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 Willard (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 Willard. 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 and hospitals 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.
Willard is located in Greene 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 Greene County: Christian, Dade, Dallas, Lawrence, Polk & Webster.
Below are the counties that are near Willard. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Willard:
- Greene County (The home county of Willard)
- The following are listed by their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Bois D'Arc
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Brookline Station
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Brookline Station is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookline Station
- Phenix ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Phenix is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
- Phenix has also been known as:
- Phenix Quarry
- Brookline
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Brookline is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookline
- Springfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ash Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Walnut Grove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Battlefield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Battlefield is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battlefield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,665 people
- Langston
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Langston is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
- Mumford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Mumford is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mumford
- Sequiota
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sequiota is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sequiota
- Fair Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Strafford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Christian County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Republic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Billings
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Clever
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Nixa
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Nixa is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23,330 people
- Former name for Nixa:
- Faught
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nixa <1>
- Cassidy
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Cassidy is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassidy
- Fremont Hills
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Fremont Hills is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 936 people
- Ozark
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pembina
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pembina is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pembina
- Linden
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Linden is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
- Highlandville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Sparta
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Velsor ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Velsor is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velsor
- Green Mound Ridge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Green Mound Ridge is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Mound Ridge
- Dade County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Everton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Dadeville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Pilgrim
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Pilgrim is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilgrim
- Corry
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Corry is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corry
- Bona
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bona is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bona
- Greenfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- South Greenfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- South Greenfield is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Greenfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
- Glen Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Glen Town is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Town
- Arcola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Arcola is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 53 people
- Lockwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Lockwood is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 897 people
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Charity ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Charity is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charity
- Buffalo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Halltown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Stinson
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Stinson is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinson
- Heatonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Heatonville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heatonville
- Marionville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Miller
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Mount Vernon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Round Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Round Grove is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Grove
- Aurora
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hoberg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hoberg is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoberg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Verona
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Verona is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verona
- Population from the 2020 Census: 606 people
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Brighton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Morrisville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Graydon Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Graydon Springs is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graydon Springs
- Pleasant Hope
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Goodnight
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Goodnight is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodnight
- Estimated population in 2019: 18 people
- Goodnight has also been known as:
- Goodnight village
- Eudora
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Eudora is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eudora
- Wishart
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Wishart is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wishart
- Tin Town
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tin Town is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tin Town
- Aldrich
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Aldrich is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldrich
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Bolivar
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Fair Play
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Halfway
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Halfway is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
- Dunnegan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Dunnegan is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnegan
- Stone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Union City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Union City is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union City
- Bradfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Bradfield is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradfield
- Hurley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Crane
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- White City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- White City is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Ponce de Leon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Ponce de Leon is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponce de Leon
- Oto
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Oto is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oto
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Conklin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Conklin is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conklin
- Northview
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Northview is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northview
- Elkland
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Elkland is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkland
- Rogersville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Crown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Crown is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
- Fordland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Marshfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Willard, see our County-by-County Page for Willard.
Cemeteries Near Willard ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Willard.
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 Willard - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Willard covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Murray Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Wesley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Clear Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Creek Cemetery
- The Clear Creek Cemetery has also been known as:
- Clear Creek Baptist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #28073 <2>
- White Chapel Memorial Gardens Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- White Chapel Memorial Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Brick Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cave Spring Memorial Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Alms House Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alms House Cemetery
- The Alms House Cemetery has also been known as:
- Sunshine Acres Cemetery
- Squib Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Brookline Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Greenlawn Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Continue List (310 more) ...
- Johns Chapel Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Maple Park Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hamilton Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
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 Willard had a population of 125 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Willard had a population of 5,736 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Ritter
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ritter is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritter
- Hackney
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Hackney is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hackney
- Cave Spring
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cave Spring is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave Spring
- Bois D'Arc
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Pearl
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Pearl is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl
- Nichols
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Nichols is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
- Ebenezer
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ebenezer is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebenezer
- Sacville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sacville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sacville
- Yeakley ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Yeakley is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yeakley
- Harold
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Harold is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harold
- Brookline Station
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Brookline Station is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookline Station
- Springfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Gresham ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Gresham is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
- Phenix ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Phenix is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
- Phenix has also been known as:
- Phenix Quarry
- Ash Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Willard. See our List of 1890's Communities around Willard.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Willard ...
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 124 newspapers that have been published in the area around Willard.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Willard. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Willard and those printed in the larger area surrounding Willard.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4> of Willard.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Willard:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Greene County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Christian County
- Dade County
- Dallas County
- Lawrence County
- Polk County
- Stone County
- Webster 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> | 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 Willard, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Willard) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |