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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 Gower (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 Gower. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.

Gower is primarily located in Clinton County. A portion of Gower extends into Buchanan 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 Clinton County: Buchanan, Caldwell, Clay, DeKalb, Platte & Ray.

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

  • Clinton County     (The home county of Gower)
  • Andrew County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gower, with the one closest to Gower listed first.
    • Cosby
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Cosby is located in Andrew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cosby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 123 people
    • Avenue City ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Avenue City is located in Andrew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avenue City
    • Country Club
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Country Club is located in Andrew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Club
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,530 people
    • Helena
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Helena is located in Andrew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
    • Rochester ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Amazonia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Amazonia is located in Andrew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amazonia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 320 people
    • Savannah
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Nodaway
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Wyeth ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Buchanan County
  • Caldwell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gower, with the one closest to Gower listed first.
    • Kidder
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Kingston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Kingston is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 332 people
    • Polo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Clay County
  • Daviess County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gower, with the one closest to Gower listed first.
    • Mabel
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Alta Vista ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Winston
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • DeKalb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gower, with the one closest to Gower listed first.
    • Stewartsville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Clarksdale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Clarksdale is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksdale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 254 people
    • Osborn
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Amity
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Maysville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Union Star
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Weatherby
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Weatherby is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weatherby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 103 people
    • Winslow
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Fairport
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Gentry County
    • King City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Platte County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gower, with the one closest to Gower listed first.
    • Edgerton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Ridgely
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Ridgely is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgely
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 112 people
    • Dearborn
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Camden Point
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Woodruff
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Platte City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Tracy
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Ferrelview
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Ferrelview is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferrelview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 800 people
    • West Platte
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Linkville ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Weston
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Iatan
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Iatan is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iatan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
  • Ray County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gower, with the one closest to Gower listed first.
    • Elmira
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Elmira is located in Ray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 52 people
    • Lawson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Excelsior Estates
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Excelsior Estates is located in Ray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior Estates
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
    • Crystal Lakes
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Crystal Lakes is located in Ray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lakes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
    • Homestead
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Homestead is located in Ray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homestead
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
    • Wood Heights
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Wood Heights is located in Ray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 700 people
    • Woods Heights
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Atchison County (KS)
  • Doniphan County (KS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gower, with the one closest to Gower listed first.
    • Elwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Wathena
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Palermo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Palermo is located in Doniphan County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palermo
    • Blair
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Blair is located in Doniphan County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair
    • Doniphan
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Petersburgh ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Troy
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Brenner
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Leavenworth County (KS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gower, with the one closest to Gower listed first.
    • Kickapoo
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Leavenworth
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Bain City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Bain City is located in Leavenworth County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bain City
    • Lansing
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lowemont
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Highland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Highland is located in Leavenworth County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland

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

Cemeteries Near Gower ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gower.

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

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

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

  • Allen Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Antioch Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Witts Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Carmel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Bretz Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Hebron Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • New Harmony Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Frazier Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Number 6 Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Tobin Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Keller Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Union Mill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (319 more) ...
    • Grayson Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Moxley Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Brinton 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Gower had a population of 328 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Gower had a population of 1,453 people.

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

  • Frazier
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Frazier is located in Buchanan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frazier
  • Starfield
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Grayson
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Grayson is located in Clinton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
  • Scearces
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Scearces is located in Clinton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scearces
  • Platte River
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Platte River is located in Buchanan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Platte River
  • Easton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Hemple
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Hemple is located in Clinton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemple
  • Garrettsburg
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Garrettsburg is located in Buchanan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrettsburg
  • Agency
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Plattsburg
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Edgerton Junction
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Edgerton Junction is located in Platte County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton Junction
  • Stockbridge ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Stockbridge is located in Buchanan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockbridge
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Gower ...

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 212 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gower.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Gower. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Gower and those printed in the larger area surrounding Gower.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4> of Gower.

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 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 Gower:

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 Gower, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Gower) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.