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 Durham (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 Durham. 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 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.
Durham is located in Lewis 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 Lewis County: Adams (IL), Hancock (IL), Clark, Knox, Marion & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near Durham. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Durham:
- Lewis County (The home county of Durham)
- The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Maywood
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Maywood is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
- Gilead
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Gilead is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
- Ewing
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Weber
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Weber is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber
- Sellers
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sellers is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- Argola
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Argola is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argola
- Monticello
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Monticello is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- La Grange
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lewistown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- New Court Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- New Court Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Court Village
- Canton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- La Belle
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Williamstown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Williamstown is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
- Clark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Saint Patrick
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Saint Patrick is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
- Neeper
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Neeper is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neeper
- Alexandria
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Wayland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Wayland is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
- Clark City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Clark City is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark City
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Newark
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Jeddo
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Jeddo is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeddo
- Forest Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Springs is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Springs
- Knox City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Plevna
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Plevna is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plevna
- Colony
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Colony is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Hedge City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hedge City is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedge City
- Novelty
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Edina
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Nelsonville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nelsonville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonville
- Taylor
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Philadelphia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Philadelphia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Dodge City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Dodge City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Palmyra
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Helton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Helton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
- Hannibal
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Oakwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Oakwood is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Cave City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cave City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave City
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Monroe City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- North Fork
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- North Fork is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fork
- Ralls County
- The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Rensselaer
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Rensselaer is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rensselaer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- The Landing
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- The Landing is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Landing
- New London
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Emden
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Emden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emden
- Bethel
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Kendall
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Kendall is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
- Shelbyville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Shelbyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelbyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 512 people
- Hunnewell
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Hunnewell is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunnewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
- Kirby
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Kirby is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirby
- Lakenan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lakenan is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakenan
- Shelbina
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Leonard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Lee County (IA)
- Buena Vista ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Buena Vista is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Adams County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Quincy
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Meyer
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Meyer is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
- Ursa
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ewbanks
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Ewbanks is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewbanks
- Marcelline
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Marcelline is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcelline
- Marblehead
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Marblehead is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marblehead
- Lima
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Fowler
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Mendon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Burton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Burton is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton
- Fall Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Fall Creek is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Creek
- Adams
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Adams is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Paloma
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Hancock County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Sutter
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sutter is located in Hancock County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
- Warsaw
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pike County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Shepherd
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Shepherd is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepherd
- Spencer
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Spencer is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
- Hull
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Durham, see our County-by-County Page for Durham.
Cemeteries Near Durham ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Durham.
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 Durham - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Durham covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Briscoe Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cool Spring Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Hebron Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wagner Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Cason Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Sunrise Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunrise Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Sunrise Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<2> to the southwest of Maywood.
- Maywood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Liberty Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Nall Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Banks Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- McPike Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Prim Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (252 more) ...
- Bancert Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Garnett Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Finley Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Durham had a population of 88 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
- Gilead
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Gilead is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
- Naomi
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Naomi is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naomi
- Maywood
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Maywood is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
- Weber
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Weber is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber
- Benbow
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Benbow is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benbow
- Hester
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Hester is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hester
- Emerson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Emerson is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson
- Sellers
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sellers is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- Tolona
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Tolona is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolona
- Argola
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Argola is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argola
- Nelsonville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nelsonville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonville
- Taylor
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Cherry Dell ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cherry Dell is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Dell
- Monticello
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Monticello is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Philadelphia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Philadelphia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Durham. See our List of 1890's Communities around Durham.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Durham ...
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 76 newspapers that have been published in the area around Durham.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Durham. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Durham and those printed in the larger area surrounding Durham.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<2> of Durham.
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 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 Durham:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Lewis County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clark County
- Knox County
- Marion County
- Monroe County
- Ralls County
- Shelby County
- Lee County
- Adams County
- Hancock County
- Pike 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Durham) 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 Durham, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |