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 Vera (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 Vera. 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 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.
Vera is located in Pike 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 Pike County: Calhoun (IL), Pike (IL), Audrain, Lincoln, Montgomery & Ralls.
Below are the counties that are near Vera. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Vera:
- Pike County (The home county of Vera)
- The following are listed by their distance from Vera, with the one closest to Vera listed first.
- Tarrants
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Tarrants is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarrants
- Population from the 2010 Census: 22 people
- Bowling Green
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cyrene
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Cyrene is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cyrene
- Louisiana
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Calumet
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Calumet is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calumet
- Ashley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ashley is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley
- Curryville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Curryville is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curryville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
- Ashburn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Ashburn is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashburn
- Population from the 2010 Census: 52 people
- Clarksville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Frankford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Eolia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- New Harmony
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- New Harmony is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Harmony
- Audrain County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vera, with the one closest to Vera listed first.
- Vandalia
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Farber
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Farber is located in Audrain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farber
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Laddonia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vera, with the one closest to Vera listed first.
- Louisville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Louisville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisville
- Whiteside
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Whiteside is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
- Corso
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Corso is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corso
- Silex
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Silex is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silex
- Population from the 2020 Census: 294 people
- Auburn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Auburn is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
- Olney
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Olney is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olney
- Briscoe
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Briscoe is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briscoe
- Mackville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Mackville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackville
- New Hope
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- New Hope is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Davis
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Davis is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
- Elsberry
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Cave
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Cave is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6 people
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vera, with the one closest to Vera listed first.
- Cave City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Cave City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave City
- Oakwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Oakwood is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Hannibal
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vera, with the one closest to Vera listed first.
- Middletown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Middletown is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 150 people
- Gamma
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Gamma is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gamma
- Bellflower
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bellflower is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellflower
- Population from the 2020 Census: 356 people
- Ralls County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vera, with the one closest to Vera listed first.
- Saverton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Saverton is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saverton
- New London
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Madisonville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Madisonville is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonville
- Center
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Perry
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Rensselaer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rensselaer is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rensselaer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- Greenlawn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Greenlawn is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlawn
- The Landing
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- The Landing is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Landing
- Shaver Ford ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Shaver Ford is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaver Ford
- Adams County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Vera, with the one closest to Vera listed first.
- Fall Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Fall Creek is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Creek
- Plainville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Beverly
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Beverly is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
- Payson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Calhoun County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Vera, with the one closest to Vera listed first.
- Belleview
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Belleview is located in Calhoun County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
- Mozier
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Hamburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cliffdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Cliffdale is located in Calhoun County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffdale
- Kampsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Michael
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Gilead
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Gilead is located in Calhoun County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
- Star City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Star City is located in Calhoun County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
- Pike County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Vera, with the one closest to Vera listed first.
- Pike
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pike is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pike
- Atlas
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Atlas is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- Rockport
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Summer Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Summer Hill is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summer Hill
- New Canton
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- New Canton is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Canton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
- El Dara
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Martinsburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Martinsburg is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsburg
- Nebo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Barry
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Kinderhook
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Hull
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Vera, see our County-by-County Page for Vera.
Cemeteries Near Vera ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Vera.
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 Vera - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Vera covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Vera, with the one closest to Vera listed first.
- Smith Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- McElwee Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Noix Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Green Lawn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bethany Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Kritz Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Gates of Peace Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hickerson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Jordan Buffalo Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan Buffalo Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Jordan Buffalo Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<2> to the south of Louisiana.
- The Jordan Buffalo Cemetery has also been known as:
- Buffalo Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #27810 <3>
- St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pappenfort Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Gailey Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (356 more) ...
- Mt. Pisgah Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Authur Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Louisiana Memorial Gardens
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Vera in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Vera.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Vera, with the one closest to Vera listed first.
- Bowling Green
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cyrene
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Cyrene is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cyrene
- Stark
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Stark is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stark
- Saint Clement
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Clement is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clement
- Calumet
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Calumet is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calumet
- Louisiana
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Reading
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Reading is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reading
- Edgewood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Edgewood is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood
- Quincy Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Quincy Junction is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy Junction
- Pike
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pike is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pike
- Ashley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ashley is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley
- McIntosh
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- McIntosh is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntosh
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Curryville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Curryville is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curryville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
- Ashburn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Ashburn is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashburn
- Population from the 2010 Census: 52 people
- Farmer
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Farmer is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmer
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Vera. See our List of 1890's Communities around Vera.
Newspapers Published in Vera ...
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 84 newspapers that have been published in the area around Vera.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Vera, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Vera.
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 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 Vera:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Pike County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Audrain County
- Lincoln County
- Marion County
- Montgomery County
- Ralls County
- Adams County
- Calhoun County
- Pike 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> | 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- Vera) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Vera, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |