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 Brays (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 Brays. 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 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.
Brays is located in Miller 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 Miller County: Camden, Cole, Maries, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage & Pulaski.
Below are the counties that are near Brays. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Brays:
- Miller County (The home county of Brays)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brays, with the one closest to Brays listed first.
- Iberia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Elizabeth
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Ulman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Brumley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Marys Home
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Marys Home is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marys Home
- Tuscumbia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kaiser
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Bagnell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Etterville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Etterville is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etterville
- Lakeside
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Lakeside is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
- Lakeview
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Lakeview is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
- Lakeland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Lakeland is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeland
- Camden County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brays, with the one closest to Brays listed first.
- Osage Beach
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Montreal
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Ozark
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Shawnee Bend
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Shawnee Bend is located in Camden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawnee Bend
- Damsel
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Damsel is located in Camden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damsel
- Stoutland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Linn Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Four Seasons
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Four Seasons is located in Camden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Seasons
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,309 people
- Four Seasons has also been known as:
- Village of Four Seasons
- Old Linn Creek ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Old Linn Creek is located in Camden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Linn Creek
- Decaturville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Decaturville is located in Camden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decaturville
- Camdenton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Sunrise Beach
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Cole County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brays, with the one closest to Brays listed first.
- Teal ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Teal is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teal
- Henley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Henley is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henley
- Saint Thomas
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Saint Thomas is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Thomas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Eugene
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Hickory Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Hickory Hill is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
- Decatur
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Decatur is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur
- Wardsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Wardsville is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wardsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,570 people
- Taos
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Taos is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taos
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,157 people
- Lohman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Russellville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Scruggs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Scruggs is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scruggs
- Maries County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brays, with the one closest to Brays listed first.
- Brinktown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Brinktown is located in Maries County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinktown
- Vienna
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Lindell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Lindell is located in Maries County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindell
- Paydown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Paydown is located in Maries County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paydown
- Vichy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Vichy is located in Maries County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vichy
- Lanes Prairie
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Lanes Prairie is located in Maries County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanes Prairie
- Belle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brays, with the one closest to Brays listed first.
- Rocky Mount
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Barnett
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Osage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brays, with the one closest to Brays listed first.
- Meta
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Argyle
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Argyle is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
- Koeltztown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Koeltztown is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koeltztown
- Folk
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Folk is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folk
- Freeburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Freeburg is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 420 people
- Westphalia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Koenig
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Koenig is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koenig
- Loose Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Phelps County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brays, with the one closest to Brays listed first.
- Jerome
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Jerome is located in Phelps County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Arlington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Arlington is located in Phelps County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
- Doolittle
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Doolittle is located in Phelps County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doolittle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 595 people
- Newburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Newburg is located in Phelps County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 432 people
- Rolla
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pulaski County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brays, with the one closest to Brays listed first.
- Crocker
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Dixon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hawkeye
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hawkeye is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkeye
- Swedeborg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Swedeborg is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swedeborg
- Waynesville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Richland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Robert
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Devils Elbow
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Laquey
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Laquey is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laquey
- Bloodland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Bloodland is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloodland
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Brays, see our County-by-County Page for Brays.
Cemeteries Near Brays ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brays.
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 Brays - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Brays covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Brays, with the one closest to Brays listed first.
- Lawson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Duncan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Washington Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Jim - Matt Lawson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Rose Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Wilson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Crisman Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pendleton Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Decker Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Dodd Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Guardian Angel Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Barnhart Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (259 more) ...
- Ramsey Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Joiner Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Teeple Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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.<2>
While we didn't find Brays in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Brays.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Brays, with the one closest to Brays listed first.
- Iberia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Tavern
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tavern is located in Maries County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tavern
- Hancock
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Hancock is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
- Van Cleve
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Van Cleve is located in Maries County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Cleve
- Saint Elizabeth
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Hawkeye
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hawkeye is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkeye
- Crocker
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Dixon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Brumley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Hayden
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Hayden is located in Maries County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayden
- Marys Home
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Marys Home is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marys Home
- Tuscumbia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Swedeborg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Swedeborg is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swedeborg
- Teal ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Teal is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teal
- Glaize ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Glaize is located in Camden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glaize
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Brays. See our List of 1890's Communities around Brays.
Newspapers Published in Brays ...
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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brays.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brays, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Brays.
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 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 Brays:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Miller County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Camden County
- Cole County
- Maries County
- Morgan County
- Osage County
- Phelps County
- Pulaski 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 Brays, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Brays) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |