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 Sprague (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 Sprague. 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.
Sprague is located in Bates 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 Bates County: Linn (KS), Miami (KS), Cass, Henry, Saint Clair & Vernon.
Below are the counties that are near Sprague. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sprague:
- Bates County (The home county of Sprague)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sprague, with the one closest to Sprague listed first.
- New Home
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- New Home is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Home
- Rich Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Foster
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Foster is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Hume
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Hume is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hume
- Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
- Nyhart
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Nyhart is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nyhart
- Worland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Worland is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worland
- Butler
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Amoret
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Amoret is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amoret
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Prairie City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Prairie City is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
- Passaic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Passaic is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passaic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
- Amsterdam
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Rockville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Rockville is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sprague, with the one closest to Sprague listed first.
- Archie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Main City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Main City is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Main City
- Austin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Austin is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin
- Cedar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sprague, with the one closest to Sprague listed first.
- El Dorado Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Virgil City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Virgil City is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgil City
- Henry County
- Montrose
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sprague, with the one closest to Sprague listed first.
- Appleton City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Johnson City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Johnson City is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson City
- Vernon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sprague, with the one closest to Sprague listed first.
- Metz
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Metz is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
- Horton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Horton is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton
- Stotesbury
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Stotesbury is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stotesbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 17 people
- Richards
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Richards is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richards
- Population from the 2020 Census: 94 people
- Temple ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Temple is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Temple
- Deerfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Deerfield is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
- Nevada
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Walker
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Walker is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Population from the 2020 Census: 253 people
- Schell City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Harwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Harwood is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 45 people
- Moundville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Milo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Milo is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
- Bourbon County (KS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sprague, with the one closest to Sprague listed first.
- Barnesville ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Barnesville is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesville
- Fulton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hammond
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hammond is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Bell Town ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bell Town is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Town
- Devon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Devon is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devon
- Fort Scott
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fort Scott is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Scott
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,648 people
- Fort Scott has also been known as:
- Fort Scott City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fort Scott <1>
- Mapleton
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Mapleton is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
- Edward
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Edward is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edward
- Garland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Garland is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- Berlin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Berlin is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- Godfrey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Godfrey is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godfrey
- Marmaton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Marmaton is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marmaton
- Linn County (KS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sprague, with the one closest to Sprague listed first.
- Prescott
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Prescott is located in Linn County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescott
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Pleasanton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Boicourt
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Boicourt is located in Linn County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boicourt
- Mound City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- La Cygne
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Linn Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Linn Valley is located in Linn County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linn Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 876 people
- Critzer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Critzer is located in Linn County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Critzer
- Cadmus
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cadmus is located in Linn County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadmus
- Blue Mound
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Miami County (KS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sprague, with the one closest to Sprague listed first.
- Jingo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Jingo is located in Miami County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jingo
- New Lancaster
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- New Lancaster is located in Miami County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lancaster
- Fontana
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fontana is located in Miami County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 242 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sprague, see our County-by-County Page for Sprague.
Cemeteries Near Sprague ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sprague.
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 Sprague - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sprague covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sprague, with the one closest to Sprague listed first.
- Fairview Rider Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Clark Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Greenlawn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Salem Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Thomas Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Pryor Creek Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Rhea Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Summers Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Woofin Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hume Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Lawrence Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Underwood Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (202 more) ...
- Carbon Center Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Rinehart Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Balltown Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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 Sprague had a population of 267 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sprague, with the one closest to Sprague listed first.
- New Home
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- New Home is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Home
- Rich Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Foster
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Foster is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Metz
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Metz is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
- Athol
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Athol is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athol
- Rucker
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rucker is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rucker
- Hume
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Hume is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hume
- Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
- Wolfe ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wolfe is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolfe
- Arthur
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Arthur is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthur
- Cornland ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cornland is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornland
- Nyhart
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Nyhart is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nyhart
- Carbon Center
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Carbon Center is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon Center
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Rinehart
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Rinehart is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rinehart
- Horton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Horton is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton
- Worland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Worland is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worland
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sprague. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sprague.
Newspapers Published in Sprague ...
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 110 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sprague.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sprague, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sprague.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Sprague:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Bates County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cass County
- Cedar County
- Henry County
- Saint Clair County
- Vernon County
- Bourbon County
- Linn County
- Miami 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> | 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 Sprague, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Sprague) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |