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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 Joanna (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 Joanna. 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.

Joanna is located in Ralls 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 Ralls County: Pike (IL), Audrain, Marion, Monroe & Pike.

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

  • Ralls County     (The home county of Joanna)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Joanna, with the one closest to Joanna listed first.
    • The Landing
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • The Landing is located in Ralls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Landing
    • Shaver Ford ‑ Historic
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Shaver Ford is located in Ralls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaver Ford
    • Greenlawn
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Greenlawn is located in Ralls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlawn
    • Center
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Perry
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Madisonville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Madisonville is located in Ralls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonville
    • Rensselaer
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Rensselaer is located in Ralls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rensselaer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
    • New London
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Saverton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Saverton is located in Ralls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saverton
  • Audrain County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Joanna, with the one closest to Joanna listed first.
    • Vandalia
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Farber
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Farber is located in Audrain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farber
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
    • Laddonia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Rush Hill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Rush Hill is located in Audrain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rush Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
    • Vandiver
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Vandiver is located in Audrain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandiver
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
    • Mexico
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Benton City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Benton City is located in Audrain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 103 people
    • Thompson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Thompson is located in Audrain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
    • Tulip
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Tulip is located in Audrain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulip
    • Martinsburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Saling ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Saling is located in Audrain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saling
  • Lewis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Joanna, with the one closest to Joanna listed first.
    • Maywood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Maywood is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
    • Durham
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Joanna, with the one closest to Joanna listed first.
    • Oakwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Oakwood is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
    • Dodge City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Dodge City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
    • Hannibal
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Palmyra
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Philadelphia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Philadelphia is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Cave City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Cave City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave City
    • Helton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Helton is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
    • Nelsonville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Nelsonville is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonville
    • Taylor
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Monroe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Joanna, with the one closest to Joanna listed first.
    • Florida
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Monroe City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Stoutsville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Santa Fe
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Santa Fe is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santa Fe
    • Goss
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Goss is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goss
    • North Fork
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • North Fork is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fork
    • Paris
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Granville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Granville is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
    • Holliday
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Holliday is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
    • Madison
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Woodlawn
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Woodlawn is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
  • Pike County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Joanna, with the one closest to Joanna listed first.
    • Frankford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Curryville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Curryville is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curryville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
    • New Harmony
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • New Harmony is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Harmony
    • Ashburn
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Ashburn is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashburn
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 52 people
    • Bowling Green
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Tarrants
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Tarrants is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarrants
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 22 people
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Joanna, with the one closest to Joanna listed first.
    • Hunnewell
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Hunnewell is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunnewell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
    • Kendall
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Kendall is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
    • Lakenan
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Lakenan is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakenan
    • Emden
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Emden is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emden
    • Shelbina
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Shelbyville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Shelbyville is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelbyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 512 people
    • Lentner
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Lentner is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lentner
    • Bethel
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Adams County (IL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Joanna, with the one closest to Joanna listed first.
    • Fall Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Fall Creek is located in Adams County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Creek
    • Marblehead
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Marblehead is located in Adams County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marblehead
    • Payson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Payson is located in Adams County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Payson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 980 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Payson <1>
    • Plainville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Quincy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Quincy is located in Adams County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 39,589 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Quincy <1>
  • Pike County (IL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Joanna, with the one closest to Joanna listed first.
    • Shepherd
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Shepherd is located in Pike County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepherd
    • Spencer
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Spencer is located in Pike County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
    • Hull
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Hull is located in Pike County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hull
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 421 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hull <1>
    • Kinderhook
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Joanna ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Joanna.

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

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

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

  • Utterback Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Crigler Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Greenlawn Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Scobee Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Old Mt. Prairie Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Norton Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Greathouse Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Wolf Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Olivet Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Lick Creek Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Holy Rosary Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Jude Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (196 more) ...
    • St. Judes Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Hawkins Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Muldrow Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)

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 Joanna in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Joanna.

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

  • Greenlawn
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Greenlawn is located in Ralls County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlawn
  • Hatch
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Hatch is located in Ralls County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatch
  • Indian Creek
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Indian Creek is located in Monroe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Creek
  • Florida
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Perry
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Center
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Monroe City
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Hassard
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Hassard is located in Ralls County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hassard
  • West Hartford
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • West Hartford is located in Ralls County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Hartford
  • Huntington
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Huntington is located in Ralls County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington
  • Clapper
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Clapper is located in Monroe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clapper
  • Victor
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Victor is located in Monroe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victor
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Madisonville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Madisonville is located in Ralls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonville
    • Ely
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Ely is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ely
    • Stoutsville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Joanna ...

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 Joanna.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Joanna, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Joanna.

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 Joanna:

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 Joanna, 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' (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- Joanna) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.