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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 Osceola (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 Osceola. 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.

Name Variations for Osceola ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

Another variation: Oseola.

  • In past government published Postal Guides, Osceola was referred to as Osceola Courthouse.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Osceola. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Osceola.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.

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.

Osceola is located in Saint Clair County and is the County Seat.

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 Saint Clair County: Bates, Benton, Cedar, Henry, Hickory, Polk & Vernon.

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

  • Saint Clair County     (The home county of Osceola)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osceola, with the one closest to Osceola listed first.
    • Vista
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Vista is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vista
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
    • Lowry City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Roscoe
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Monegaw Springs
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Gerster
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Gerster is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gerster
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24 people
    • Cobb
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Collins
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Johnson City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Johnson City is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson City
    • Appleton City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Bates County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osceola, with the one closest to Osceola listed first.
    • Rockville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Rockville is located in Bates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
    • Prairie City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Prairie City is located in Bates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
  • Benton County
  • Cedar County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osceola, with the one closest to Osceola listed first.
    • Lebeck
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Caplinger Mills
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • El Dorado Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Willowville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Stockton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Virgil City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Virgil City is located in Cedar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgil City
    • Umber View Heights
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Umber View Heights is located in Cedar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Umber View Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 49 people
  • Henry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osceola, with the one closest to Osceola listed first.
    • Brownington
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Brownington is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
    • Deepwater
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Tightwad
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Tightwad is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tightwad
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 61 people
    • La Due
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • La Due is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Due
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 28 people
    • Montrose
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Alberta
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Clinton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Yolo
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Calhoun
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Calhoun is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
    • Hartwell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Hartwell is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwell
  • Hickory County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osceola, with the one closest to Osceola listed first.
    • Quincy
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Quincy is located in Hickory County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
    • Weaubleau
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Wheatland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Avery
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Elkton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Hermitage
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Galmey
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Cross Timbers
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Nemo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Pittsburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Preston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osceola, with the one closest to Osceola listed first.
    • Humansville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Flemington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Flemington is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flemington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
    • Rondo
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Dunnegan
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Dunnegan is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnegan
    • Sentinel
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Fair Play
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Polk
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Polk is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk
  • Vernon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osceola, with the one closest to Osceola listed first.
    • Schell City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Harwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Harwood is located in Vernon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 45 people
    • Walker
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Walker is located in Vernon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 253 people

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

Cemeteries Near Osceola ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Osceola.

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

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

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

  • Osceola Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Resthaven Memorial Gardens
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Pleasant Mound Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Springstube Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Wisner #2 Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Wisner #1 Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Yeater Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Thomas Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Moore Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Doyal Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Bear Creek Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Benton Green Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (241 more) ...
    • Union Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Lowry City Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Roberts Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Osceola had a population of 995 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Osceola had a population of 935 people.

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

  • Vista
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Vista is located in Saint Clair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vista
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
  • Lowry City
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Chalk Level
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Chalk Level is located in Saint Clair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalk Level
  • Roscoe
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Monegaw Springs
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Harper
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Harper is located in Saint Clair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
  • Iconium
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Iconium is located in Saint Clair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iconium
  • Cobb
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Terry
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Terry is located in Saint Clair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terry
  • Oyer
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Oyer is located in Saint Clair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oyer
  • Collins
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Ohio
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Ohio is located in Saint Clair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ohio
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Quincy
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Quincy is located in Hickory County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
    • Baker ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Baker is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
    • Mount Zion
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Mount Zion is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Osceola ...

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 102 newspapers that have been published in the area around Osceola.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Osceola. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Osceola and those printed in the larger area surrounding Osceola.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3> of Osceola.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Osceola:

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 Osceola, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Osceola) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.