Oak
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- East Mountain
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- East Mountain is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Mountain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 878 people
- Kilgore
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Danville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Danville is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Greggton
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Greggton is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greggton
- Rolling Meadows
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Rolling Meadows is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rolling Meadows
- Seven Pines
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Seven Pines is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Pines
- Teneryville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Teneryville is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teneryville
- Fredonia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Fredonia is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Harrison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waters Bluff, with the one closest to Waters Bluff listed first.
- Lansing
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Lansing is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lansing
- Morton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Morton is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morton
- Henderson County
- Chandler
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Rusk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waters Bluff, with the one closest to Waters Bluff listed first.
- Laird Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Overton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- 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
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pirtle is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pirtle
- Jacobs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jacobs is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacobs
- Friars
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Friars is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friars
- Selman City
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Turnertown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Turnertown is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnertown
- Joinerville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Monroe
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Monroe is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Price
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Henderson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Upshur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waters Bluff, with the one closest to Waters Bluff listed first.
- Big Sandy
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Wilkins
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wilkins is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkins
- Center Point
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Center Point is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
- Pritchett
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pritchett is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pritchett
- Union Grove
(12 miles [19.3 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
- Kelsey
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Kelsey is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsey
- Rhonesboro
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Rhonesboro is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhonesboro
- Rosewood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Rosewood is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosewood
- Gilmer
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Glenwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Glenwood is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Grice
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Grice is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grice
- Indian Rock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Indian Rock is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Rock
- Delrose
(21 miles [33.8 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 Waters Bluff, with the one closest to Waters Bluff listed first.
- Edom
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Van
(30 miles [48.3 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 <2>
- Wood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waters Bluff, with the one closest to Waters Bluff listed first.
- Hawkins
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Mills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Mills is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
- Hainesville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hainesville is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hainesville
- Mineola
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Perryville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Perryville is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perryville
- Stout
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Stout is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stout
- Quitman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Hill is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
- Cartwright
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cartwright is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartwright
- Golden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Waters Bluff, see our County-by-County Page for Waters Bluff.
Cemeteries Near Waters Bluff ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Waters Bluff.
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 Waters Bluff - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Waters Bluff covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Waters Bluff, with the one closest to Waters Bluff listed first.
- Barber Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Waters Bluff Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Ingram Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingram Cemetery
- The Ingram Cemetery has also been known as:
- Dale / Hall / Ingram Cemetery
- High Cemetery (African-American)
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Siloam Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pinkston Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Marsh Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marsh Cemetery
- The Marsh Cemetery has also been known as:
- Marsh / Wiggins Cemetery
- Seastrunk Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Friendship Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Fonda Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fonda Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Fonda Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<3> to the northwest of Big Sandy.
- The Fonda Cemetery has also been known as:
- Varnon Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2418860 <4>
- Alsup Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alsup Cemetery
- The Alsup Cemetery has also been known as:
- Friendship / Alsup Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2102 <4>
- Jarvis College Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (230 more) ...
- Chilton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Wood Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Gladewater Memorial Park
(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.<5>
While we didn't find Waters Bluff in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Waters Bluff.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Waters Bluff, with the one closest to Waters Bluff listed first.
- Starrville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Starrville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starrville
- Winona
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Big Sandy
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Wilkins
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wilkins is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkins
- Hawkins
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Browning
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Browning is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browning
- Gladewater
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Pritchett
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pritchett is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pritchett
- Shady Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Shady Grove is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
- Tyler
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- West Mountain
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- West Mountain is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Mountain
- Swan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Swan is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Lindale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Kilgore
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Overton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Waters Bluff. See our List of 1890's Communities around Waters Bluff.
Newspapers Published in Waters Bluff ...
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 87 newspapers that have been published in the area around Waters Bluff.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Waters Bluff, 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 Waters Bluff.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Waters Bluff:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Smith County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Camp County
- Cherokee County
- Gregg County
- Harrison County
- Henderson County
- Rusk County
- Upshur County
- Van Zandt County
- Wood County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Texas
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- Waters Bluff) 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 Waters Bluff, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |