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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 Topper (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 Topper. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Topper is located in Saint Clair 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 Saint Clair County: Bates, Benton, Cedar, Henry, Hickory, Polk & Vernon.

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

  • Saint Clair County     (The home county of Topper)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Topper, with the one closest to Topper listed first.
    • Vista
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Vista is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vista
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
    • Gerster
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Gerster is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gerster
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24 people
    • Collins
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Cobb
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Cobb is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb
    • Osceola
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Roscoe
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Roscoe is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roscoe <1>
    • Monegaw Springs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Monegaw Springs is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monegaw Springs
    • Lowry City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Johnson City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Johnson City is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson City
    • Appleton City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Bates County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Topper, with the one closest to Topper listed first.
    • Rockville
      (25 miles [40.2 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
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Prairie City is located in Bates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
  • Benton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Topper, with the one closest to Topper listed first.
    • Tackner
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Tackner is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tackner
    • Racket
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Racket is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Racket
    • Warsaw
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Edwards
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Cedar County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Topper, with the one closest to Topper listed first.
    • Caplinger Mills
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Caplinger Mills is located in Cedar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caplinger Mills
    • Lebeck
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Lebeck is located in Cedar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lebeck
    • Stockton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Willowville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Willowville is located in Cedar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willowville
    • El Dorado Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Umber View Heights
      (24 miles [38.6 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
    • Virgil City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Virgil City is located in Cedar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgil City
    • Jerico Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Jerico Springs is located in Cedar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerico Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 232 people
  • Dade County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Topper, with the one closest to Topper listed first.
    • Bona
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Bona is located in Dade County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bona
    • Arcola
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Arcola is located in Dade County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 53 people
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Topper, with the one closest to Topper listed first.
    • Urbana
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Louisburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Louisburg is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
  • Henry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Topper, with the one closest to Topper listed first.
    • Brownington
      (20 miles [32.2 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
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Tightwad
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Tightwad is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tightwad
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 61 people
    • La Due
      (27 miles [43.5 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
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Alberta
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Alberta is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
    • Clinton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Hickory County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Topper, with the one closest to Topper listed first.
    • Weaubleau
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Quincy
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Quincy is located in Hickory County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
    • Wheatland
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Elkton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Elkton is located in Hickory County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
    • Galmey
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Galmey is located in Hickory County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galmey
    • Hermitage
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Avery
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Avery is located in Hickory County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
    • Pittsburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Nemo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Nemo is located in Hickory County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemo
    • Cross Timbers
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Cross Timbers is located in Hickory County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Timbers
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 213 people
    • Preston
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Topper, with the one closest to Topper listed first.
    • Humansville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Flemington
      (12 miles [19.3 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
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Rondo is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rondo
    • Dunnegan
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Dunnegan is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnegan
    • Fair Play
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Sentinel
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Sentinel is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sentinel
      • Former name for Sentinel:
      • Sentinel Prairie
    • Polk
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Polk is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk
    • Bolivar
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Goodson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Goodson is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodson
    • Aldrich
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Aldrich is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldrich
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
  • Vernon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Topper, with the one closest to Topper listed first.
    • Schell City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Harwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Harwood is located in Vernon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 45 people
    • Montevallo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Montevallo is located in Vernon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montevallo

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

Cemeteries Near Topper ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Topper.

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

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

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

  • Nance Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Doyal Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Roberts Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Culbertson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Union Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Allen Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Wisner #1 Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Wisner #2 Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Freeman - Holsapple Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Robinson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Pleasant Mound Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Allen Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (244 more) ...

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 Topper in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Topper.

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

  • Vista
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Vista is located in Saint Clair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vista
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
  • Collins
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Cobb
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Cobb is located in Saint Clair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb
  • Terry
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Terry is located in Saint Clair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terry
  • Weaubleau
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Osceola
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Rookins
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Rookins is located in Saint Clair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rookins
  • Roscoe
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Roscoe is located in Saint Clair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roscoe <1>
  • Quincy
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Quincy is located in Hickory County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
  • Harper
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Harper is located in Saint Clair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
  • Humansville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Iconium
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Iconium is located in Saint Clair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iconium
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Monegaw Springs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Monegaw Springs is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monegaw Springs
    • Oyer
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Oyer is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oyer
    • Caplinger Mills
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Caplinger Mills is located in Cedar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caplinger Mills

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

Newspapers Published in Topper ...

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 89 newspapers that have been published in the area around Topper.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Topper, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Topper.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Topper:

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