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 Esther (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 Esther. 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 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.
Esther is located in Saint Francois 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 Saint Francois County: Iron, Jefferson, Madison, Perry, Sainte Genevieve & Washington.
Below are the counties that are near Esther. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Esther:
- Saint Francois County (The home county of Esther)
- The following are listed by their distance from Esther, with the one closest to Esther listed first.
- Flat River
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Flat River is located in Saint Francois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat River
- Cantwell
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Cantwell is located in Saint Francois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cantwell
- Leadington
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Rivermines
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Rivermines is located in Saint Francois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rivermines
- Desloge
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Park Hills
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Elvins
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Elvins is located in Saint Francois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elvins
- Leadwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Bonne Terre
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Wortham
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Wortham is located in Saint Francois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wortham
- Farmington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Doe Run
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Doe Run is located in Saint Francois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doe Run
- Hamilton Town
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hamilton Town is located in Saint Francois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton Town
- Iron County
- The following are listed by their distance from Esther, with the one closest to Esther listed first.
- Middle Brook
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Belleview
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Belleview is located in Iron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
- English Town
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- English Town is located in Iron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Town
- Pilot Knob
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ironton
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Arcadia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Glover
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Glover is located in Iron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glover
- Chloride
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Chloride is located in Iron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chloride
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Esther, with the one closest to Esther listed first.
- Valles Mines
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Knorpp
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Knorpp is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knorpp
- Flucom
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Flucom is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flucom
- Olympian Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Olympian Village is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olympian Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 752 people
- De Soto
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Hematite
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Hematite is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hematite
- Festus
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Fletcher
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fletcher is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fletcher
- Crystal City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Hillsboro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Ware
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Ware is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
- Mapaville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Mapaville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapaville
- Herculaneum
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Esther, with the one closest to Esther listed first.
- Mine La Motte
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Mine La Motte is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mine La Motte
- Tin Mountain
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Tin Mountain is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tin Mountain
- Junction City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Junction City is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 314 people
- Cobalt
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Cobalt is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobalt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- Fredericktown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Millcreek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Millcreek is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millcreek
- Cornwall
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cornwall is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornwall
- Perry County
- Silver Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Silver Lake is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
- Reynolds County
- Munger
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Munger is located in Reynolds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munger
- Sainte Genevieve County
- The following are listed by their distance from Esther, with the one closest to Esther listed first.
- Chestnut Ridge
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Chestnut Ridge is located in Sainte Genevieve County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut Ridge
- Sprott
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Sprott is located in Sainte Genevieve County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprott
- Jonca
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Jonca is located in Sainte Genevieve County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonca
- Lawrenceton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lawrenceton is located in Sainte Genevieve County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrenceton
- Rocky Ridge Ranch
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Rocky Ridge Ranch is located in Sainte Genevieve County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Ridge Ranch
- Weingarten
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Weingarten is located in Sainte Genevieve County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weingarten
- Rocky Ridge
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rocky Ridge is located in Sainte Genevieve County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Ridge
- New Offenburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- New Offenburg is located in Sainte Genevieve County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Offenburg
- Kinsey
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kinsey is located in Sainte Genevieve County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinsey
- Avon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Avon is located in Sainte Genevieve County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Coffman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Coffman is located in Sainte Genevieve County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffman
- Bloomsdale
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Clearwater
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Clearwater is located in Sainte Genevieve County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clearwater
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Esther, with the one closest to Esther listed first.
- Irondale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- French Town
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- French Town is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for French Town
- Summit
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Summit is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
- Mineral Point
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Mineral Point is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
- Cadet
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tiff
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tiff is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiff
- Caledonia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Potosi
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Mud Town
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mud Town is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mud Town
- Theabeau Town
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Theabeau Town is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Theabeau Town
- Old Mines
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Old Mines is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Mines
- Belgrade
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Sunlight
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Sunlight is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunlight
- Monroe County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Esther, with the one closest to Esther listed first.
- Mitchie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Mitchie is located in Monroe County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchie
- Fults
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Chalfin Bridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Chalfin Bridge is located in Monroe County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalfin Bridge
- Renault
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Maeystown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Monroe City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Monroe City is located in Monroe County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe City
- Randolph County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Esther, with the one closest to Esther listed first.
- Prairie du Rocher
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Prairie du Rocher is located in Randolph County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie du Rocher
- Population from the 2020 Census: 548 people
- Prairie du Rocher has also been known as:
- Prairie du Rocher village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Prairie du Rocher <1>
- Modoc
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Modoc is located in Randolph County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modoc
- Dozaville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Dozaville is located in Randolph County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dozaville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Esther, see our County-by-County Page for Esther.
Cemeteries Near Esther ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Esther.
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 Esther - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Esther covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Esther, with the one closest to Esther listed first.
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Highley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Cunningham Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Highley McHenry Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highley McHenry Cemetery
- The Highley McHenry Cemetery has also been known as:
- Highley Cemetery
- McHenry Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Workmens Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Nativity Holy Virgin Mary Orthodox Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- St. Marys Russian Orthodox Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Knights of Pythias Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- St. Francois Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Barton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Jennings Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Continue List (324 more) ...
- Herod Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Gibson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Lane Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
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 Esther in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Esther.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Esther, with the one closest to Esther listed first.
- Flat River
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Flat River is located in Saint Francois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat River
- Loughboro
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Loughboro is located in Saint Francois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loughboro
- East Bonne Terre
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- East Bonne Terre is located in Saint Francois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bonne Terre
- Bonne Terre
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- De Lassus
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- De Lassus is located in Saint Francois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Lassus
- Farmington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hazel Run
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Hazel Run is located in Saint Francois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazel Run
- Doe Run
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Doe Run is located in Saint Francois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doe Run
- Bismarck
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Valley Forge ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Valley Forge is located in Saint Francois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Forge
- Mill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Mill is located in Sainte Genevieve County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill
- Irondale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Jonca
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Jonca is located in Sainte Genevieve County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonca
- French Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Silver Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Silver Springs is located in Saint Francois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Springs
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Esther. See our List of 1890's Communities around Esther.
Newspapers Published in Esther ...
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 90 newspapers that have been published in the area around Esther.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Esther, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Esther.
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 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 Esther:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Saint Francois County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Iron County
- Jefferson County
- Madison County
- Perry County
- Reynolds County
- Sainte Genevieve County
- Washington County
- Monroe County
- Randolph 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> | 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 Esther, 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- Esther) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |