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 Moss (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 Moss. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.
Moss is located in Gilmer 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 Gilmer County: Braxton, Calhoun, Doddridge, Lewis & Ritchie.
Below are the counties that are near Moss. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Moss:
- Gilmer County (The home county of Moss)
- The following are listed by their distance from Moss, with the one closest to Moss listed first.
- Cedarville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Cedarville is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Sand Fork
(4 miles [6.4 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
- Stouts Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Stouts Mills is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stouts Mills
- Truebada
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Truebada is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truebada
- Glenville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Baldwin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Baldwin is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin
- Normantown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Alice
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Alice is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alice
- De Kalb
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- De Kalb is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Kalb
- Troy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Troy is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Shock
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Shock is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shock
- Stumptown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Stumptown is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stumptown
- Newberne
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Newberne is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newberne
- Braxton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moss, with the one closest to Moss listed first.
- Arnett
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Arnett is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnett
- Exchange
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Burnsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Chapel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Chapel is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel
- Progress ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Progress is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress
- Lloydsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lloydsville is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lloydsville
- Rollyson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rollyson is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollyson
- Orlando
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Orlando is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Heaters
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Napier
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Napier is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napier
- Gassaway
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Bulltown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bulltown is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bulltown
- Flatwoods
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moss, with the one closest to Moss listed first.
- Russet
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Russet is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russet
- Staten
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Staten is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Staten
- Grantsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Gomez ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Gomez is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gomez
- Orma
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Orma is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orma
- Losie ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Losie is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Losie
- Walnut
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Walnut is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Arnoldsburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Arnoldsburg is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnoldsburg
- Hur
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Hur is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hur
- Freed
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Freed is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freed
- Stinson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Stinson is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinson
- Big Bend
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Big Bend is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Bend
- Beech
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Beech is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moss, with the one closest to Moss listed first.
- Lydia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Lydia is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lydia
- Ira
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Ira is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Dink
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Dink is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dink
- Harrison
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Harrison is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Wattsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Wattsville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- Gould
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gould is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
- Widen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Widen is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Widen
- Spread
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Spread is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spread
- Valley Fork
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Valley Fork is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Fork
- Doddridge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moss, with the one closest to Moss listed first.
- Saint Clara
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Saint Clara is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clara
- Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Grove is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove
- Coldwater
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Coldwater is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater
- Avon
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Avon is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Market
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Market is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Market
- New Milton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Big Isaac
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Big Isaac is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Isaac
- Miletus
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Miletus is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miletus
- Duckworth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Duckworth is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duckworth
- Avondale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Avondale is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Smithburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Smithburg is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithburg
- West Union
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Harrison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moss, with the one closest to Moss listed first.
- McWhorter
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- McWhorter is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWhorter
- Tichenal
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tichenal is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tichenal
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moss, with the one closest to Moss listed first.
- Vadis
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Vadis is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vadis
- Alum Bridge
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Alum Bridge is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alum Bridge
- Hurst
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Hurst is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurst
- Camden
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Camden is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camden
- Crawford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Crawford is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Alkires Mills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Alkires Mills is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkires Mills
- Duffy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Duffy is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duffy
- Cox Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cox Town is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cox Town
- Smith Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Smith Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Village
- Weston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Garton Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Garton Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garton Village
- Valley Chapel
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Westfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Westfield is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westfield
- Nicholas County
- Birch River
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Ritchie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moss, with the one closest to Moss listed first.
- Auburn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Auburn is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 88 people
- Burnt House
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Burnt House is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt House
- Lawford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lawford is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawford
- Berea
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Berea is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berea
- Slab
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Slab is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slab
- Smithville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Smithville is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithville
- Pullman
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Pullman is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pullman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Cantwell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cantwell is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cantwell
- Cokeleys
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cokeleys is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cokeleys
- Harrisville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Oxbow
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Oxbow is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxbow
- Hannahdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hannahdale is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hannahdale
- Toll Gate
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Toll Gate is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toll Gate
- Roane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moss, with the one closest to Moss listed first.
- Triplett
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Triplett is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Triplett
- Roxalana
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Roxalana is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxalana
- Graux
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Graux is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graux
- Millard
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Millard is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millard
- Spencer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Looneyville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Upshur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moss, with the one closest to Moss listed first.
- Frenchton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Frenchton is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchton
- Rock Cave
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Rock Cave is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Cave
- Kanawha Head
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Kanawha Head is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanawha Head
- Wilsontown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Wilsontown is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsontown
- Abbott
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Abbott is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
- Hoover Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Hoover Town is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoover Town
- Adrian
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Adrian is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adrian
- Goshen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Goshen is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moss, with the one closest to Moss listed first.
- Replete
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Replete is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Replete
- Cleveland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Big Run
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Big Run is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Erbacon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Erbacon is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erbacon
- Hacker Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Orndoff
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Orndoff is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orndoff
- Wirt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moss, with the one closest to Moss listed first.
- Creston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Creston is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creston
- Burning Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Burning Springs is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burning Springs
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Moss, see our County-by-County Page for Moss.
Cemeteries Near Moss ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Moss.
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 Moss - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Moss covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Moss, with the one closest to Moss listed first.
- Burk Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Moss Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Cedarville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Cedarville Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northwest of Cedarville.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1961158 <2>
- Rhodes Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Jack Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Rutherford Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Whitting Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Conrad Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Smith Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Sand Fork Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Otterbein Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Currycomb Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (454 more) ...
- Moyers Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Stalnaker Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Keyster Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
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 Moss in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Moss.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Moss, with the one closest to Moss listed first.
- Cedarville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Cedarville is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Glenville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Copen
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Copen is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copen
- Stouts Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Stouts Mills is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stouts Mills
- Sand Fork
(4 miles [6.4 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
- Truebada
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Truebada is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truebada
- Bennett ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bennett is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennett
- Hope ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Hope is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hope
- Hyers
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Hyers is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hyers
- Cutlips
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cutlips is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutlips
- Ellis
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ellis is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
- Normantown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- German ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- German is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for German
- Progress ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Progress is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress
- Chapel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Chapel is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Moss. See our List of 1890's Communities around Moss.
Newspapers Published in Moss ...
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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around Moss.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Moss, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Moss.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Moss:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Gilmer County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Braxton County
- Calhoun County
- Clay County
- Doddridge County
- Harrison County
- Lewis County
- Nicholas County
- Ritchie County
- Roane County
- Upshur 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> | 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 Moss, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Moss) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |