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 Calvin (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 Calvin. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
Calvin is located in Nicholas 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 Nicholas County: Braxton, Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Kanawha & Webster.
Below are the counties that are near Calvin. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Calvin:
- Nicholas County (The home county of Calvin)
- The following are listed by their distance from Calvin, with the one closest to Calvin listed first.
- Beaver
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Beaver is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Craigsville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Donald
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Donald is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donald
- Tioga
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Muddlety
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Muddlety is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muddlety
- Nettie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Summersville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Odell Town
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Odell Town is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odell Town
- Odell Town has also been known as:
- Odell
- Tolbert
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Tolbert is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolbert
- Saxman
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Saxman is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxman
- Birch River
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Morrison ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Morrison is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison
- Braxton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Calvin, with the one closest to Calvin listed first.
- Herold
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Herold is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herold
- Little Birch
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Little Birch is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Birch
- Canfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Canfield is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canfield
- Strange Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Strange Creek is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strange Creek
- Twistville ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Twistville is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twistville
- Rockton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Rockton is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockton
- Frametown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Frametown is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frametown
- Sutton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Gassaway
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Palmer
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Palmer is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer
- Clem
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Clem is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clem
- McNutt
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- McNutt is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNutt
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Calvin, with the one closest to Calvin listed first.
- Losie ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Losie is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Losie
- Mudfork
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mudfork is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mudfork
- Stinson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stinson is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinson
- Walnut
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Walnut is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Calvin, with the one closest to Calvin listed first.
- Widen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Widen is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Widen
- Wattsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Wattsville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- Harrison
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Harrison is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Ira
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ira is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Clay
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Gould
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Gould is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
- Spread
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Spread is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spread
- Hartland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Hartland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
- Dink
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Dink is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dink
- Valley Fork
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Valley Fork is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Fork
- Elkhurst
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Elkhurst is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhurst
- Lydia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lydia is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lydia
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Calvin, with the one closest to Calvin listed first.
- Clifty
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Clifty is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifty
- Elliot ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Elliot is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliot
- Leander
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Leander is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leander
- Mulvane ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mulvane is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulvane
- Lookout
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Romont
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Romont is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romont
- Hilton Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hilton Village is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton Village
- Victor
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Victor is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victor
- Maywood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Maywood is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
- Ansted
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Grayden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Grayden is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayden
- Clifftop
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Greenbrier County
- The following are listed by their distance from Calvin, with the one closest to Calvin listed first.
- Lile
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Lile is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lile
- Brushy Junction ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Brushy Junction is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Junction
- Crichton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Crichton is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crichton
- Quinwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Quinwood is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Orient Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Orient Hill is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orient Hill
- Charmco
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Hines
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Hines is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hines
- McRoss
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- McRoss is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McRoss
- Rainelle
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Rupert
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Loveridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Loveridge is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loveridge
- Crawley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Pocahontas County
- Hillsboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Roane County
- Pigeon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Pigeon is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Calvin, with the one closest to Calvin listed first.
- Camden-on-Gauley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Camden-on-Gauley is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camden-on-Gauley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Welch Glade
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Welch Glade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welch Glade
- Cowen
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Halo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Halo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halo
- Upperglade
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Upperglade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upperglade
- Erbacon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Erbacon is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erbacon
- Excelsior
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Excelsior is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
- Addison
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Addison is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 660 people
- Orndoff
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Orndoff is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orndoff
- Ralph
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ralph is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralph
- Big Run
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Big Run is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Hacker Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Calvin, see our County-by-County Page for Calvin.
Cemeteries Near Calvin ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Calvin.
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 Calvin - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Calvin covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Calvin, with the one closest to Calvin listed first.
- Little Union Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Mullens Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Lambert Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ward Road Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Buckle Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Russell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Trail Memorial Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Black's Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Spruce Run Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Groves Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (211 more) ...
- Downtain Chapel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Catholic Church Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Olive Branch Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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 Calvin in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Calvin.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Calvin, with the one closest to Calvin listed first.
- Persinger
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Persinger is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persinger
- Craigsville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Delphi
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Delphi is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphi
- Strouds
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Strouds is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strouds
- Hookersville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Hookersville is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hookersville
- Muddlety
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Muddlety is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muddlety
- Ophelia ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Ophelia is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ophelia
- Welch Glade
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Welch Glade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welch Glade
- Enon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Enon is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enon
- Boggs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Boggs is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boggs
- Birch River
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Mount Nebo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Fowler Knob
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fowler Knob is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fowler Knob
- Gilboa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Gilboa is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilboa
- Leivasy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Leivasy is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leivasy
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Calvin. See our List of 1890's Communities around Calvin.
Newspapers Published in Calvin ...
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 12 newspapers that have been published in the area around Calvin.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Calvin, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Calvin.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Calvin:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Nicholas County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Braxton County
- Calhoun County
- Clay County
- Fayette County
- Greenbrier County
- Pocahontas County
- Roane County
- Webster 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 Calvin, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Calvin) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |