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 West Ely (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 West Ely. 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 West Ely ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for West Ely: W. Ely
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Ely. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Ely.
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.
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.
West Ely is located in Marion 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 Marion County: Adams (IL), Pike (IL), Lewis, Monroe, Ralls & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near West Ely. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Ely:
- Marion County (The home county of West Ely)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Ely, with the one closest to West Ely listed first.
- Dodge City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Dodge City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Palmyra
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Oakwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Oakwood is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Helton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Helton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
- Hannibal
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Cave City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Cave City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave City
- Philadelphia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Philadelphia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Taylor
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Nelsonville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Nelsonville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonville
- Audrain County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Ely, with the one closest to West Ely listed first.
- Vandalia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Farber
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Farber is located in Audrain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farber
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Knox County
- Newark
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Ely, with the one closest to West Ely listed first.
- Maywood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Maywood is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
- Durham
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Weber
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Weber is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber
- Ewing
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Gilead
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Gilead is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
- La Grange
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Argola
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Argola is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argola
- Sellers
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Sellers is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- Canton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Monticello
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Monticello is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Lewistown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- New Court Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- New Court Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Court Village
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Ely, with the one closest to West Ely listed first.
- Monroe City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Florida
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Stoutsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- North Fork
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- North Fork is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fork
- Goss
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Goss is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goss
- Santa Fe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Santa Fe is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santa Fe
- Paris
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Granville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Granville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Ely, with the one closest to West Ely listed first.
- Frankford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ashburn
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Ashburn is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashburn
- Population from the 2010 Census: 52 people
- Curryville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Curryville is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curryville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
- New Harmony
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- New Harmony is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Harmony
- Ralls County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Ely, with the one closest to West Ely listed first.
- Rensselaer
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rensselaer is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rensselaer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- The Landing
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- The Landing is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Landing
- New London
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Center
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Shaver Ford ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Shaver Ford is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaver Ford
- Saverton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Saverton is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saverton
- Greenlawn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Greenlawn is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlawn
- Madisonville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Madisonville is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonville
- Perry
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Ely, with the one closest to West Ely listed first.
- Hunnewell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Hunnewell is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunnewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
- Emden
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Emden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emden
- Kendall
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Kendall is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
- Lakenan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Lakenan is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakenan
- Shelbina
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Bethel
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Shelbyville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Shelbyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelbyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 512 people
- Kirby
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Kirby is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirby
- Adams County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Ely, with the one closest to West Ely listed first.
- Marblehead
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Marblehead is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marblehead
- Fall Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Fall Creek is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Creek
- Quincy
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Payson
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Plainville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Burton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Burton is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton
- Adams
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Adams is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Ewbanks
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ewbanks is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewbanks
- Fowler
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ursa
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Paloma
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Columbus
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Columbus is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
- Pike County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Ely, with the one closest to West Ely listed first.
- Shepherd
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Shepherd is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepherd
- Spencer
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Spencer is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
- Hull
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Kinderhook
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- New Canton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- New Canton is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Canton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
- Barry
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- El Dara
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Ely, see our County-by-County Page for West Ely.
Cemeteries Near West Ely ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Ely.
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 West Ely - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Ely covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Ely, with the one closest to West Ely listed first.
- West Ely Graveyard
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Finley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Big Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Barkley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Foreman Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Crane Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Greathouse Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bear Creek Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bush Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- McWilliams Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Head Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Nelson Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Continue List (268 more) ...
- Minoi - Sandiage Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Whaley Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
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 West Ely had a population of 63 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Ely, with the one closest to West Ely listed first.
- Ely
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Ely is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ely
- Huntington
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Huntington is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington
- Rensselaer
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rensselaer is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rensselaer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- Woodland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Woodland is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Barkley
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Barkley is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barkley
- Withers Mill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Withers Mill is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Withers Mill
- Hassard
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hassard is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hassard
- Palmyra
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Hatch
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Hatch is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatch
- Oakwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Oakwood is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Helton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Helton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
- Monroe City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Hannibal
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- North River
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- North River is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North River
- Shepherd
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Shepherd is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepherd
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Ely. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Ely.
Newspapers Published in West Ely ...
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 127 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Ely.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Ely, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Ely.
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 West Ely:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Marion County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Audrain County
- Knox County
- Lewis County
- Monroe County
- Pike County
- Ralls County
- Shelby County
- Adams 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> | 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 West Ely, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- West Ely) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |