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 Donaldson (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 Donaldson. 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 doctors and 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.
Donaldson is located in Webster 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 Webster County: Braxton, Greenbrier, Lewis, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Randolph & Upshur.
Below are the counties that are near Donaldson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Donaldson:
- Webster County (The home county of Donaldson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Donaldson, with the one closest to Donaldson listed first.
- Upperglade
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Upperglade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upperglade
- Cowen
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Welch Glade
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Welch Glade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welch Glade
- Halo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Halo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halo
- Camden-on-Gauley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Camden-on-Gauley is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camden-on-Gauley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Excelsior
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Excelsior is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
- Addison
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Addison is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 660 people
- Ralph
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ralph is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralph
- Erbacon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Erbacon is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erbacon
- Orndoff
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Orndoff is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orndoff
- Big Run
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Big Run is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Hacker Valley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Braxton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donaldson, with the one closest to Donaldson listed first.
- Little Birch
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Little Birch is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Birch
- Palmer
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Palmer is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer
- Canfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Canfield is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canfield
- Herold
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Herold is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herold
- Sutton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Twistville ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Twistville is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twistville
- McNutt
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- McNutt is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNutt
- Milroy
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Milroy is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
- Corley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Corley is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corley
- Flatwoods
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Gassaway
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Rockton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Rockton is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockton
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donaldson, with the one closest to Donaldson listed first.
- Widen
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Widen is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Widen
- Wattsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Wattsville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- Harrison
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Harrison is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Ira
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ira is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Gould
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Gould is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donaldson, with the one closest to Donaldson listed first.
- Clifty
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Clifty is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifty
- Elliot ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Elliot is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliot
- Leander
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Leander is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leander
- Greenbrier County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donaldson, with the one closest to Donaldson listed first.
- Lile
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Lile is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lile
- Brushy Junction ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Brushy Junction is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Junction
- Loveridge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Loveridge is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loveridge
- Oscar
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Oscar is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oscar
- Crichton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Crichton is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crichton
- Quinwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Quinwood is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Sunlight
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Sunlight is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunlight
- Orient Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Orient Hill is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orient Hill
- Falling Spring
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Falling Spring is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falling Spring
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Williamsburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Charmco
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hines
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hines is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hines
- Lewis County
- Duffy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Duffy is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duffy
- Nicholas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donaldson, with the one closest to Donaldson listed first.
- Craigsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Tioga
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Beaver
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Beaver is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Richwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Saxman
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Saxman is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxman
- Donald
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Donald is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donald
- Nettie
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Birch River
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Odell Town
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Odell Town is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odell Town
- Odell Town has also been known as:
- Odell
- Tolbert
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tolbert is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolbert
- Muddlety
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Muddlety is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muddlety
- Summersville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Pocahontas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donaldson, with the one closest to Donaldson listed first.
- Slaty Fork
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Onoto
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Onoto is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onoto
- Hillsboro
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Edray
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Edray is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edray
- Buckeye
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Marlinton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Watoga ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Watoga is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watoga
- Thorny Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Thorny Creek is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorny Creek
- Huntersville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donaldson, with the one closest to Donaldson listed first.
- Blue Spring
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Spring is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Spring
- Florence ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Florence is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Monterville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Pickens
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Mingo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Helvetia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Valley Head
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Upshur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donaldson, with the one closest to Donaldson listed first.
- Goshen
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Goshen is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Kanawha Head
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Kanawha Head is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanawha Head
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Donaldson, see our County-by-County Page for Donaldson.
Cemeteries Near Donaldson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Donaldson.
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 Donaldson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Donaldson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Donaldson, with the one closest to Donaldson listed first.
- Handschumacher Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Williams Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dunlap Memorial Garden Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Hoover Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Russell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Black's Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Powers Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Woods Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lynch Point Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mountain Trail Memorial Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- McElwain Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Hinkle Mtn. Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Continue List (169 more) ...
- Mountain View Memorial Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Sunset Memorial Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Miller 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 Donaldson in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Donaldson.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Donaldson, with the one closest to Donaldson listed first.
- Upperglade
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Upperglade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upperglade
- Welch Glade
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Welch Glade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welch Glade
- Halo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Halo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halo
- Strouds
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Strouds is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strouds
- Craigsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Addison
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Addison is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 660 people
- Boggs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Boggs is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boggs
- Delphi
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Delphi is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphi
- Ralph
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ralph is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralph
- Richwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Bernardstown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bernardstown is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bernardstown
- Persinger
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Persinger is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persinger
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Bergoo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bergoo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bergoo
- Jumbo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Jumbo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Diana
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Diana is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diana
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Donaldson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Donaldson.
Newspapers Published in Donaldson ...
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 22 newspapers that have been published in the area around Donaldson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Donaldson, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Donaldson.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Donaldson:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Webster County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Braxton County
- Clay County
- Fayette County
- Greenbrier County
- Lewis County
- Nicholas County
- Pocahontas County
- Randolph County
- Upshur 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 Donaldson, 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- Donaldson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |