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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 Elm (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 Elm. 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 and doctors 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.

Elm is located in Johnson 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 Johnson County: Cass, Henry, Jackson, Lafayette, Pettis & Saline.

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

  • Johnson County     (The home county of Elm)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elm, with the one closest to Elm listed first.
    • Kingsville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Columbus
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Columbus is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
    • Holden
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Greendoor
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Greendoor is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greendoor
    • Centerview
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • La Tour
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • La Tour is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Tour
    • Latour
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Latour is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latour
    • Warrensburg
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Quick City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Quick City is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quick City
    • Chilhowee
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Chilhowee is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chilhowee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 322 people
    • Cornelia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Cornelia is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornelia
    • Valley City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Valley City is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley City
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elm, with the one closest to Elm listed first.
    • Strasburg
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Baldwin Park
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Baldwin Park is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
    • Pleasant Hill
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Gunn City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Gunn City is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunn City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 123 people
    • East Lynne
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lake Winnebago
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Lake Winnebago is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Winnebago
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,370 people
    • Lee's Summit
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Coleman
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Coleman is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
    • Garden City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Harrisonville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Raymore
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Creighton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elm, with the one closest to Elm listed first.
    • Sugar Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Missouri City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Birmingham
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Birmingham is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
  • Henry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elm, with the one closest to Elm listed first.
    • Blairstown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Blairstown is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairstown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 95 people
    • Norris
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Norris is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
    • Maurine
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Maurine is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maurine
    • Urich
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Hartwell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Hartwell is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwell
  • Jackson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elm, with the one closest to Elm listed first.
    • Hicks City
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Hicks City is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks City
    • Sni Mills
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Sni Mills is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sni Mills
    • Lone Jack
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Cockrell
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Cockrell is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cockrell
    • Oak Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Lake Lotawana
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Grain Valley
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Blue Springs
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Greenwood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Lake Tapawingo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Lake Tapawingo is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Tapawingo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 719 people
    • Levasy
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Levasy is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levasy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
    • Unity Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Unity Village is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unity Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
  • Lafayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elm, with the one closest to Elm listed first.
    • Lake Lafayette
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake Lafayette is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Lafayette
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 340 people
    • Bates City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Odessa
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Odessa is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odessa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,295 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Odessa <1>
    • Mayview
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Waterloo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Waterloo is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
    • Napoleon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Napoleon is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napoleon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
    • Wellington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Aullville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Aullville is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aullville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
    • Higginsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Lexington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Page City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Page City is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Page City
    • Concordia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Ray County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elm, with the one closest to Elm listed first.
    • Camden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Fleming
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Fleming is located in Ray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
    • Albany
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Albany is located in Ray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
    • Orrick
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Henrietta
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Henrietta is located in Ray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 355 people
    • Richmond
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Hardin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Hardin is located in Ray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 531 people

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

Cemeteries Near Elm ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Elm.

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 Elm - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Elm Spring Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Basin Knob Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Lunday Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Lundy Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Cobb Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Underwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Shore Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Blackwater Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • McKendree Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Bluff Springs Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Lone Jack Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (246 more) ...
    • Kingsville Consolidated Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Sni Mills Holiness Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sni Mills Holiness Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Sni Mills Holiness Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<3> to the south of Oak Grove.
    • Soldiers Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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, Elm had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Pittsville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Pittsville is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsville
  • Fulkerson
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Fulkerson is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulkerson
  • Chapel Hill
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Chapel Hill is located in Lafayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Hill
  • Hicks City
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Hicks City is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks City
  • Kingsville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Sni Mills
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Sni Mills is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sni Mills
  • Lone Jack
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Columbus
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Columbus is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
  • Strasburg
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Holden
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Cockrell
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Cockrell is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cockrell
  • Bates City
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Oak Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Greendoor
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Greendoor is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greendoor
    • Odessa
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Odessa is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odessa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,295 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Odessa <1>

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

Newspapers Published in Elm ...

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 68 newspapers that have been published in the area around Elm.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Elm, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Elm.

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 Elm:

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>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Elm) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Elm, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.