RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Missouri >> Mercer County >> Wataga >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Wataga (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 Wataga. 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.

Wataga is located in Mercer 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 Mercer County: Decatur (IA), Wayne (IA), Grundy, Harrison, Putnam & Sullivan.

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

  • Mercer County     (The home county of Wataga)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wataga, with the one closest to Wataga listed first.
    • South Lineville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • South Lineville is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lineville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27 people
    • Mercer
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Burrows
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Burrows is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows
    • Princeton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Ravanna
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Ravanna is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravanna
    • Modena
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Modena is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modena
  • Grundy County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wataga, with the one closest to Wataga listed first.
    • Spickard
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Tindall
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Tindall is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tindall
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
    • Brimson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Brimson is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brimson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 59 people
  • Harrison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wataga, with the one closest to Wataga listed first.
    • Akron
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Akron is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron
    • Cainsville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Cainsville is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cainsville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
    • Blythedale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Blythedale is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blythedale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 183 people
    • Mount Moriah
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Mount Moriah is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Moriah
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
    • Eagleville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Ridgeway
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Gardner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Gardner is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardner
    • Hatfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Hatfield is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
    • Bethany
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Putnam County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wataga, with the one closest to Wataga listed first.
    • Powersville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Powersville is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powersville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
    • Lucerne
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Lucerne is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucerne
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
    • Saint John
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Saint John is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint John
  • Sullivan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wataga, with the one closest to Wataga listed first.
    • Newtown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Harris
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Osgood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Osgood is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osgood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
  • Clarke County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wataga, with the one closest to Wataga listed first.
    • Weldon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Weldon is located in Clarke County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
    • Green Bay ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Green Bay is located in Clarke County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
    • Lacelle
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Lacelle is located in Clarke County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
  • Decatur County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wataga, with the one closest to Wataga listed first.
    • Morgan
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Morgan is located in Decatur County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
    • Pleasanton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Pleasanton is located in Decatur County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasanton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
    • Woodland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Woodland is located in Decatur County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
    • Davis City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Davis City is located in Decatur County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
    • Leon
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Leon is located in Decatur County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,808 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Leon <1>
    • Decatur City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Decatur City is located in Decatur County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
    • Lamoni
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Lamoni is located in Decatur County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamoni
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,196 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lamoni <1>
    • Garden Grove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Garden Grove is located in Decatur County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
    • Le Roy
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Le Roy is located in Decatur County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Roy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
    • Van Wert
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Van Wert is located in Decatur County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Wert
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
    • Grand River
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Grand River is located in Decatur County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand River
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
  • Lucas County (IA)
    • Derby
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Derby is located in Lucas County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
  • Ringgold County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wataga, with the one closest to Wataga listed first.
    • Kellerton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Beaconsfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Beaconsfield is located in Ringgold County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaconsfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
  • Wayne County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wataga, with the one closest to Wataga listed first.
    • Lineville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Lineville is located in Wayne County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lineville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
    • Clio
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Clio is located in Wayne County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
    • Hodge
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Hodge is located in Wayne County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodge
    • Allerton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Humeston
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Corydon
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Corydon is located in Wayne County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corydon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,593 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Corydon <1>
    • Millerton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Millerton is located in Wayne County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
    • Genoa
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Genoa is located in Wayne County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
    • Seymour
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Promise City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Promise City is located in Wayne County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promise City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people

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

Cemeteries Near Wataga ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wataga.

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

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

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

  • Hollers Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Moore Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Yingling Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Fugate Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Middle Point Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • White Oak Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • McKinney Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Elm Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Union Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Gatliff Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Gammill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Cowles Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (276 more) ...
    • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Fairview Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Girdner Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Wataga had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Adel
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Adel is located in Mercer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adel
  • Morgan
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Morgan is located in Decatur County (IA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
  • Saline
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Saline is located in Mercer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saline
  • Pleasanton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Pleasanton is located in Decatur County (IA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasanton
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
  • Mercer
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Lineville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Lineville is located in Wayne County (IA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lineville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
  • Burrows
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Burrows is located in Mercer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows
  • Alvord ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Alvord is located in Mercer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvord
  • Ilia ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Ilia is located in Mercer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ilia
  • Woodland
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Woodland is located in Decatur County (IA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
  • Blockly
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Blockly is located in Decatur County (IA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blockly
  • Akron
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Akron is located in Harrison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Clio
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Clio is located in Wayne County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
    • Big Spring ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Big Spring is located in Wayne County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Spring
    • Davis City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Davis City is located in Decatur County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people

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

Newspapers Published in Wataga ...

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 94 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wataga.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wataga, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wataga.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Wataga:

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 Wataga, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Wataga) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.