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 Alpha (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 Alpha. 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 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 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.
Alpha is located in Grundy County.
To see how the shape of Missouri's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Grundy County: Daviess, Harrison, Linn, Livingston, Mercer & Sullivan.
Below are the counties that are near Alpha. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Alpha:
- Grundy County (The home county of Alpha)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Laredo
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Laredo is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laredo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
- Dunlap
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Dunlap is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlap
- Galt
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Trenton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hickory Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Hickory Creek is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Creek
- Tindall
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Tindall is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tindall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Spickard
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Brimson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Brimson is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brimson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 59 people
- Caldwell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Breckenridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Breckenridge is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breckenridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 351 people
- Proctorville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Proctorville is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proctorville
- Nettleton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Nettleton is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettleton
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Asper ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Asper is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asper
- Hale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Hale is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 391 people
- Latoh ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Latoh is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latoh
- Tina
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Tina is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 142 people
- Chariton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Sumner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Rothville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rothville is located in Chariton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rothville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Daviess County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Jamesport
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Lock Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lock Springs is located in Daviess County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lock Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
- Bancroft
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Bancroft is located in Daviess County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bancroft
- Gallatin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Jameson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Harrison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Gilman City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Mount Moriah
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Moriah is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Moriah
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
- Linn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Haseville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Haseville is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haseville
- Purdin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Purdin is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purdin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 176 people
- Browning
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Browning is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browning
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Linneus
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Linneus is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linneus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
- Meadville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Meadville is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 425 people
- Fountain Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Fountain Grove is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Grove
- Laclede
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Forker
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Forker is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forker
- Brookfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- New Boston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- New Boston is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Chula
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Farmersville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Farmersville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmersville
- Wheeling
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Wheeling is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 263 people
- Chillicothe
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Utica
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Utica is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utica
- Population from the 2020 Census: 250 people
- Bedford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Bedford is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedford
- Avalon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Avalon is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avalon
- Mooresville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mooresville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooresville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Dawn
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ludlow
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ludlow is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludlow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
- Mercer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Modena
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Modena is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modena
- Princeton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Sullivan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Humphreys
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Humphreys is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humphreys
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Osgood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Osgood is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osgood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Milan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Harris
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Owasco
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Owasco is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owasco
- Winigan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Winigan is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winigan
- Newtown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Boynton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Boynton is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
- Sticklerville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sticklerville is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sticklerville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Alpha, see our County-by-County Page for Alpha.
Cemeteries Near Alpha ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alpha.
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 Alpha - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Alpha covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Alpha Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Richardson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Merryman Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wallace Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Van Home Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Van Horne Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Stucker Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Plainview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Black Oak Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Joseph Wright Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Barr Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Smith Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (237 more) ...
- Joab Holloway Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Brooks Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Ward Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Alpha had a population of 128 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Niantic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Niantic is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Niantic
- Laredo
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Laredo is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laredo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
- Chula
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Farmersville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Farmersville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmersville
- Eversonville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Eversonville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eversonville
- Haseville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Haseville is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haseville
- Lindley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Lindley is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindley
- Sturges
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sturges is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturges
- Dunlap
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Dunlap is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlap
- Galt
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Humphreys
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Humphreys is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humphreys
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Wyandotte
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wyandotte is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyandotte
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Trenton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hickory Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Hickory Creek is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Creek
- Cream Ridge
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Cream Ridge is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cream Ridge
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Alpha. See our List of 1890's Communities around Alpha.
Newspapers Published in Alpha ...
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 125 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alpha.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Alpha, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Alpha.
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 helpful websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Alpha:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Grundy County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Caldwell County
- Carroll County
- Chariton County
- Daviess County
- Harrison County
- Linn County
- Livingston County
- Mercer County
- Sullivan County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Missouri
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> | 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 Alpha, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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- Alpha) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |