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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 Ongo (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 Ongo. 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 hospitals and 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.

Ongo is located in Douglas 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 Douglas County: Christian, Howell, Ozark, Taney, Texas, Webster & Wright.

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

  • Douglas County     (The home county of Ongo)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ongo, with the one closest to Ongo listed first.
    • Johns Mills ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Johns Mills is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johns Mills
    • Arden
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Arden is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arden
    • Red Bank
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Red Bank is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
    • Rome
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Rome is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
    • Ava
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Ava is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ava
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,905 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ava <1>
    • Smallett
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Smallett is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smallett
    • Squires
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Squires is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Squires
    • Olathia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Olathia is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olathia
    • Gentryville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Gentryville is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentryville
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ongo, with the one closest to Ongo listed first.
    • Elkhead
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Elkhead is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhead
    • Bruner
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Bruner is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruner
    • Oldfield
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Oldfield is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfield
    • Velsor ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Velsor is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velsor
    • Chadwick
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Chadwick is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chadwick
    • Sparta
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Sparta is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,076 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sparta <1>
    • Garrison
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Garrison is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrison
    • Pembina
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Pembina is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pembina
    • Linden
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Linden is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
    • Ozark
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Ozark is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ozark
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 21,052 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ozark <1>
    • Cassidy
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Cassidy is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassidy
    • Fremont Hills
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Fremont Hills is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont Hills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 936 people
    • Green Mound Ridge
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Green Mound Ridge is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Mound Ridge
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ongo, with the one closest to Ongo listed first.
    • Turners
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Turners is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turners
    • Mumford
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Mumford is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mumford
    • Sequiota
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Sequiota is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sequiota
    • Strafford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Langston
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Langston is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
    • Springfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Battlefield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Battlefield is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battlefield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,665 people
    • Fair Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Ozark County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ongo, with the one closest to Ongo listed first.
    • Foil
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Foil is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foil
    • Wasola
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Wasola is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasola
    • Summit City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Summit City is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit City
    • Thornfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Thornfield is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornfield
    • Noble
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Noble is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noble
    • Longrun
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Longrun is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longrun
    • Almartha
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Almartha is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almartha
    • Romance
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Romance is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romance
    • Ocie
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Ocie is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocie
    • Rockbridge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Theodosia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Theodosia is located in Ozark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Theodosia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 263 people
  • Stone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ongo, with the one closest to Ongo listed first.
    • Ponce de Leon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Ponce de Leon is located in Stone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponce de Leon
    • White City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • White City is located in Stone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
  • Taney County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ongo, with the one closest to Ongo listed first.
    • Bradleyville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Bradleyville is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradleyville
    • McClurg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • McClurg is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClurg
    • Taneyville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Taneyville is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taneyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
    • Kissee Mills
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Day
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Day is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Day
    • Forsyth
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Merriam Woods
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Merriam Woods is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merriam Woods
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,859 people
    • Rockaway Beach
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Walnut Shade
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Walnut Shade is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Shade
    • Bull Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Bull Creek is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 633 people
    • Rueter
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Rueter is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rueter
    • Powersite
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Powersite is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powersite
    • Cedarcreek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Cedarcreek is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarcreek
  • Webster County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ongo, with the one closest to Ongo listed first.
    • Olga
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Olga is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olga
    • Sarvis Point
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Sarvis Point is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarvis Point
    • Fordland
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Diggins
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Diggins is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diggins
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 326 people
    • Seymour
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Rogersville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Crown
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Crown is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
    • Northview
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Northview is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northview
    • Marshfield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Niangua
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Niangua is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Niangua
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 424 people
    • Conklin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Conklin is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conklin
  • Wright County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ongo, with the one closest to Ongo listed first.
    • Mansfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Macomb
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Macomb is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macomb
    • Odin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Odin is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
    • Norwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Hartville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Ongo ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ongo.

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

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

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

  • Hall Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Maggard Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Swearengin Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Harvill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Olive Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Stillings Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Huffman Cemetery West
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Capp Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Arden Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Lakey Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Union Chapel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Gray Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (320 more) ...
    • Hall Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Boulder Fork Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Hyde Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 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 Ongo in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ongo.

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

  • Elkhead
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Elkhead is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhead
  • Johns Mills ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Johns Mills is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johns Mills
  • Arden
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Arden is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arden
  • Dogwood
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Dogwood is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood
  • Red Bank
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Red Bank is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
  • Olga
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Olga is located in Webster County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olga
  • Roy
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Roy is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roy
  • Arno
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Arno is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arno
  • Sarvis Point
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Sarvis Point is located in Webster County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarvis Point
  • Velsor ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Velsor is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velsor
  • Chadwick
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Chadwick is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chadwick
  • Sparta
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Sparta is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,076 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sparta <1>
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Fordland
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Garrison
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Garrison is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrison
    • Rome
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Rome is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome

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

Newspapers Published in Ongo ...

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 51 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ongo.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ongo, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ongo.

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 helpful 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 Ongo:

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