RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of West Virginia >> McDowell County >> Capels >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Capels (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 Capels. 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.

Capels is located in McDowell 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 McDowell County: Buchanan (VA), Tazewell (VA), Mercer, Mingo & Wyoming.

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

  • McDowell County     (The home county of Capels)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Capels, with the one closest to Capels listed first.
    • Welch
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Welch is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welch
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,575 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Welch <1>
    • Davy
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Davy is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 324 people
    • Kimball
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Big Four
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Big Four is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Four
    • Big Sandy
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Big Sandy is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Sandy
    • Roderfield
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Roderfield is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roderfield
    • Gary
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Gary is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gary
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 759 people
    • Thorpe
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Thorpe is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorpe
    • Keystone
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Wilmore
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Wilmore is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmore
    • Northfork
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Avondale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Avondale is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
  • Boone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Capels, with the one closest to Capels listed first.
    • Rocklick
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Rocklick is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocklick
    • Greenwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Greenwood is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
    • Bald Knob
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Bald Knob is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bald Knob
    • Barrett
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Barrett is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrett
    • Pondco
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Pondco is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pondco
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Capels, with the one closest to Capels listed first.
    • Wylo
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Wylo is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wylo
    • Mineral City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Mineral City is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral City
    • Mallory
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Mallory is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mallory
    • Man
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Man is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Man
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 619 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Man <1>
    • Accoville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Accoville is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Accoville
    • Braeholm
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Braeholm is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braeholm
    • Kistler
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Kistler is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kistler
    • Stirrat
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Stirrat is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stirrat
    • Omar
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Mercer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Capels, with the one closest to Capels listed first.
    • Coaldale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Coaldale is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaldale
    • Coopers
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Coopers is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coopers
    • Weyanoke
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Weyanoke is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weyanoke
    • Bramwell
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Freeman
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Freeman is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
    • Flipping
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Flipping is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flipping
    • Matoaka
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Matoaka is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matoaka
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 193 people
    • Nemours
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Yards
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Yards is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yards
    • Montcalm
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Montcalm is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montcalm
    • Lashmeet
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Lashmeet is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lashmeet
    • Littlesburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Littlesburg is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littlesburg
  • Mingo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Capels, with the one closest to Capels listed first.
    • Baisden
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Gilbert Creek
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Gilbert Creek is located in Mingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbert Creek
    • Gilbert
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Wharncliffe
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Pie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Pie is located in Mingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pie
    • Musick
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Musick is located in Mingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Musick
    • Thacker
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Thacker is located in Mingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thacker
  • Raleigh County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Capels, with the one closest to Capels listed first.
    • Rhodell
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Rhodell is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
    • Eastgulf
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Eastgulf is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastgulf
    • Helen
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Helen is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helen
    • Ury
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Ury is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ury
    • Slab Fork
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Slab Fork is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slab Fork
    • Bolt
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Bolt is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolt
    • Stotesbury
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Stotesbury is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stotesbury
    • Redbird
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Redbird is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redbird
    • Lester
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Lester is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 312 people
    • Princewick
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Princewick is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princewick
    • Sophia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Coal City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Coal City is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
  • Wyoming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Capels, with the one closest to Capels listed first.
    • Woosley
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Woosley is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woosley
    • Fanny
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Fanny is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fanny
    • Stoneville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Stoneville is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoneville
    • Mullensville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Mullensville is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mullensville
    • Wyoming
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Wyoming is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming
    • Pineville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Baileysville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Baileysville is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baileysville
    • Rock View
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Rock View is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock View
    • Clear Fork
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Clear Fork is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Fork
    • Keyrock
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Keyrock is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyrock
    • Turkey
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Turkey is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turkey
    • Sun Hill
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Sun Hill is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun Hill
  • Pike County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Capels, with the one closest to Capels listed first.
    • Majestic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Majestic is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Majestic
    • Paw Paw
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Paw Paw is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paw Paw
    • Stopover
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Stopover is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stopover
    • Freeburn
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Freeburn is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeburn
    • Phelps
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Bland County (VA)
    • Rocky Gap
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Rocky Gap is located in Bland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Gap
  • Buchanan County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Capels, with the one closest to Capels listed first.
    • Peapatch
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Peapatch is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peapatch
    • Bearwallow
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Bearwallow is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearwallow
    • Height
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Height is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Height
    • Jackson Flats
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Jackson Flats is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Flats
    • Paynesville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Paynesville is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
    • Matney
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Matney is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
    • Kelsa
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Kelsa is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsa
    • Janey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Janey is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janey
    • Mavisdale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Mavisdale is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mavisdale
    • Grundy
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Grundy is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grundy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 883 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Grundy <1>
    • Royal City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Royal City is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal City
  • Tazewell County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Capels, with the one closest to Capels listed first.
    • Abbs Valley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Abbs Valley is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbs Valley
    • Boissevain
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Boissevain is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boissevain
    • Bishop
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Bishop is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
    • Shraders
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Shraders is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shraders
    • Pocahontas
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Pocahontas is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocahontas
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 348 people
    • Sayersville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Sayersville is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sayersville
    • Adria
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Adria is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adria
    • Dunford Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Dunford Village is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunford Village
    • Yards
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Yards is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yards
    • Wittens Mills
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Wittens Mills is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wittens Mills
    • Falls Mills
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Falls Mills is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mills
    • Springville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Springville is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springville

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

Cemeteries Near Capels ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Capels.

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

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

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

  • Old Belcher Mtn. Community Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • New Belcher Mtn. Community Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Iaeger Memorial Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iaeger Memorial Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Iaeger Memorial Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the south of Roderfield.
    • The Iaeger Memorial Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Roderfield Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #151357 <2>
  • Rockhouse Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Thorpe Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Rotenberry Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Evans Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Blevins Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Deskins Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Mitchem Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Atwell Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Riffe Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (559 more) ...
    • Lomax Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Algoma Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Bowles Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)

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

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

  • Algoma
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Algoma is located in McDowell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Algoma
  • Pineville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Powhatan
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Powhatan is located in McDowell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powhatan
  • Baileysville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Baileysville is located in Wyoming County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baileysville
  • Kyle
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Kyle is located in McDowell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kyle
  • Elkhorn
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Elkhorn is located in McDowell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn
  • Rock View
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Rock View is located in Wyoming County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock View
  • Iaeger
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Iaeger is located in McDowell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iaeger
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 232 people
  • Ennis
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Ennis is located in McDowell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ennis
  • Sun Hill
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Sun Hill is located in Wyoming County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun Hill
  • Newfound
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Newfound is located in Wyoming County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newfound
  • Lincoln
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Lincoln is located in Wyoming County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Bradshaw
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Switchback
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Switchback is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Switchback
    • Hanover
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Hanover is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover

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

Newspapers Published in Capels ...

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 10 newspapers that have been published in the area around Capels.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Capels, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Capels.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Capels:

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 Capels, 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 from Point A (ie- Capels) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.