RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Missouri >> Douglas County >> Girdner >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Girdner (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 Girdner. 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 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.

Girdner is located in Douglas 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 Douglas County: Christian, Howell, Ozark, Taney, Texas, Webster & Wright.

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

  • Douglas County     (The home county of Girdner)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Girdner, with the one closest to Girdner listed first.
    • Squires
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Squires is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Squires
    • Smallett
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Smallett is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smallett
    • Ava
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Ava is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ava
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,905 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ava <1>
    • Rome
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Rome is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
    • Gentryville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Gentryville is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentryville
    • Olathia
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Olathia is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olathia
    • Red Bank
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Red Bank is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
    • Buckhart
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Buckhart is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhart
    • Drury
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Drury is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drury
    • Arden
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Arden is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arden
    • Vanzant
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Vanzant is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanzant
    • Richville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Richville is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richville
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Girdner, with the one closest to Girdner listed first.
    • Elkhead
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Elkhead is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhead
    • Garrison
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Garrison is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrison
    • Bruner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Bruner is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruner
    • Chadwick
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Chadwick is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chadwick
    • Oldfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Oldfield is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfield
    • Velsor ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Velsor is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velsor
    • Sparta
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Sparta is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,076 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sparta <1>
  • Howell County
    • Siloam Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Siloam Springs is located in Howell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siloam Springs
  • Ozark County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Girdner, with the one closest to Girdner listed first.
    • Wasola
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Wasola is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasola
    • Foil
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Foil is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foil
    • Noble
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Noble is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noble
    • Almartha
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Almartha is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almartha
    • Summit City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Summit City is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit City
    • Thornfield
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Thornfield is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornfield
    • Rockbridge
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Romance
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Romance is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romance
    • Brixey
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Brixey is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brixey
    • Longrun
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Longrun is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longrun
    • Trail
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Trail is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trail
    • Isabella
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
  • Taney County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Girdner, with the one closest to Girdner listed first.
    • McClurg
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • McClurg is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClurg
    • Bradleyville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Bradleyville is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradleyville
    • Rueter
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Rueter is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rueter
    • Taneyville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Taneyville is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taneyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
    • Protem
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Kissee Mills
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Cedarcreek
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Cedarcreek is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarcreek
  • Texas County
    • Dunn
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Dunn is located in Texas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
      • Former name for Dunn:
      • Impo
  • Webster County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Girdner, with the one closest to Girdner listed first.
    • Sarvis Point
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Sarvis Point is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarvis Point
    • Seymour
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Olga
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Olga is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olga
    • Diggins
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Diggins is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diggins
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 326 people
    • Fordland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Wright County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Girdner, with the one closest to Girdner listed first.
    • Macomb
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Macomb is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macomb
    • Mansfield
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Norwood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Mountain Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hartville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Odin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Odin is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
  • Baxter County (AR)
    • Clarkridge
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Clarkridge is located in Baxter County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkridge
  • Marion County (AR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Girdner, with the one closest to Girdner listed first.
    • Price Place
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Price Place is located in Marion County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Price Place
    • Oakland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Peel
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Girdner ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Girdner.

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

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

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

  • Whites Creek Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Dobbs Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Holt Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Frye Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Hilo Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Loftin Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Fannen Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Billingsly Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Herndon Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Laurie Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Clark Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Spring Creek Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (272 more) ...
    • Norris - Piland Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Noble Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Tower Hill Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Girdner had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Silverton
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Silverton is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silverton
  • Squires
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Squires is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Squires
  • Larissa
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Larissa is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larissa
  • Vera Cruz
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Vera Cruz is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vera Cruz
  • Noble
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Noble is located in Ozark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noble
  • Almartha
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Almartha is located in Ozark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almartha
  • Smallett
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Smallett is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smallett
  • Ava
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Ava is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ava
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,905 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ava <1>
  • Grabeel ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Grabeel is located in Ozark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grabeel
  • Thornfield
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Thornfield is located in Ozark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornfield
  • Romance
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Romance is located in Ozark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romance
  • Rockbridge
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Arno
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Arno is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arno
    • Rome
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Rome is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
    • Coldspring
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Coldspring is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldspring

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

Newspapers Published in Girdner ...

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 55 newspapers that have been published in the area around Girdner.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Girdner, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Girdner.

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 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 Girdner:

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 Girdner, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Girdner) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.