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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 Excelsior (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 Excelsior. 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 southeast 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 south.

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 south 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.

Excelsior is located in Webster County.

To see how the shape of West Virginia's counties 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 Excelsior. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Excelsior:

  • Webster County     (The home county of Excelsior)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
    • Addison
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Addison have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
      • Addison is located in Webster County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 660 people
    • Upperglade
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Halo
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Halo. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halo
      • Halo is located in Webster County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Halo
      • From Excelsior to Halo
    • Ralph
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Ralph. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralph
      • Ralph is located in Webster County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Ralph
      • From Excelsior to Ralph
    • Cowen
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Orndoff
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Orndoff. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orndoff
      • Orndoff is located in Webster County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Orndoff
      • From Excelsior to Orndoff
    • Welch Glade
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Erbacon
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Big Run
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Camden-on-Gauley
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Camden-on-Gauley have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camden-on-Gauley
      • Camden-on-Gauley is located in Webster County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
    • Hacker Valley
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Replete
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Replete. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Replete
      • Replete is located in Webster County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Replete
      • From Excelsior to Replete
    • Cleveland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
  • Braxton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
    • Little Birch
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Palmer
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Palmer have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer
      • Palmer is located in Braxton County
    • Canfield
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Milroy
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Milroy. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
      • Milroy is located in Braxton County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Milroy
      • From Excelsior to Milroy
    • McNutt
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for McNutt. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNutt
      • McNutt is located in Braxton County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to McNutt
      • From Excelsior to McNutt
    • Sutton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sutton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutton
      • Sutton is located in Braxton County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 969 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sutton <3>
    • Corley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Corley. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corley
      • Corley is located in Braxton County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Corley
      • From Excelsior to Corley
    • Flatwoods
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Flatwoods have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatwoods
      • Flatwoods is located in Braxton County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Flatwoods <3>
    • Herold
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Herold. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herold
      • Herold is located in Braxton County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Herold
      • From Excelsior to Herold
    • Twistville ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Twistville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twistville
      • Twistville is located in Braxton County
    • Falls Mill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Gassaway
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Bulltown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Bulltown. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bulltown
      • Bulltown is located in Braxton County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Bulltown
      • From Excelsior to Bulltown
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
    • Widen
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Widen. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Widen
      • Widen is located in Clay County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Widen
      • From Excelsior to Widen
    • Wattsville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Wattsville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
      • Wattsville is located in Clay County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Wattsville
      • From Excelsior to Wattsville
    • Harrison
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Ira
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Ira. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
      • Ira is located in Clay County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Ira
      • From Excelsior to Ira
  • Greenbrier County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
    • Lile
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Lile. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lile
      • Lile is located in Greenbrier County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Lile
      • From Excelsior to Lile
    • Loveridge
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Loveridge. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loveridge
      • Loveridge is located in Greenbrier County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Loveridge
      • From Excelsior to Loveridge
    • Brushy Junction ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Oscar
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Oscar. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oscar
      • Oscar is located in Greenbrier County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Oscar
      • From Excelsior to Oscar
    • Crichton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Quinwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Lewis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
    • Duffy
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Duffy. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duffy
      • Duffy is located in Lewis County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Duffy
      • From Excelsior to Duffy
    • Crawford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Nicholas County
  • Pocahontas County
  • Randolph County
  • Upshur County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
    • Goshen
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Kanawha Head
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Wilsontown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Rock Cave
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Alton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Alton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alton
      • Alton is located in Upshur County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Alton
      • From Excelsior to Alton
    • Frenchton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Beans Mill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Beans Mill. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Mill
      • Beans Mill is located in Upshur County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Beans Mill
      • From Excelsior to Beans Mill
    • Hoover Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hoover Town have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoover Town
      • Hoover Town is located in Upshur County

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

Cemeteries Near Excelsior ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Excelsior.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Lynch Point Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lynch Point Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lynch Point Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Woods Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Woods Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Woods Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Handschumacher Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Handschumacher Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Handschumacher Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Adam Miller Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • McElwain Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the McElwain Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the McElwain Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Dunlap Memorial Garden Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Dunlap Memorial Garden Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Dunlap Memorial Garden Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Miller Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Hoover Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hoover Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hoover Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Fairview Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Fairview Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Sunset Memorial Park
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sunset Memorial Park
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sunset Memorial Park have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Green Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Green Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Green Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Williams Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Williams Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Williams Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (187 more) ...
    • Cutlip Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Holly River Church Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Holly River Church Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Holly River Church Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Columbus McCourt Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Columbus McCourt Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Columbus McCourt Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.<5>

While we didn't find Excelsior in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Excelsior.

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

  • Upperglade
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Addison
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Addison have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
    • Addison is located in Webster County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 660 people
  • Halo
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Halo. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halo
    • Halo is located in Webster County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Halo
    • From Excelsior to Halo
  • Ralph
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Ralph. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralph
    • Ralph is located in Webster County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Ralph
    • From Excelsior to Ralph
  • Welch Glade
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Bernardstown
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bernardstown have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bernardstown
    • Bernardstown is located in Webster County
  • Jumbo
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jumbo have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
    • Jumbo is located in Webster County
  • Diana
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Diana have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diana
    • Diana is located in Webster County
  • Boggs
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Boggs have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boggs
    • Boggs is located in Webster County
  • Strouds
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Strouds have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strouds
    • Strouds is located in Webster County
  • Bergoo
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bergoo have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bergoo
    • Bergoo is located in Webster County
  • Woodzell
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Woodzell have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodzell
    • Woodzell is located in Webster County
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Delphi
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Delphi have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphi
      • Delphi is located in Nicholas County
    • Craigsville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Craigsville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craigsville
      • Craigsville is located in Nicholas County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Craigsville <3>
    • Bakers Run
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bakers Run have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakers Run
      • Bakers Run is located in Braxton County

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

Newspapers Published in Excelsior ...

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 25 newspapers that have been published in the area around Excelsior.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Excelsior, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Excelsior.

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 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 Excelsior:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Excelsior. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of West Virginia: https://www.wv.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<3>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<4>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.
<5>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 Excelsior, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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- Excelsior) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Excelsior. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 38.4550, Longitude: -80.4727    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 31 Mar 2025