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 Bracken (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 Bracken. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
Bracken is located in Webster 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 Webster County: Christian, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Laclede & Wright.
Below are the counties that are near Bracken. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bracken:
- Webster County (The home county of Bracken)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bracken, with the one closest to Bracken listed first.
- Niangua
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Niangua is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Niangua
- Population from the 2020 Census: 424 people
- Marshfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Rader
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rader is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rader
- Crown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Crown is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
- Diggins
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Diggins is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diggins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 326 people
- Northview
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Northview is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northview
- Seymour
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Conklin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Conklin is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conklin
- Elkland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Elkland is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkland
- Fordland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sarvis Point
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Sarvis Point is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarvis Point
- Olga
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Olga is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olga
- Christian County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bracken, with the one closest to Bracken listed first.
- Elkhead
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Elkhead is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhead
- Bruner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bruner is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruner
- Pembina
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pembina is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pembina
- Velsor ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Velsor is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velsor
- Linden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Linden is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
- Oldfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Oldfield is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfield
- Sparta
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bracken, with the one closest to Bracken listed first.
- Charity ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Charity is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charity
- Long Lane
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Long Lane is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Lane
- Windyville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Windyville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windyville
- Buffalo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bracken, with the one closest to Bracken listed first.
- Johns Mills ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Johns Mills is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johns Mills
- Arden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Arden is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arden
- Olathia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Olathia is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olathia
- Ava
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Red Bank
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Red Bank is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bracken, with the one closest to Bracken listed first.
- Strafford
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Fair Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Turners
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Turners is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turners
- Mumford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mumford is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mumford
- Langston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Langston is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
- Sequiota
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sequiota is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sequiota
- Springfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Laclede County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bracken, with the one closest to Bracken listed first.
- Conway
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Pease
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pease is located in Laclede County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pease
- Phillipsburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Evergreen
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Evergreen is located in Laclede County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 28 people
- Evergreen has also been known as:
- Evergreen village
- Twin Bridges
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Twin Bridges is located in Laclede County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Bridges
- Brush Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Brush Creek is located in Laclede County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
- Competition
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Competition is located in Laclede County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Competition
- Oakland
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland is located in Laclede County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Lebanon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Lynchburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Lynchburg is located in Laclede County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynchburg
- Falcon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Abo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Abo is located in Laclede County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abo
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bracken, with the one closest to Bracken listed first.
- Tin Town
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Tin Town is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tin Town
- Goodnight
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Goodnight is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodnight
- Estimated population in 2019: 18 people
- Goodnight has also been known as:
- Goodnight village
- Pleasant Hope
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Wright County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bracken, with the one closest to Bracken listed first.
- Grovespring
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Odin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Odin is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
- Hartville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Saint George
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Saint George is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Mansfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Jerktail ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Jerktail is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerktail
- Macomb
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Macomb is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macomb
- Green Mountain
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Green Mountain is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Mountain
- Norwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Astoria
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Astoria is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astoria
- Graff
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Graff is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graff
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bracken, see our County-by-County Page for Bracken.
Cemeteries Near Bracken ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bracken.
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 Bracken - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bracken covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bracken, with the one closest to Bracken listed first.
- Black Oak Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Shields - Corinth Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Moore Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Sixteenth Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- St. Paul Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Robertson - Buck Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Williams Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Letterman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Weaver Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Sinai Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- George Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (293 more) ...
- Petet Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Good Spring Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- McElwain Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bracken had a population of 21 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bracken, with the one closest to Bracken listed first.
- Duncan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Duncan is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Marshfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Rader
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rader is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rader
- Odin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Odin is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
- Grovespring
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Forkners Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Forkners Hill is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkners Hill
- Conway
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Northview
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Northview is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northview
- Diggins
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Diggins is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diggins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 326 people
- Antrim
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Antrim is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antrim
- Boyer
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Boyer is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyer
- Seymour
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Pease
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pease is located in Laclede County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pease
- Conklin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Conklin is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conklin
- Phillipsburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bracken. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bracken.
Newspapers Published in Bracken ...
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 69 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bracken.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bracken, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bracken.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Bracken:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Webster County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Christian County
- Dallas County
- Douglas County
- Greene County
- Laclede County
- Polk County
- Wright 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 Bracken, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Bracken) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |