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 Laura (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 Laura. 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.
Laura is located in Lewis 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 Lewis County: Adams (IL), Hancock (IL), Clark, Knox, Marion & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near Laura. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Laura:
- Lewis County (The home county of Laura)
- The following are listed by their distance from Laura, with the one closest to Laura listed first.
- Canton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Monticello
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Monticello is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Williamstown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Williamstown is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
- Sellers
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Sellers is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- La Grange
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- New Court Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- New Court Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Court Village
- Gilead
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Gilead is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
- Weber
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Weber is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber
- Lewistown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ewing
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Durham
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Argola
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Argola is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argola
- La Belle
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Clark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Laura, with the one closest to Laura listed first.
- Saint Patrick
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Patrick is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
- Wayland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Wayland is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
- Alexandria
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Neeper
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Neeper is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neeper
- Clark City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Clark City is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark City
- Kahoka
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Francisville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Saint Francisville is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Francisville
- Medill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Medill is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medill
- Revere
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Dumas
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Dumas is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumas
- Peaksville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Peaksville is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaksville
- Wyaconda
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wyaconda is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyaconda
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Luray
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Luray is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 94 people
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Laura, with the one closest to Laura listed first.
- Forest Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Forest Springs is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Springs
- Colony
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Colony is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Jeddo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jeddo is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeddo
- Knox City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Newark
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rutledge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Plevna
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Plevna is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plevna
- Edina
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Laura, with the one closest to Laura listed first.
- Taylor
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Nelsonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Nelsonville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonville
- Philadelphia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Philadelphia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Dodge City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Dodge City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Palmyra
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Scotland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Laura, with the one closest to Laura listed first.
- Gorin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Gorin is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gorin
- South Gorin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- South Gorin is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gorin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Granger
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Granger is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
- Arbela
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lee County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Laura, with the one closest to Laura listed first.
- Buena Vista ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Buena Vista is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Keokuk
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Vincennes
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Vincennes is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vincennes
- Sandusky
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sandusky is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Argyle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Galland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Galland is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galland
- Montrose
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- New Boston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- New Boston is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
- Charleston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Charleston is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charleston
- Croton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Croton is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
- Jeffersonville ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Jeffersonville is located in Lee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
- Donnellson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Van Buren County (IA)
- Farmington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Adams County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Laura, with the one closest to Laura listed first.
- Meyer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Meyer is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
- Lima
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Marcelline
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Marcelline is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcelline
- Ursa
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mendon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Loraine
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Ewbanks
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ewbanks is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewbanks
- Quincy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fowler
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Paloma
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Coatsburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Burton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Burton is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton
- Columbus
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Columbus is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
- Hancock County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Laura, with the one closest to Laura listed first.
- Warsaw
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sutter
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Sutter is located in Hancock County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
- Hamilton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Basco
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- West Point
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- West Point is located in Hancock County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Elvaston
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Chili
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Chili is located in Hancock County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chili
- Nauvoo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bentley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Bentley is located in Hancock County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
- Carthage
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Powellton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Powellton is located in Hancock County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Bowen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Ferris
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Laura, see our County-by-County Page for Laura.
Cemeteries Near Laura ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Laura.
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 Laura - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Laura covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Laura, with the one closest to Laura listed first.
- Prospect Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- St. Patrick Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hardin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Gregory Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Henton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Higbee Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Graves Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Patterson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Zion Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion Hill Cemetery
- The Zion Hill Cemetery has also been known as:
- Zion Hill Church Cemetery
- Zion's Hill Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #215822 <2>
- Day Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Bash Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Forest Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (291 more) ...
- Cowgill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Bluff Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Zahn Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
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 Laura in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Laura.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Laura, with the one closest to Laura listed first.
- Saint Patrick
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Patrick is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
- Derrahs
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Derrahs is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derrahs
- Benjamin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Benjamin is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benjamin
- Gregory Landing
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Gregory Landing is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gregory Landing
- Winchester
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Winchester is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
- Bunker Hill ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Bunker Hill is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
- Canton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Antioch
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Antioch is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Monticello
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Monticello is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Williamstown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Williamstown is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
- Sellers
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Sellers is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- Lima
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Warsaw
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Alexandria
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wayland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Wayland is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Laura. See our List of 1890's Communities around Laura.
Newspapers Published in Laura ...
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 48 newspapers that have been published in the area around Laura.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Laura, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Laura.
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 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 Laura:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Lewis County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clark County
- Knox County
- Marion County
- Scotland County
- Lee County
- Van Buren County
- Adams County
- Hancock 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 Laura, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Laura) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |