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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 Sour John (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 Sour John. 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.

Sour John is located in Muskogee County.

To see how the shape of Oklahoma's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Muskogee County: Cherokee, Haskell, McIntosh, Okmulgee, Sequoyah & Wagoner.

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

  • Muskogee County     (The home county of Sour John)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sour John, with the one closest to Sour John listed first.
    • Braggs
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • River Bottom
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • River Bottom is located in Muskogee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Bottom
    • Webbers Falls
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Fort Gibson
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Warner
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Bacone
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Bacone is located in Muskogee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bacone
    • Muskogee
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Wybark
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Wybark is located in Muskogee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wybark
    • Summit
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Summit is located in Muskogee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 136 people
    • Simms
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Simms is located in Muskogee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simms
    • Oktaha
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Porum
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Beland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Beland is located in Muskogee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beland
  • Adair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sour John, with the one closest to Sour John listed first.
    • Bunch
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Greasy
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Greasy is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greasy
    • Rocky Mountain
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Rocky Mountain is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Mountain
    • Lyons
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Lyons is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons
      • Lyons has also been known as:
      • Lyons Switch
    • Wauhillau
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Wauhillau is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauhillau
    • Cherry Tree
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Cherry Tree is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Tree
    • Zion
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Zion is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
    • Marietta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Proctor
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sour John, with the one closest to Sour John listed first.
    • Cookson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Pettit Bay
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Pettit Bay is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pettit Bay
    • Pettit
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Pettit is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pettit
    • Woodall
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Woodall is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodall
    • Zeb
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Zeb is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeb
    • Keys
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Keys is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keys
    • Dry Creek
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Dry Creek is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Creek
    • Barber
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Barber is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barber
    • Caney Ridge
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Caney Ridge is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caney Ridge
    • Carters Landing
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Carters Landing is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carters Landing
    • Park Hill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Tenkiller
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Tenkiller is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenkiller
    • Tsa La Gi Indian Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Haskell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sour John, with the one closest to Sour John listed first.
    • Tamaha
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Tamaha is located in Haskell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tamaha
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 235 people
    • Stigler
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Hoyt
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Whitefield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Keota
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Enterprise
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Enterprise is located in Haskell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
  • Le Flore County
    • Cowlington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Cowlington is located in Le Flore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowlington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 152 people
  • McIntosh County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sour John, with the one closest to Sour John listed first.
    • Shady Grove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Shady Grove is located in McIntosh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
    • Rentiesville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Duchess Landing
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Duchess Landing is located in McIntosh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duchess Landing
    • Checotah
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Texanna
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Texanna is located in McIntosh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Texanna
    • Onapa
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Onapa is located in McIntosh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onapa
      • Onapa has also been known as:
      • Bond
  • Sequoyah County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sour John, with the one closest to Sour John listed first.
    • Paradise Hill
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Paradise Hill is located in Sequoyah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
    • Gore
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Gore is located in Sequoyah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gore
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 946 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gore <1>
    • Redbird Smith
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Redbird Smith is located in Sequoyah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redbird Smith
    • Box
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Box is located in Sequoyah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Box
    • Carlisle
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Carlisle is located in Sequoyah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
    • Evening Shade
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Evening Shade is located in Sequoyah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evening Shade
    • Vian
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Vian is located in Sequoyah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vian
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,356 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vian <1>
    • Pinhook Corners
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Pinhook Corners is located in Sequoyah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinhook Corners
    • Dwight Mission
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Dwight Mission is located in Sequoyah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwight Mission
    • McKey
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • McKey is located in Sequoyah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKey
    • Flute Springs
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Flute Springs is located in Sequoyah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flute Springs
    • Marble City Community
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Marble City Community is located in Sequoyah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marble City Community
    • Marble City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
  • Wagoner County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sour John, with the one closest to Sour John listed first.
    • Mallard Bay
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Mallard Bay is located in Wagoner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mallard Bay
    • Okay
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Okay is located in Wagoner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okay
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 712 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Okay <1>
    • Anchor
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Anchor is located in Wagoner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anchor
    • Gibson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Gibson is located in Wagoner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
    • Tullahassee
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Tullahassee is located in Wagoner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tullahassee
    • Clarksville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Clarksville is located in Wagoner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksville
    • Wagoner
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Porter
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Choska ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Choska is located in Wagoner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choska
      • Choska has also been known as:
      • Chooska Bottoms
      • Choska Bottoms
    • Redbird
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Sour John ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sour John.

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 Sour John - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Sam Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Phillips Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Tee Hee Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Stevenson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Plunkett Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Tony Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Walker Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • South Bethel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Vaught Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Philipps Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Elm Grove Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Gore Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (223 more) ...
    • Still Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Wilson Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Red Bird Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)

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>

While we didn't find Sour John in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Sour John.

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

  • Martin
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Martin is located in Muskogee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin
  • Seven Oaks
    (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Seven Oaks is located in Sequoyah County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Oaks
  • Lyons
    (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Lyons is located in Adair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons
    • Lyons has also been known as:
    • Lyons Switch

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

Newspapers Published in Sour John ...

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 93 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sour John.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sour John, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sour John.

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 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 Sour John:

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 Sour John, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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- Sour John) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.