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 Masontown (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 Masontown. 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 southwest 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 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 west 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.
Masontown is located in Preston 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 Preston County: Garrett (MD), Fayette (PA), Barbour, Grant, Monongalia, Taylor & Tucker.
Below are the counties that are near Masontown. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Masontown:
- Preston County (The home county of Masontown)
- The following are listed by their distance from Masontown, with the one closest to Masontown listed first.
- Reedsville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Arthurdale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Rockville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Rockville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
- Gladesville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gladesville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladesville
- Threefork Bridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Threefork Bridge is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Threefork Bridge
- Kingwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Little Sandy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Little Sandy is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Sandy
- Albright
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Heathers Run
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Heathers Run is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heathers Run
- Lenox
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Lenox is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenox
- Bruceton Mills
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Independence
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Independence is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Barbour County
- The following are listed by their distance from Masontown, with the one closest to Masontown listed first.
- Kasson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Kasson is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kasson
- Clemtown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Clemtown is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clemtown
- Valley Furnace
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Valley Furnace is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Furnace
- Pleasant Creek ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Creek is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Creek
- Arden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Arden is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arden
- Adaland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Adaland is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adaland
- Berryburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Berryburg is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryburg
- Kalamazoo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Kalamazoo is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalamazoo
- Meriden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Meriden is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meriden
- Vannoys Mill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Vannoys Mill is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vannoys Mill
- Philippi
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Grant County
- The following are listed by their distance from Masontown, with the one closest to Masontown listed first.
- Dobbin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dobbin is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dobbin
- Wilson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wilson is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Bayard
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bayard is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
- Harrison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Masontown, with the one closest to Masontown listed first.
- Enterprise
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Enterprise is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- Saltwell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Saltwell is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saltwell
- Shinnston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Bridgeport
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Meadowbrook
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Meadowbrook is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
- Wyatt
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Wyatt is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Masontown, with the one closest to Masontown listed first.
- Neel ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Neel is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neel
- Samaria
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Samaria is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samaria
- Canton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Canton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
- Mount Harmony
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Mount Harmony is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Harmony
- Hebron
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hebron is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Rivesville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Pleasant View
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Pleasant View is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
- Hammond
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Hammond is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Fairmont
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Hoodsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Hoodsville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoodsville
- Palatine
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Palatine is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palatine
- Barrackville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Barrackville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrackville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,270 people
- Monongalia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Masontown, with the one closest to Masontown listed first.
- Brookhaven
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brookhaven is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookhaven
- Cheat Lake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Cheat Lake is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheat Lake
- Canyon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Canyon is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon
- Morgantown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Westover
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Little Falls
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Little Falls is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Falls
- Baker Ridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Baker Ridge is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker Ridge
- Laurel Point
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Laurel Point is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Point
- Granville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Granville is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,156 people
- Star City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Star City is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,984 people
- Smithtown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Smithtown is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithtown
- Osage
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Osage is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage
- Taylor County
- The following are listed by their distance from Masontown, with the one closest to Masontown listed first.
- Thornton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Thornton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
- Fetterman
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Fetterman is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fetterman
- Grafton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Knottsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Knottsville is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knottsville
- West Grafton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- West Grafton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Grafton
- Pruntytown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pruntytown is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruntytown
- Sandy ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sandy is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy
- Yates ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Yates is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates
- Stone House ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Stone House is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone House
- Webster
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Webster is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Brydon
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Brydon is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brydon
- Oreide
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Oreide is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oreide
- Tucker County
- Pierce
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pierce is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierce
- Garrett County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Masontown, with the one closest to Masontown listed first.
- Hutton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hutton is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutton
- Friendsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- McHenry
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Oakland
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Oakland is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,803 people
- Mountain Lake Park
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Lake Park is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Lake Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,065 people
- Red House
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Red House is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red House
- Loch Lynn Heights
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Loch Lynn Heights is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loch Lynn Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 525 people
- Accident
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Deer Park
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Fort Pendleton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Fort Pendleton is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Pendleton
- Altamont
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Altamont is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altamont
- Wilson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wilson is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Fayette County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Masontown, with the one closest to Masontown listed first.
- Point Marion
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Morris Crossroads
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Morris Crossroads is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morris Crossroads
- Atlantic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Atlantic is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlantic
- Haydentown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Haydentown is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haydentown
- Winstead
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Winstead is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winstead
- New Geneva
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- New Geneva is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Geneva
- Smithfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Elliottsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Elliottsville is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliottsville
- Fayette
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Fayette is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette
- Woodside
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Woodside is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodside
- Fairchance
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Shoaf
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Shoaf is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoaf
- Greene County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Masontown, with the one closest to Masontown listed first.
- Dilliner
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dilliner is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dilliner
- Dunkard
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dunkard is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkard
- Greensboro
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Mount Morris
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Nemacolin
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Nemacolin is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemacolin
- Ceylon
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Ceylon is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceylon
- Fairdale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Fairdale is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
- Kirby
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kirby is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirby
- Carmichaels
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Cumberland Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Cumberland Village is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Village
- Stringtown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Stringtown is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
- Fordyce
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fordyce is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fordyce
- Somerset County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Masontown, with the one closest to Masontown listed first.
- Addison
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ursina
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ursina is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ursina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Confluence
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Listonburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Listonburg is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Listonburg
- Draketown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Draketown is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draketown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Masontown, see our County-by-County Page for Masontown.
Cemeteries Near Masontown ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Masontown.
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 Masontown - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Masontown covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Masontown, with the one closest to Masontown listed first.
- Reedsville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Arthurdale Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Dinkerberger Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Nicholson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Summers Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Ida Jane Memorial Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Beech Run Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Fair View Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Nuce Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (418 more) ...
- Brown Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Howesville UMC Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Miller Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Masontown had a population of 146 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Masontown had a population of 537 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Masontown, with the one closest to Masontown listed first.
- Reedsville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Herring
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Herring is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herring
- Hudson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hudson is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudson
- Pisgah
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Pisgah is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
- Dellslow
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dellslow is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dellslow
- Gladesville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gladesville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladesville
- Rockville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Rockville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
- Halleck
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Halleck is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halleck
- Howesville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Howesville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howesville
- Snider
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Snider is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snider
- Kingwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Valley Point
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Valley Point is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Point
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Clinton Furnace
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Clinton Furnace is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton Furnace
- Jessop
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Jessop is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jessop
- Albright
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Masontown. See our List of 1890's Communities around Masontown.
Newspapers Published in Masontown ...
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 46 newspapers that have been published in the area around Masontown.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Masontown, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Masontown.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Masontown:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Preston County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barbour County
- Grant County
- Harrison County
- Marion County
- Monongalia County
- Taylor County
- Tucker County
- Garrett County
- Fayette County
- Greene County
- Somerset 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 Masontown, 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 from Point A (ie- Masontown) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |