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 Browns Ford (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 Browns Ford. 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.
Name Variations for Browns Ford ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
- A typical abbreviation for Browns Ford: Browns Frd.
- While the name of this community is Browns Ford, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Browns Ford may originally have been Brown's Ford.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Browns Ford might be written as Brown Ford.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Browns Ford. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Browns Ford.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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.
Browns Ford is located in Saint Clair 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 Saint Clair County: Bates, Benton, Cedar, Henry, Hickory, Polk & Vernon.
Below are the counties that are near Browns Ford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Browns Ford:
- Saint Clair County (The home county of Browns Ford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Ford, with the one closest to Browns Ford listed first.
- Lowry City
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Osceola
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Vista
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Vista is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vista
- Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
- Gerster
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Gerster is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gerster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 24 people
- Monegaw Springs
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Monegaw Springs is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monegaw Springs
- Roscoe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Johnson City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Johnson City is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson City
- Collins
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Cobb
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Cobb is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb
- Appleton City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Bates County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Ford, with the one closest to Browns Ford listed first.
- Rockville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Rockville is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
- Prairie City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Prairie City is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Ford, with the one closest to Browns Ford listed first.
- Racket
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Racket is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Racket
- Tackner
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Tackner is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tackner
- Warsaw
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Palo Pinto
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Palo Pinto is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo Pinto
- Lincoln
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Edwards
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Edmonson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Edmonson is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmonson
- Ionia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ionia is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ionia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 88 people
- Zora
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Zora is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zora
- Camden County
- Climax Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Cedar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Ford, with the one closest to Browns Ford listed first.
- Lebeck
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Lebeck is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lebeck
- Caplinger Mills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Caplinger Mills is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caplinger Mills
- El Dorado Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Willowville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Willowville is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willowville
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Ford, with the one closest to Browns Ford listed first.
- Brownington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Brownington is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Deepwater
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Tightwad
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Tightwad is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tightwad
- Population from the 2020 Census: 61 people
- Alberta
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Alberta is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
- Clinton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- La Due
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- La Due is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Due
- Population from the 2010 Census: 28 people
- Yolo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Yolo is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yolo
- Montrose
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Calhoun
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Calhoun is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
- Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
- Hartwell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hartwell is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwell
- Windsor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bowen
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bowen is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowen
- Hickory County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Ford, with the one closest to Browns Ford listed first.
- Quincy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Quincy is located in Hickory County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
- Avery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Avery is located in Hickory County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Weaubleau
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Wheatland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hermitage
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Galmey
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Galmey is located in Hickory County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galmey
- Cross Timbers
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Cross Timbers is located in Hickory County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Timbers
- Population from the 2020 Census: 213 people
- Elkton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Elkton is located in Hickory County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Preston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Nemo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Nemo is located in Hickory County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemo
- Pittsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Ford, with the one closest to Browns Ford listed first.
- Flemington
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Flemington is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flemington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
- Humansville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Rondo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Rondo is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rondo
- Dunnegan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Dunnegan is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnegan
- Sentinel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sentinel is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sentinel
- Former name for Sentinel:
- Sentinel Prairie
- Vernon County
- Schell City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Browns Ford, see our County-by-County Page for Browns Ford.
Cemeteries Near Browns Ford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Browns Ford.
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 Browns Ford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Browns Ford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Browns Ford, with the one closest to Browns Ford listed first.
- Tally Bend Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Iconium Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Harris Bend Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Peaceful Home Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Springstube Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bear Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Gilbert Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Park Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Resthaven Memorial Gardens
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Akens Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Lowry City Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (243 more) ...
- Wisdom Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Osceola Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wisner #2 Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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.<3>
While we didn't find Browns Ford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Browns Ford.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Browns Ford, with the one closest to Browns Ford listed first.
- Iconium
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Iconium is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iconium
- Baker ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Baker is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- Mount Zion
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Mount Zion is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Lowry City
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Osceola
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Harper
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Harper is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Finey
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Finey is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finey
- Bentonville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Bentonville is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentonville
- Brownington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Brownington is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Chalk Level
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Chalk Level is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalk Level
- Vista
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Vista is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vista
- Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
- Quincy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Quincy is located in Hickory County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Deepwater
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Terry
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Terry is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terry
- Fairfield ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Fairfield is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Browns Ford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Browns Ford.
Newspapers Published in Browns Ford ...
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 100 newspapers that have been published in the area around Browns Ford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Browns Ford, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Browns Ford.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Browns Ford:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Saint Clair County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bates County
- Benton County
- Camden County
- Cedar County
- Henry County
- Hickory County
- Polk County
- Vernon County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Missouri
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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 Browns Ford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Browns Ford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |