Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Spears. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Spears to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Spears, please Contact Us.
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 Spears (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 Spears. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Spears is historic, it would have been located within present day Lincoln 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 Lincoln County: Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Logan, Mingo, Putnam & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Spears. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Spears:
- Lincoln County (The home county of Spears)
- The following are listed by their distance from Spears, with the one closest to Spears listed first.
- Kinder ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Kinder is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinder
- Palermo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Palermo is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palermo
- Wewanta
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wewanta is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wewanta
- Myra
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Myra is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myra
- Harts
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Sheridan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sheridan is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Alkol
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Alkol is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkol
- Hamlin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Sweetland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Sweetland is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweetland
- Yawkey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Yawkey is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yawkey
- East ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- East is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East
- West Hamlin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- West Hamlin is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Hamlin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 689 people
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spears, with the one closest to Spears listed first.
- Layville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Layville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Layville
- Dodson Junction
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Dodson Junction is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodson Junction
- Morrisvale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Morrisvale is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisvale
- Woodville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Woodville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Manila
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Manila is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manila
- Harless
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Harless is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harless
- Horse Creek Junction
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Julian
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Julian is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Julian
- Rock Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Rock Creek is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
- Turtle Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Turtle Creek is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turtle Creek
- Danville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Lory
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Lory is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lory
- Cabell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spears, with the one closest to Spears listed first.
- Salt Rock
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Sarah
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sarah is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarah
- Culloden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Culloden is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culloden
- Fudges Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Fudges Creek is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fudges Creek
- Milton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Ona
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Barboursville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Melissa
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Melissa is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melissa
- Yates Crossing
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Yates Crossing is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates Crossing
- Pea Ridge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pea Ridge is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pea Ridge
- Hodges
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Hodges is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodges
- Wilson
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Wilson is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Kanawha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spears, with the one closest to Spears listed first.
- Tornado
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Tornado is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tornado
- Saint Albans
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Ruth
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ruth is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
- Sattes
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sattes is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sattes
- Jefferson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Jefferson is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Nitro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Lake Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Lake Village is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Lake Village
- Dunbar
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cross Lanes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Loudendale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Loudendale is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loudendale
- South Charleston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Elk
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Elk is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk
- Logan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spears, with the one closest to Spears listed first.
- Big Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Big Creek is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
- Banco
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Banco is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banco
- Chapmanville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Whirlwind
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Whirlwind is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whirlwind
- Mitchell Heights
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mitchell Heights is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 274 people
- Troy Town
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Troy Town is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy Town
- West Logan
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Peach Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Peach Creek is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peach Creek
- Hedgeview
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Hedgeview is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedgeview
- Thompson Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Thompson Town is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson Town
- Holden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Holden is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holden
- Fort Branch
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Fort Branch is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Branch
- Mason County
- Upland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Upland is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upland
- Mingo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spears, with the one closest to Spears listed first.
- Dingess
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Dingess is located in Mingo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dingess
- Myrtle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Myrtle is located in Mingo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Greyeagle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Greyeagle is located in Mingo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greyeagle
- Kermit
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Delbarton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Chattaroy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Chattaroy is located in Mingo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chattaroy
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spears, with the one closest to Spears listed first.
- Hurricane
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Scott Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Scott Village is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott Village
- Teays Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Teays Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Teays Village is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teays Village
- Morgans Landing
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Morgans Landing is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgans Landing
- Poca
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Raymond City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Raymond City is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond City
- Eleanor
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Winfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bancroft
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bancroft is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bancroft
- Population from the 2020 Census: 596 people
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spears, with the one closest to Spears listed first.
- Cove Gap
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Cove Gap is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Gap
- Nestlow
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Nestlow is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nestlow
- Kiahsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Kiahsville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiahsville
- East Lynn
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- East Lynn is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Lynn
- Doane
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Doane is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doane
- Wilsondale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wilsondale is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsondale
- Armilda
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Armilda is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armilda
- Dunlow
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Dunlow is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlow
- Wayne
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Echo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Echo is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo
- Effie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Effie is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Effie
- Stonecoal
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Stonecoal is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonecoal
- Boyd County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Spears, with the one closest to Spears listed first.
- Lockwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lockwood is located in Boyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockwood
- Durbin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Durbin is located in Boyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durbin
- Lawrence County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Spears, with the one closest to Spears listed first.
- Clifford
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Clifford is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifford
- Maynard ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Maynard is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maynard
- Louisa
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Walbridge ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Walbridge is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walbridge
- Catalpa ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Catalpa is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catalpa
- Torchlight ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Torchlight is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torchlight
- Zelda ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Zelda is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zelda
- Buchanan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Buchanan is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buchanan
- Gallup ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Gallup is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallup
- Potters
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Potters is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potters
- Smoky Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Smoky Valley is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smoky Valley
- Bumblebee ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Bumblebee is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bumblebee
- Martin County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Spears, with the one closest to Spears listed first.
- Hode
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Hode is located in Martin County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hode
- Lovely
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lovely is located in Martin County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovely
- Warfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Beauty
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Beauty is located in Martin County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beauty
- Pilgrim
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pilgrim is located in Martin County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilgrim
- Inez
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lawrence County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Spears, with the one closest to Spears listed first.
- Proctorville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Chesapeake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rockwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rockwood is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
- Athalia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Athalia is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
- Sybene
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sybene is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sybene
- Burlington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Burlington is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Spears, see our County-by-County Page for Spears.
Cemeteries Near Spears ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Spears.
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 Spears - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Spears covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Spears, with the one closest to Spears listed first.
- Arnold Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Hager Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Wellman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Spears Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Spears Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Lunsard Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Peyton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Brewster Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Pea Ridge Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Adkins Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Nelson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Nelson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (934 more) ...
- Maynard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Bishop Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Adkins Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
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.
While we didn't find Spears in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Spears.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Spears, with the one closest to Spears listed first.
- Fourteen ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Fourteen is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fourteen
- Spurlockville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Spurlockville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spurlockville
- Jenks
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Jenks is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenks
- Myra
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Myra is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myra
- Cove Gap
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Cove Gap is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Gap
- Sheridan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sheridan is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Griffithsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Griffithsville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffithsville
- Sweetland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Sweetland is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweetland
- Hamlin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Kiahsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Kiahsville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiahsville
- Chapmanville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gilkerson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gilkerson is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilkerson
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Portersville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Portersville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portersville
- Bartram ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bartram is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bartram
- East Lynn
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- East Lynn is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Lynn
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Spears. See our List of 1890's Communities around Spears.
Newspapers Published in Spears ...
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 15 newspapers that have been published in the area around Spears.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Spears, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Spears.
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 Spears:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Lincoln County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Cabell County
- Kanawha County
- Logan County
- Mason County
- Mingo County
- Putnam County
- Wayne County
- Boyd County
- Lawrence County
- Martin County
- Lawrence County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for West Virginia
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Spears, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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- Spears) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |