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 Elgin (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 Elgin. 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 doctors and 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.
Elgin is located in Shelby 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 Shelby County: Knox, Lewis, Macon, Marion, Monroe & Randolph.
Below are the counties that are near Elgin. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Elgin:
- Shelby County (The home county of Elgin)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Bethel
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Kirby
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Kirby is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirby
- Shelbyville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Shelbyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelbyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 512 people
- Leonard
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Emden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Emden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emden
- Kendall
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Kendall is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
- Shelbina
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Lentner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lentner is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lentner
- Lakenan
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Lakenan is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakenan
- Hunnewell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Hunnewell is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunnewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
- Clarence
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Enterprise
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Enterprise is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- Adair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Wilson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wilson is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Brashear
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Brashear is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brashear
- Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
- Gibbs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bullion ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bullion is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullion
- Clark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Neeper
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Neeper is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neeper
- Saint Patrick
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Patrick is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Newark
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Plevna
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Plevna is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plevna
- Hedge City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hedge City is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedge City
- Jeddo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Jeddo is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeddo
- Novelty
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Knox City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Forest Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Forest Springs is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Springs
- Edina
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Colony
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Colony is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Hurdland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hurdland is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurdland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 153 people
- Kenwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Kenwood is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenwood
- Baring
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Argola
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Argola is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argola
- La Belle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Lewistown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ewing
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- New Court Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- New Court Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Court Village
- Durham
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Gilead
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Gilead is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
- Monticello
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Monticello is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Sellers
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sellers is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- Maywood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Maywood is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
- Weber
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Weber is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber
- Williamstown
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Williamstown is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Sue City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Sue City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sue City
- Anabel
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Anabel is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anabel
- Economy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Economy is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Economy
- Atlanta
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Atlanta is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlanta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 384 people
- Love Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Love Lake is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Love Lake
- La Plata
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Macon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Woodville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Woodville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Nelsonville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Nelsonville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonville
- Philadelphia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Philadelphia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Taylor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Palmyra
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Dodge City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Dodge City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- North Fork
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- North Fork is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fork
- Monroe City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Granville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Granville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
- Stoutsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Woodlawn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Woodlawn is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
- Duncans Bridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Duncans Bridge is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncans Bridge
- Goss
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Goss is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goss
- Ralls County
- Rensselaer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rensselaer is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rensselaer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- Scotland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Gorin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Gorin is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gorin
- South Gorin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- South Gorin is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gorin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Adams County (IL)
- Meyer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Meyer is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Elgin, see our County-by-County Page for Elgin.
Cemeteries Near Elgin ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Elgin.
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 Elgin - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Elgin covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Hebron Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pickett Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Nelson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Newark Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Newark Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<2> to the west of Newark.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #30509 <3>
- Anderson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Hickman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Withers Family Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Cedar Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Methodist Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Glover Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Washburn Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Continue List (178 more) ...
- Coe Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Grove Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Garnett Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
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 in 1895, Elgin had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Bethel
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Newark
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Epworth
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Epworth is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Epworth
- Plevna
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Plevna is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plevna
- Steffenville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Steffenville is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steffenville
- Kirby
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Kirby is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirby
- Leonard
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Shelbyville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Shelbyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelbyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 512 people
- Cherry Dell ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Cherry Dell is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Dell
- Hedge City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hedge City is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedge City
- Nelsonville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Nelsonville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonville
- Emden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Emden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emden
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Argola
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Argola is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argola
- Oakdale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Oakdale is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Novelty
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Elgin. See our List of 1890's Communities around Elgin.
Newspapers Published in Elgin ...
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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Elgin.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Elgin, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Elgin.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Elgin:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Shelby County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adair County
- Clark County
- Knox County
- Lewis County
- Macon County
- Marion County
- Monroe County
- Ralls County
- Scotland County
- Adams 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- Elgin) 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 Elgin, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |