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 Dawson (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 Dawson. 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 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.
Dawson is located in Wright 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 Wright County: Douglas, Laclede, Texas & Webster.
Below are the counties that are near Dawson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Dawson:
- Wright County (The home county of Dawson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
- Graff
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Graff is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graff
- Green Mountain
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Green Mountain is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Mountain
- Astoria
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Astoria is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astoria
- Mountain Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Saint George
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Saint George is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Hartville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Norwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jerktail ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Jerktail is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerktail
- Macomb
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Macomb is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macomb
- Odin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Odin is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
- Mansfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Grovespring
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
- Vanzant
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Vanzant is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanzant
- Olathia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Olathia is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olathia
- Drury
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Drury is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drury
- Buckhart
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Buckhart is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhart
- Gentryville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Gentryville is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentryville
- Ava
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Richville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Richville is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richville
- Howell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
- Sterling ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sterling is located in Howell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterling
- Willow Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Burnham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Burnham is located in Howell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnham
- Laclede County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
- Lynchburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Lynchburg is located in Laclede County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynchburg
- Competition
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Competition is located in Laclede County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Competition
- Winnipeg
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Winnipeg is located in Laclede County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winnipeg
- Falcon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Pease
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Pease is located in Laclede County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pease
- Twin Bridges
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Twin Bridges is located in Laclede County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Bridges
- Evergreen
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- 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
- Oakland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oakland is located in Laclede County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Pulaski County
- Bloodland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bloodland is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloodland
- Texas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
- Bendavis
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bendavis is located in Texas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bendavis
- Huggins
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Huggins is located in Texas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huggins
- Dunn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dunn is located in Texas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
- Former name for Dunn:
- Impo
- Cabool
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Simmons
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Simmons is located in Texas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simmons
- Bucyrus
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Elk Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Elk Creek is located in Texas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Creek
- Plato
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Success
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Houston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Solo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Solo is located in Texas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solo
- Sargent
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sargent is located in Texas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sargent
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
- Rader
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rader is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rader
- Seymour
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Diggins
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Diggins is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diggins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 326 people
- Niangua
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Niangua is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Niangua
- Population from the 2020 Census: 424 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Dawson, see our County-by-County Page for Dawson.
Cemeteries Near Dawson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dawson.
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 Dawson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Dawson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
- Friendship Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Mountain Valley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Willow Springs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Peachee Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peachee Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Peachee Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<2> to the north of Mountain Grove.
- Green Mtn. Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Raney Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Canada Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Carter Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Ussery Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Spillman Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Absher Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- White Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (189 more) ...
- Turner Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Frog Knob Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Helum Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<4>
While we didn't find Dawson in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Dawson.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
- Antler ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Antler is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antler
- Rail
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Rail is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rail
- Fowler
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Fowler is located in Texas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fowler
- Hawley ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hawley is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawley
- Alice
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Alice is located in Texas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alice
- Huggins
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Huggins is located in Texas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huggins
- Mountain Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Gravel Point ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Gravel Point is located in Texas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravel Point
- Astoria
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Astoria is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astoria
- Manes
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Manes is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manes
- Bado
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Bado is located in Texas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bado
- Pleasant Ridge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Ridge is located in Texas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Ridge
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Dykes
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dykes is located in Texas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dykes
- Saint George
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Saint George is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Fuson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fuson is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuson
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Dawson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Dawson.
Newspapers Published in Dawson ...
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 60 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dawson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dawson, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Dawson.
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 Dawson:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Wright County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Douglas County
- Howell County
- Laclede County
- Pulaski County
- Texas County
- Webster 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> | 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- Dawson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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> | 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 Dawson, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |