Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Chester. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Chester to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Chester, 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 Chester (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 Chester. 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 northwest 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 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 west 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Chester is historic, it would have been located within present day Newton 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 Newton County: Cherokee (KS), Barry, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald & Ottawa (OK).
Below are the counties that are near Chester. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Chester:
- Newton County (The home county of Chester)
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Newtonia
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Stark City
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Fairview
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ritchey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ritchey is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritchey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Stella
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Granby
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Boulder City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Boulder City is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder City
- Park
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Park is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park
- Granby City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Granby City is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granby City
- Wentworth
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Wentworth is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wentworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Talmage City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Talmage City is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talmage City
- Neosho
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Barry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Pioneer
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Pioneer is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer
- Wheaton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Monett
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Purdy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Ridgley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ridgley is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgley
- Butterfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Butterfield is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butterfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 470 people
- Exeter
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Tom Town ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Tom Town is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tom Town
- Star City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Star City is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
- Cassville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Thompsons Corner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Thompsons Corner is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsons Corner
- Washburn
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Motley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Motley is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Motley
- Sarcoxie
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Parshley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Parshley is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parshley
- Reeds
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Reeds is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeds
- Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
- Fidelity
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Fidelity is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fidelity
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- La Russell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- La Russell is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Russell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
- Duenweg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Mills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Forest Mills is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Mills
- Duquesne
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Duquesne is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duquesne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,689 people
- Rex City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rex City is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rex City
- Avilla
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Avilla is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avilla
- Population from the 2020 Census: 131 people
- Carthage
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Pierce City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Freistatt
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Freistatt is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freistatt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
- Verona
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Verona is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verona
- Population from the 2020 Census: 606 people
- Stotts City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Stotts City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stotts City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
- Hoberg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hoberg is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoberg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Aurora
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Mount Vernon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Red Oak
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Red Oak is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
- Marionville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Heatonville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Heatonville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heatonville
- Miller
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- McDonald County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Rocky Comfort
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rocky Comfort is located in McDonald County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Comfort
- Erie
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Erie is located in McDonald County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erie
- Powell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Powell is located in McDonald County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powell
- Goodman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wylie
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wylie is located in McDonald County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wylie
- Anderson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- May
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- May is located in McDonald County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May
- Jane
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Pineville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Lanagan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ginger Blue
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ginger Blue is located in McDonald County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ginger Blue
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Noel
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Benton County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Bella Vista
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Garfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Pea Ridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Gateway
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Clantonville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clantonville is located in Benton County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clantonville
- Brightwater
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Brightwater is located in Benton County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brightwater
- Sulphur Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cherokee County (KS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- East Galena
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- East Galena is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Galena
- Galena
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- South Galena
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- South Galena is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Galena
- Ottawa County (OK)
- Peoria
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Peoria is located in Ottawa County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Chester, see our County-by-County Page for Chester.
Cemeteries Near Chester ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Chester.
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 Chester - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Chester covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Shannon Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Robertson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Dice Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Civil War Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wright Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ivie Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wanda Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Weems Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jones Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Barker Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (260 more) ...
- Brown Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Berwick Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Nimmo Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
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 Chester in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Chester.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Newtonia
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wanda
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wanda is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wanda
- Grangeville ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Grangeville is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grangeville
- Pioneer
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Pioneer is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer
- Stella
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Ritchey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ritchey is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritchey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Berwick
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Berwick is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
- Granby
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Christopher
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Christopher is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christopher
- Park
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Park is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park
- Rocky Comfort
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rocky Comfort is located in McDonald County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Comfort
- Corsicana
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Corsicana is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corsicana
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Pierce City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wentworth
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Wentworth is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wentworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Talmage City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Talmage City is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talmage City
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Chester. See our List of 1890's Communities around Chester.
Newspapers Published in Chester ...
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 141 newspapers that have been published in the area around Chester.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Chester, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Chester.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Chester:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Newton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barry County
- Jasper County
- Lawrence County
- McDonald County
- Benton County
- Cherokee County
- Ottawa County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Missouri
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 Chester, 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 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Chester) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |