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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 Dry Valley (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 Dry Valley. 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 Dry Valley ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Dry Valley: Dry Vly. (or less commonly used: Dry Vally. or Dry Vlly.)

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Dry Valley. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Dry Valley.

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 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.

Dry Valley is located in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County: Barry, Christian, Dade, Greene, Jasper, Newton & Stone.

Below are the counties that are near Dry Valley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Dry Valley:

  • Lawrence County     (The home county of Dry Valley)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dry Valley, with the one closest to Dry Valley listed first.
    • Pierce City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Freistatt
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Freistatt is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freistatt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
    • Stotts City
      (7 miles [11.3 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
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Hoberg is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoberg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
    • Mount Vernon
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Verona
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Verona is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verona
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 606 people
    • Red Oak
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Red Oak is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
    • Heatonville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Heatonville is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heatonville
    • Miller
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Aurora
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Round Grove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Round Grove is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Grove
    • Marionville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
  • Barry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dry Valley, with the one closest to Dry Valley listed first.
    • Monett
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Pioneer
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Pioneer is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer
    • Purdy
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Tom Town ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Tom Town is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tom Town
    • Wheaton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Butterfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Butterfield is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butterfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 470 people
    • Star City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Star City is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
    • Ridgley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Ridgley is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgley
    • Leann
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Leann is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leann
    • Cassville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Exeter
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Jenkins
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Jenkins is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenkins
  • Barton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dry Valley, with the one closest to Dry Valley listed first.
    • Golden City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Kenoma
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Kenoma is located in Barton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenoma
  • Christian County
    • Billings
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Dade County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dry Valley, with the one closest to Dry Valley listed first.
    • Lockwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Lockwood is located in Dade County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 897 people
    • South Greenfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • South Greenfield is located in Dade County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Greenfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
    • Pilgrim
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Pilgrim is located in Dade County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilgrim
    • Everton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Greenfield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dry Valley, with the one closest to Dry Valley listed first.
    • Sarcoxie
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • La Russell
      (8 miles [12.9 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
    • Motley
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Motley is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Motley
    • Reeds
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Reeds is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeds
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
    • Parshley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Parshley is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parshley
    • Avilla
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Avilla is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avilla
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 131 people
    • Forest Mills
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Forest Mills is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Mills
    • Fidelity
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Fidelity is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fidelity
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
    • Maple Grove
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Maple Grove is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
    • Carthage
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Duenweg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Brooklyn Heights
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Brooklyn Heights is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
  • McDonald County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dry Valley, with the one closest to Dry Valley listed first.
    • Rocky Comfort
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Rocky Comfort is located in McDonald County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Comfort
    • Erie
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Erie is located in McDonald County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erie
    • Powell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Powell is located in McDonald County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powell
    • Goodman
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Wylie
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Wylie is located in McDonald County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wylie
  • Newton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dry Valley, with the one closest to Dry Valley listed first.
    • Wentworth
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Wentworth is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wentworth
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
    • Talmage City
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Talmage City is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talmage City
    • Ritchey
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Ritchey is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritchey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
    • Park
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Park is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park
    • Newtonia
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Granby City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Granby City is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granby City
    • Granby
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Stark City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairview
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Diamond
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Diamond is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 909 people
      • Former names for Diamond:
      • Diamond Grove
      • Diamond Mill
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Diamond <1>
    • Boulder City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Boulder City is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder City
    • Stella
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
  • Stone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dry Valley, with the one closest to Dry Valley listed first.
    • Bradfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Bradfield is located in Stone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradfield
    • Crane
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Hurley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Dry Valley, see our County-by-County Page for Dry Valley.

Cemeteries Near Dry Valley ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dry Valley.

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 Dry Valley - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Dry Valley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Dry Valley, with the one closest to Dry Valley listed first.

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 Dry Valley in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Dry Valley.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Dry Valley, with the one closest to Dry Valley listed first.

  • Talmage City
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Talmage City is located in Newton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talmage City
  • Wentworth
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Wentworth is located in Newton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wentworth
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
  • Clarkson
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Clarkson is located in Lawrence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
  • Pierce City
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Sarcoxie
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Berwick
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Berwick is located in Newton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
  • Freistatt
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Freistatt is located in Lawrence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freistatt
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
  • Bowers Mill
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Bowers Mill is located in Lawrence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowers Mill
  • Park
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Park is located in Newton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park
  • Ritchey
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Ritchey is located in Newton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritchey
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
  • Monett
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Reeds
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Reeds is located in Jasper County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeds
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Parshley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Parshley is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parshley
    • Newtonia
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Avilla
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Avilla is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avilla
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 131 people

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Dry Valley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Dry Valley.

Newspapers Published in Dry Valley ...

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 134 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dry Valley.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dry Valley, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Dry Valley.

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 Dry Valley:

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>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.
<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 Dry Valley, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Dry Valley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.