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 Brookside (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 Brookside. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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 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, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Brookside 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 Brookside. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Brookside:
- Preston County (The home county of Brookside)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
- Aurora
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Carmel
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Carmel is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carmel
- Horse Shoe Run
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Horse Shoe Run is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horse Shoe Run
- Salt Lick
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Salt Lick is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salt Lick
- Sell
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Sell is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sell
- Rowlesburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Terra Alta
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Macomber
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Macomber is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macomber
- Heathers Run
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Heathers Run is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heathers Run
- Tunnelton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Albright
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Kingwood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Orr
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Orr is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orr
- Barbour County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
- Kasson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Kasson is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kasson
- Valley Furnace
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Valley Furnace is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Furnace
- Kalamazoo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Kalamazoo is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalamazoo
- Clemtown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Clemtown is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clemtown
- Vannoys Mill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Vannoys Mill is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vannoys Mill
- Arden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Arden is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arden
- Huffman ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Huffman is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffman
- Pleasant Creek ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Creek is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Creek
- Meriden
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Meriden is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meriden
- Calhoun
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Calhoun is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
- Valley Bend
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Belington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Adaland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Adaland is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adaland
- Grant County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
- Dobbin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Dobbin is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dobbin
- Wilson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Wilson is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Bayard
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bayard is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
- Greenland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Greenland is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenland
- Maysville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Maysville is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maysville
- Medley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hopeville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hopeville is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Lahmansville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lahmansville is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lahmansville
- Arthur
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Arthur is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthur
- Seymourville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Seymourville is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymourville
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
- Neel ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Neel is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neel
- Hebron
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Hebron is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Samaria
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Samaria is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samaria
- Mineral County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
- Schell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Schell is located in Mineral County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schell
- Harrison
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Harrison is located in Mineral County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Hartmansville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Hartmansville is located in Mineral County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartmansville
- Elk Garden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Sulphur City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Sulphur City is located in Mineral County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur City
- Shaw
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Shaw is located in Mineral County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw
- Windom ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Windom is located in Mineral County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windom
- New Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Piedmont
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Keyser
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Monongalia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
- Brookhaven
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Brookhaven is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookhaven
- Cheat Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cheat Lake is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheat Lake
- Little Falls
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Little Falls is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Falls
- Smithtown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Smithtown is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithtown
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
- Montrose
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Montrose is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 151 people
- Pettit ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Pettit is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pettit
- Dryfork
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Harman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Whyte
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Whyte is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whyte
- Harperton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Harperton is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harperton
- Gilman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Gilman is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilman
- Evenwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Evenwood is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evenwood
- Wymer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Wymer is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wymer
- Taylor County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
- Thornton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Thornton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
- Knottsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Knottsville is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knottsville
- Sandy ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Sandy is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy
- Grafton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Stone House ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Stone House is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone House
- West Grafton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- West Grafton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Grafton
- Yates ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Yates is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates
- Fetterman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Fetterman is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fetterman
- Webster
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Webster is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Brydon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Brydon is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brydon
- Pruntytown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Pruntytown is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruntytown
- Tucker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
- Pierce
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Pierce is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierce
- Coketon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Coketon is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coketon
- Thomas
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Davis
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Parsons
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hambleton
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Hambleton is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hambleton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 212 people
- Hendricks
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Hendricks is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendricks
- Population from the 2020 Census: 254 people
- Porterwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Porterwood is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterwood
- Canaan Valley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Elk
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Elk is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk
- Gladwin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Gladwin is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladwin
- Pleasant Run
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Run is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Run
- Allegany County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
- Luke
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Luke is located in Allegany County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luke
- Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
- Westernport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Barton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Barton is located in Allegany County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 419 people
- Garrett County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
- Red House
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Red House is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red House
- Hutton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Hutton is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutton
- Fort Pendleton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Fort Pendleton is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Pendleton
- Oakland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,803 people
- Wilson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Wilson is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Loch Lynn Heights
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- 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
- Mountain Lake Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- 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
- Deer Park
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Schell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Schell is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schell
- Altamont
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Altamont is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altamont
- Kitzmiller
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- McHenry
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Swanton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Fayette County (PA)
- Markleysburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Somerset County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
- Addison
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Ursina
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Ursina is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ursina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Brookside, see our County-by-County Page for Brookside.
Cemeteries Near Brookside ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brookside.
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 Brookside - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Brookside covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
- Accident Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Maple Spring Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Fike / Wolfe Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Nine Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Beachy Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Belleview Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Gnegy Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Red House Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ashby Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gortner Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Beckman Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Deakins Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (243 more) ...
- Kight Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Fairview Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wesley 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Brookside had a population of 27 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
- Eglon
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Eglon is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eglon
- Carmel
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Carmel is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carmel
- Aurora
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Horse Shoe Run
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Horse Shoe Run is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horse Shoe Run
- Sunnyside
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Sunnyside is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnyside
- Sell
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Sell is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sell
- Skipnish ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Skipnish is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skipnish
- Hutton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Hutton is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutton
- Corinth
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Corinth is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Amblersburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Amblersburg is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amblersburg
- Rowlesburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Dobbin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Dobbin is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dobbin
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Wilson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Wilson is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Wilson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Wilson is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Fort Pendleton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Fort Pendleton is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Pendleton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Brookside. See our List of 1890's Communities around Brookside.
Newspapers Published in Brookside ...
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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brookside.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brookside, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Brookside.
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 Brookside:
- 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
- Randolph County
- Taylor County
- Tucker County
- Allegany County
- Garrett County
- Fayette 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 Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) has created and maintains a database of historic properties that is called MIHP (for the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties). More information about the MHT and MIHP can be found on their website: mht.maryland.gov. |
| <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 Brookside, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Brookside) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |