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 Afton (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 Afton. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Afton is located in Preston County.
To see how the shape of West Virginia's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Preston County: Garrett (MD), Fayette (PA), Barbour, Grant, Monongalia, Taylor & Tucker.
Below are the counties that are near Afton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Afton:
- Preston County (The home county of Afton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Orr
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Orr is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orr
- Lenox
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lenox is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenox
- Morgans Glade
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Morgans Glade is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgans Glade
- Terra Alta
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Albright
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hazelton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Little Sandy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Little Sandy is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Sandy
- Kingwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Brandonville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Brandonville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Bruceton Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rockville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rockville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
- Salt Lick
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Salt Lick is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salt Lick
- Heathers Run
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Heathers Run is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heathers Run
- Barbour County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Kasson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Kasson is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kasson
- Valley Furnace
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Valley Furnace is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Furnace
- Grant County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Wilson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Wilson is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Bayard
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bayard is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
- Dobbin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Dobbin is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dobbin
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Neel ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Neel is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neel
- Hebron
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Hebron is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Mount Harmony
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Mount Harmony is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Harmony
- Samaria
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Samaria is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samaria
- Canton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Canton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
- Rivesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Mineral County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Harrison
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Harrison is located in Mineral County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Schell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Schell is located in Mineral County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schell
- Elk Garden
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Shaw
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Shaw is located in Mineral County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw
- Windom ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Windom is located in Mineral County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windom
- Sulphur City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sulphur City is located in Mineral County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur City
- Hartmansville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hartmansville is located in Mineral County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartmansville
- Piedmont
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- New Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Keyser
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Monongalia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Cheat Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Cheat Lake is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheat Lake
- Brookhaven
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Brookhaven is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookhaven
- Canyon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Canyon is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon
- Baker Ridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Baker Ridge is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker Ridge
- Morgantown
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Westover
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Little Falls
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Little Falls is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Falls
- Granville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Granville is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,156 people
- Laurel Point
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Laurel Point is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Point
- Star City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Star City is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,984 people
- Osage
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Osage is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage
- Smithtown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Smithtown is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithtown
- Maidsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Maidsville is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maidsville
- Taylor County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Thornton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Thornton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
- Knottsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Knottsville is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knottsville
- Grafton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Fetterman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fetterman is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fetterman
- Sandy ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sandy is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy
- West Grafton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- West Grafton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Grafton
- Stone House ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Stone House is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone House
- Yates ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Yates is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates
- Tucker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Pierce
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Pierce is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierce
- Thomas
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Coketon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Coketon is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coketon
- Davis
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Allegany County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Luke
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Luke is located in Allegany County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luke
- Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
- Westernport
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Barton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Barton is located in Allegany County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 419 people
- Moscow
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Moscow is located in Allegany County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Nikep
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Nikep is located in Allegany County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nikep
- Lonaconing
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Garrett County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Hutton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Hutton is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutton
- McHenry
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Friendsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oakland is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,803 people
- Mountain Lake Park
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Lake Park is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Lake Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,065 people
- Accident
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Deer Park
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Loch Lynn Heights
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Loch Lynn Heights is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loch Lynn Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 525 people
- Altamont
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Altamont is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altamont
- Red House
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Red House is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red House
- Bittinger
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Swanton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Fort Pendleton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Fort Pendleton is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Pendleton
- Fayette County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Markleysburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Elliottsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Elliottsville is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliottsville
- Farmington
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Mount Washington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Mount Washington is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Washington
- Haydentown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Haydentown is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haydentown
- Morris Crossroads
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Morris Crossroads is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morris Crossroads
- Ohiopyle
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Point Marion
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Smithfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Hutchinson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Hutchinson is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutchinson
- Hopwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Shoaf
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Shoaf is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoaf
- Winstead
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Winstead is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winstead
- Greene County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Dilliner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dilliner is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dilliner
- Greensboro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Dunkard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dunkard is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkard
- Somerset County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Ursina
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ursina is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ursina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Addison
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Listonburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Listonburg is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Listonburg
- Confluence
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Draketown
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Draketown is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draketown
- Markleton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- West Salisbury
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- West Salisbury is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salisbury
- Salisbury
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Boynton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Boynton is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
- Casselman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Casselman is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casselman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
- Coal Run
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Coal Run is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Run
- Summit Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Summit Mills is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit Mills
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Afton, see our County-by-County Page for Afton.
Cemeteries Near Afton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Afton.
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 Afton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Afton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Miller Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Lake Ford UMC Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Ford UMC Cemetery
- The Lake Ford UMC Cemetery has also been known as:
- Lake Ford Cemetery
- Lenox Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Parnell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Sisler Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Moriah Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Albright - St. Joe Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sang Run Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Savage Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Beech Run Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Tatlor Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kingwood Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (306 more) ...
- Dinkerberger Family Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Wilson Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hoyes Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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 Afton in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Afton.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Dority
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Dority is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dority
- Cranesville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cranesville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranesville
- Lenox
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lenox is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenox
- Cuzzart
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Cuzzart is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuzzart
- Guseman ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Guseman is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guseman
- Morgans Glade
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Morgans Glade is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgans Glade
- Albright
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Terra Alta
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Valley Point
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Valley Point is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Point
- Kingwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Corinth
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Corinth is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Hutton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Hutton is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutton
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Skipnish ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Skipnish is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skipnish
- Brandonville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Brandonville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Hoyes
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hoyes is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoyes
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Afton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Afton.
Newspapers Published in Afton ...
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 18 newspapers that have been published in the area around Afton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Afton, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Afton.
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 Afton:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Preston County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barbour County
- Grant County
- Marion County
- Mineral County
- Monongalia County
- Taylor County
- Tucker County
- Allegany County
- Garrett County
- Fayette County
- Greene County
- Somerset County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for West Virginia
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 Afton, 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- Afton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |