Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Clay. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Clay to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Clay, 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 Clay (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 Clay. 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 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Clay is historic, it would have been located within present day Adair 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 Adair County: Knox, Linn, Macon, Putnam, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby & Sullivan.
Below are the counties that are near Clay. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Clay:
- Adair County (The home county of Clay)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Bullion ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bullion is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullion
- Brashear
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Brashear is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brashear
- Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
- Kirksville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Gibbs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Millard
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Millard is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 85 people
- Wilson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Wilson is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Novinger
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Novinger is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Novinger
- Population from the 2020 Census: 431 people
- Tipperary ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Tipperary is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tipperary
- Danforth ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Danforth is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danforth
- Yarrow ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Yarrow is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yarrow
- Nind ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Nind is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nind
- Clark County
- Wyaconda
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wyaconda is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyaconda
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Kenwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Kenwood is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenwood
- Hurdland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hurdland is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurdland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 153 people
- Baring
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Greensburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Greensburg is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greensburg
- Edina
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Novelty
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Rutledge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Hedge City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hedge City is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedge City
- Colony
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Colony is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Knox City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Forest Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Forest Springs is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Springs
- Jeddo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Jeddo is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeddo
- Lewis County
- La Belle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Linn County
- New Boston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- New Boston is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- La Plata
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Love Lake
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Love Lake is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Love Lake
- Sue City
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Sue City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sue City
- South Gifford
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- South Gifford is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gifford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 48 people
- Elmer
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Elmer is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
- Atlanta
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Atlanta is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlanta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 384 people
- Barnesville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Barnesville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesville
- Economy
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Economy is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Economy
- Goldsberry
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Goldsberry is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goldsberry
- Ethel
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bloomington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Bloomington is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomington
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Worthington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Worthington is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 76 people
- Livonia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Livonia is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Schuyler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Greentop
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Clifton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Clifton is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Queen City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Queen City is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 607 people
- Downing
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Downing is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downing
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- Julesburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Julesburg is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Julesburg
- Lancaster
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Glenwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Glenwood is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 201 people
- Coatsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Coatsville is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatsville
- Scotland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Pleasant Retreat
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Retreat is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Retreat
- Unity
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Unity is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unity
- Kilwinning
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Kilwinning is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilwinning
- Memphis
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gorin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Gorin is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gorin
- South Gorin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- South Gorin is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gorin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Arbela
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Granger
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Granger is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
- Shelby County
- Leonard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sullivan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Greencastle
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Sticklerville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Sticklerville is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sticklerville
- Winigan
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Winigan is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winigan
- Green City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Green City is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 582 people
- Pennville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Pennville is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennville
- Owasco
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Owasco is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owasco
- Appanoose County (IA)
- Coal City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Coal City is located in Appanoose County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
- Davis County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Savannah
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Savannah is located in Davis County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savannah
- Stiles
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Stiles is located in Davis County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiles
- Mark
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Mark is located in Davis County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mark
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Clay, see our County-by-County Page for Clay.
Cemeteries Near Clay ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Clay.
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 Clay - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Clay covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Richardson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Waddill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Highland Park Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cater Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Paultown Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Forest - Llewellyn Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Maple Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Park View Memorial Gardens
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Brashear Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ownbey Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gibbs Union Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbs Union Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Gibbs Union Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northwest of Gibbs.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #28892 <3>
- Continue List (264 more) ...
- Slocum Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Towles Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bridge Creek Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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 Clay in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Clay.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Bullion ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bullion is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullion
- Sperry ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sperry is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sperry
- Adair ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Adair is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adair
- Brashear
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Brashear is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brashear
- Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
- Kirksville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Kenwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Kenwood is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenwood
- Sublette ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Sublette is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sublette
- Millard
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Millard is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 85 people
- Gibbs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Hurdland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hurdland is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurdland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 153 people
- Greentop
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wilson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Wilson is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Bible Grove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bible Grove is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bible Grove
- Queen City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Queen City is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 607 people
- Baring
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Clay. See our List of 1890's Communities around Clay.
Newspapers Published in Clay ...
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 108 newspapers that have been published in the area around Clay.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Clay, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Clay.
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 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 Clay:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Adair County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clark County
- Knox County
- Lewis County
- Linn County
- Macon County
- Putnam County
- Schuyler County
- Scotland County
- Shelby County
- Sullivan County
- Appanoose County
- Davis 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 Clay, 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> | The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com. |
| <4> | 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- Clay) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |