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 Dessie (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 Dessie. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Dessie is located in Braxton 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 Braxton County: Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Lewis, Nicholas & Webster.
Below are the counties that are near Dessie. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Dessie:
- Braxton County (The home county of Dessie)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dessie, with the one closest to Dessie listed first.
- Clem
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Clem is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clem
- Wilsie
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wilsie is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsie
- Sleith ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sleith is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sleith
- Frametown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Frametown is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frametown
- Rockton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rockton is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockton
- Elmira
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Elmira is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- Strange Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Strange Creek is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strange Creek
- Twistville ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Twistville is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twistville
- Gassaway
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Progress ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Progress is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress
- Chapel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Chapel is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel
- Herold
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Herold is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herold
- Canfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Canfield is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canfield
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dessie, with the one closest to Dessie listed first.
- Losie ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Losie is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Losie
- Mudfork
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Mudfork is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mudfork
- Stinson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Stinson is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinson
- Walnut
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Walnut is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Gomez ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Gomez is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gomez
- Orma
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Orma is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orma
- Oka
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Oka is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oka
- Arnoldsburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Arnoldsburg is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnoldsburg
- Beech
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Beech is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech
- Russet
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Russet is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russet
- Staten
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Staten is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Staten
- Pink
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Pink is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pink
- Grantsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dessie, with the one closest to Dessie listed first.
- Ira
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Ira is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Lydia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Lydia is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lydia
- Harrison
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Harrison is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Dink
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dink is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dink
- Wattsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Wattsville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- Gould
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Gould is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
- Widen
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Widen is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Widen
- Spread
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Spread is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spread
- Valley Fork
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Valley Fork is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Fork
- Clay
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hartland
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Hartland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
- Elkhurst
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Elkhurst is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhurst
- Procious
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Procious is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Procious
- Gilmer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dessie, with the one closest to Dessie listed first.
- Shock
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Shock is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shock
- Cedarville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Cedarville is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Normantown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Stumptown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Stumptown is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stumptown
- De Kalb
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- De Kalb is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Kalb
- Glenville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Stouts Mills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Stouts Mills is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stouts Mills
- Truebada
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Truebada is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truebada
- Sand Fork
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sand Fork is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Fork
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Baldwin
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Baldwin is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin
- Alice
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Alice is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alice
- Newberne
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Newberne is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newberne
- Troy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Troy is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Kanawha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dessie, with the one closest to Dessie listed first.
- Wellford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Wellford is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellford
- Apgah ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Apgah is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apgah
- Clendenin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Reamer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Reamer is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reamer
- Falling Rock
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Falling Rock is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falling Rock
- Youngs Bottom
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Youngs Bottom is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngs Bottom
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dessie, with the one closest to Dessie listed first.
- Duffy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Duffy is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duffy
- Crawford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Crawford is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Vadis
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Vadis is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vadis
- Alum Bridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Alum Bridge is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alum Bridge
- Nicholas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dessie, with the one closest to Dessie listed first.
- Birch River
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Muddlety
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Muddlety is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muddlety
- Tioga
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Summersville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Zela
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Zela is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zela
- Beaver
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Craigsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Tipton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Tipton is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tipton
- Keslers Cross Lanes
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Keslers Cross Lanes is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keslers Cross Lanes
- Morrison ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Morrison is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison
- Donald
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Donald is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donald
- Albion ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Albion is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Ritchie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dessie, with the one closest to Dessie listed first.
- Burnt House
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Burnt House is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt House
- Lawford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Lawford is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawford
- Auburn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Auburn is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 88 people
- Smithville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Smithville is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithville
- Roane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dessie, with the one closest to Dessie listed first.
- Pigeon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pigeon is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Roxalana
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Roxalana is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxalana
- Kester ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Kester is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kester
- Looneyville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Graux
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Graux is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graux
- Rushville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Rushville is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushville
- Triplett
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Triplett is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Triplett
- Spencer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Walton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Millard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Millard is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millard
- Zona
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Zona is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zona
- Mattie ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Mattie is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mattie
- Woodyard ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Woodyard is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodyard
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dessie, with the one closest to Dessie listed first.
- Erbacon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Erbacon is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erbacon
- Big Run
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Big Run is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Replete
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Replete is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Replete
- Halo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Halo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halo
- Cowen
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Welch Glade
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Welch Glade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welch Glade
- Camden-on-Gauley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Camden-on-Gauley is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camden-on-Gauley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Orndoff
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Orndoff is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orndoff
- Excelsior
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Excelsior is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
- Upperglade
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Upperglade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upperglade
- Cleveland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hacker Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Addison
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Addison is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 660 people
- Wirt County
- Creston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Creston is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creston
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Dessie, see our County-by-County Page for Dessie.
Cemeteries Near Dessie ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dessie.
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 Dessie - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Dessie covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Dessie, with the one closest to Dessie listed first.
- James Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Dickey Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Pt. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hall Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Keener Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Frame Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Houston - Carr Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Elmira Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Mollohan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hallburg Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Murphy Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Stumble Run Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (486 more) ...
- Carr Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Boone Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Eagle Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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.<2>
While we didn't find Dessie in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Dessie.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Dessie, with the one closest to Dessie listed first.
- Sleith ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sleith is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sleith
- Frametown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Frametown is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frametown
- Elmira
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Elmira is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- Rosedale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Rosedale is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosedale
- Ira
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Ira is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Strange Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Strange Creek is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strange Creek
- Twistville ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Twistville is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twistville
- Lydia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Lydia is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lydia
- Home
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Home is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Home
- Progress ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Progress is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress
- Herold
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Herold is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herold
- Little Otter
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Little Otter is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Otter
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Chapel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Chapel is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel
- Stinson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Stinson is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinson
- Harrison
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Harrison is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Dessie. See our List of 1890's Communities around Dessie.
Newspapers Published in Dessie ...
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 Dessie.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dessie, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Dessie.
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 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 Dessie:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Braxton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Calhoun County
- Clay County
- Gilmer County
- Kanawha County
- Lewis County
- Nicholas County
- Ritchie County
- Roane County
- Webster County
- Wirt 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> | 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 Dessie, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Dessie) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |