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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 Lucerne (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 Lucerne. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.

Lucerne is located in Putnam 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 Putnam County: Appanoose (IA), Wayne (IA), Adair, Mercer, Schuyler & Sullivan.

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

  • Putnam County     (The home county of Lucerne)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lucerne, with the one closest to Lucerne listed first.
    • Powersville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Powersville is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powersville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
    • Saint John
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Saint John is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint John
    • Unionville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Mendota
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Mendota is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendota
    • Pearl City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Pearl City is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl City
  • Grundy County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lucerne, with the one closest to Lucerne listed first.
    • Spickard
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Galt
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Dunlap
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Dunlap is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlap
    • Tindall
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Tindall is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tindall
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
  • Harrison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lucerne, with the one closest to Lucerne listed first.
    • Cainsville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Cainsville is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cainsville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
    • Akron
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Akron is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron
    • Mount Moriah
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Mount Moriah is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Moriah
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
  • Linn County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lucerne, with the one closest to Lucerne listed first.
    • Browning
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Browning is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browning
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
    • Haseville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Haseville is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haseville
  • Mercer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lucerne, with the one closest to Lucerne listed first.
    • Ravanna
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Ravanna is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravanna
    • Mercer
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • South Lineville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • South Lineville is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lineville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27 people
    • Princeton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Modena
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Modena is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modena
    • Burrows
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Burrows is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows
  • Sullivan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lucerne, with the one closest to Lucerne listed first.
    • Newtown
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Harris
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Pollock
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Pollock is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pollock
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 79 people
    • Boynton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Boynton is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
    • Osgood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Osgood is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osgood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
    • Pennville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Pennville is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennville
    • Milan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Milan is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,764 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Milan <1>
    • Green City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Green City is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 582 people
    • Humphreys
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Humphreys is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humphreys
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
    • Greencastle
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Owasco
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Owasco is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owasco
    • Sticklerville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Sticklerville is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sticklerville
  • Appanoose County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lucerne, with the one closest to Lucerne listed first.
    • Cincinnati
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Cincinnati is located in Appanoose County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cincinnati
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 345 people
    • Jerome
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Jerome is located in Appanoose County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
    • Numa
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Numa is located in Appanoose County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Numa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
    • Plano
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Plano is located in Appanoose County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plano
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Plano <1>
    • Brazil
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Brazil is located in Appanoose County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazil
    • Exline
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Exline is located in Appanoose County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exline
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
    • Sunshine
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Sunshine is located in Appanoose County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine
    • Centerville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Mystic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Mystic is located in Appanoose County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mystic
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
    • Clarkdale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Clarkdale is located in Appanoose County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkdale
    • Walnut City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Walnut City is located in Appanoose County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut City
  • Decatur County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lucerne, with the one closest to Lucerne listed first.
    • Morgan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Morgan is located in Decatur County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
    • Woodland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Woodland is located in Decatur County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
    • Pleasanton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Pleasanton is located in Decatur County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasanton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
    • Davis City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Davis City is located in Decatur County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
    • Garden Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Garden Grove is located in Decatur County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
    • Leon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Leon is located in Decatur County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,808 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Leon <1>
  • Wayne County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lucerne, with the one closest to Lucerne listed first.
    • Genoa
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Genoa is located in Wayne County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
    • Clio
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Clio is located in Wayne County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
    • Lineville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Lineville is located in Wayne County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lineville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
    • Hodge
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Hodge is located in Wayne County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodge
    • Allerton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Seymour
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Corydon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Corydon is located in Wayne County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corydon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,593 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Corydon <1>
    • Promise City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Promise City is located in Wayne County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promise City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
    • Millerton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Millerton is located in Wayne County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
    • Confidence
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Confidence is located in Wayne County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confidence
    • Humeston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Lucerne ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lucerne.

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

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

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

  • Sprigg Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Howard Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Busby Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Old Busby Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Wyreka Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Anderson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Powersville Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Center Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Torrey Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Parsons Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Edmond Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Brantley Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (329 more) ...
    • Busby Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Brackett Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Medicineville Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)

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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Lucerne had a population of 287 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Lucerne had a population of 80 people.

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

  • Powersville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Powersville is located in Putnam County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powersville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
  • Newtown
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Quinn
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Quinn is located in Putnam County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinn
  • Saint John
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint John is located in Putnam County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint John
  • West Liberty ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • West Liberty is located in Putnam County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Liberty
  • Cleopatra
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Cleopatra is located in Mercer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleopatra
  • Ilia ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Ilia is located in Mercer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ilia
  • Ravanna
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Ravanna is located in Mercer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravanna
  • Judson
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Judson is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
  • Harris
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Topsy
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Topsy is located in Mercer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topsy
  • Sewal
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Sewal is located in Wayne County (IA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sewal
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Mercer
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Wintersville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Wintersville is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wintersville
    • Pollock
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Pollock is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pollock
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 79 people

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Lucerne ...

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 123 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lucerne.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Lucerne. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Lucerne and those printed in the larger area surrounding Lucerne.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Lucerne.

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 Lucerne:

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>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 Lucerne, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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- Lucerne) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.