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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 Medford (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 Medford. 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 doctors and 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.

Medford is located in Johnson 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 Johnson County: Cass, Henry, Jackson, Lafayette, Pettis & Saline.

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

  • Johnson County     (The home county of Medford)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Medford, with the one closest to Medford listed first.
    • Holden
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Quick City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Quick City is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quick City
    • La Tour
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • La Tour is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Tour
    • Latour
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Latour is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latour
    • Kingsville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Chilhowee
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Chilhowee is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chilhowee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 322 people
    • Centerview
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Cornelia
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Cornelia is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornelia
    • Columbus
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Columbus is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
    • Greendoor
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Greendoor is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greendoor
    • Warrensburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Leeton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Leeton is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 557 people
  • Bates County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Medford, with the one closest to Medford listed first.
    • Mayesburg
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Mayesburg is located in Bates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayesburg
    • Adrian
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Burdett
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Burdett is located in Bates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdett
    • Passaic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Passaic is located in Bates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passaic
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Medford, with the one closest to Medford listed first.
    • Gunn City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Gunn City is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunn City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 123 people
    • Strasburg
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Creighton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Garden City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • East Lynne
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Baldwin Park
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Baldwin Park is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
    • Pleasant Hill
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Austin
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Austin is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin
    • Harrisonville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Coleman
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Coleman is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
    • Lake Winnebago
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Lake Winnebago is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Winnebago
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,370 people
    • Archie
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Henry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Medford, with the one closest to Medford listed first.
    • Blairstown
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Blairstown is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairstown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 95 people
    • Norris
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Norris is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
    • Maurine
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Maurine is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maurine
    • Urich
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Hartwell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Hartwell is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwell
    • Bowen
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Bowen is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowen
    • Clinton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • La Due
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • La Due is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Due
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 28 people
    • Calhoun
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Calhoun is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
    • Windsor
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Montrose
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Alberta
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Alberta is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
  • Jackson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Medford, with the one closest to Medford listed first.
    • Hicks City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Hicks City is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks City
    • Lone Jack
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Cockrell
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Cockrell is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cockrell
    • Sni Mills
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Sni Mills is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sni Mills
    • Greenwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Lake Lotawana
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Oak Grove
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Grain Valley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Blue Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Unity Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Unity Village is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unity Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
    • Lake Tapawingo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Lake Tapawingo is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Tapawingo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 719 people
  • Lafayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Medford, with the one closest to Medford listed first.
    • Lake Lafayette
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Lake Lafayette is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Lafayette
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 340 people
    • Bates City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Odessa
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Odessa is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odessa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,295 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Odessa <1>
    • Mayview
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Aullville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Aullville is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aullville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people

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

Cemeteries Near Medford ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Medford.

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

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

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

  • Medford Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Outon Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Rose Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Farnsworth Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Priestly Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Quick Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • New Liberty Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • St. Patrick Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Holden Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Gilbert Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Pemberton Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (189 more) ...
    • Blairstown Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Ferguson Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Duncan Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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>

While we didn't find Medford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Medford.

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

  • Holden
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Latour
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Latour is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latour
  • Quick City
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Quick City is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quick City
  • Blairstown
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Blairstown is located in Henry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairstown
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 95 people
  • Kingsville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Gunn City
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Gunn City is located in Cass County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunn City
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 123 people
  • Chilhowee
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Chilhowee is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chilhowee
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 322 people
  • Norris
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Norris is located in Henry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
  • Centerview
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Garden City
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Creighton
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Strasburg
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Maurine
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Maurine is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maurine
    • Petersburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Petersburg is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
    • East Lynne
      (12 miles [19.3 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 Medford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Medford.

Newspapers Published in Medford ...

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 111 newspapers that have been published in the area around Medford.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Medford, 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 Medford.

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 either 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 Medford:

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