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 Bethel (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 Bethel. 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 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.
Bethel is located in Louisa County.
To see how the shape of Iowa's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Louisa County: Des Moines, Henry, Johnson, Muscatine, Washington, Mercer (IL) & Rock Island (IL).
Below are the counties that are near Bethel. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bethel:
- Louisa County (The home county of Bethel)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Gladwin
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Gladwin is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladwin
- Cotter
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cotter is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Columbus Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Columbus City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Columbus City is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 371 people
- Fredonia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fredonia is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Wyman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Wyman is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
- Letts
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Grandview
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Grandview is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 519 people
- Wapello
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Wapello is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,999 people
- Morning Sun
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Elrick Junction
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Elrick Junction is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrick Junction
- Oakville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Downey
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Downey is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
- Centerdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Centerdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerdale
- West Branch
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Springdale
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Springdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Rochester
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rochester is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester
- Cedar Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Valley is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
- Lime City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lime City is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime City
- Former names for Lime City:
- Lime Kilns
- Munn
- Cedar Bluff
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- Buchanan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Buchanan is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buchanan
- Des Moines County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Yarmouth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Mediapolis
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Olds
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Olds is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olds
- Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
- Winfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Swedesburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Swedesburg is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swedesburg
- Wayland
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Union
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Mount Union is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Union
- Estimated population in 2017: 107 people
- Mount Pleasant
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Rome
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Rome is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
- Westwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Westwood is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Oakland Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Oakland Mills is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Mills
- Iowa County
- Parnell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Pleasant Plain
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Plain is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Plain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Lockridge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Perlee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Perlee is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perlee
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Lone Tree
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- River Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- River Junction is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Junction
- Hills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Midway ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Midway is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Frytown
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Frytown is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frytown
- Williamstown
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Williamstown is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
- Iowa City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- University Heights
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- University Heights is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,025 people
- Amish
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Amish is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amish
- Windham
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Windham is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windham
- Cosgrove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cosgrove is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cosgrove
- Coralville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Oakdale
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Oakdale is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Keokuk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Keota
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Talleyrand
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Talleyrand is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talleyrand
- Kinross
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Kinross is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinross
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Richland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Harper
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Harper is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Muscatine County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Conesville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Conesville is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
- Nichols
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Nichols is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- West Liberty
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fruitland
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Fruitland is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 966 people
- Atalissa
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Muscatine
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Moscow
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Moscow is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- South Towne Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- South Towne Park is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Towne Park
- Wilton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Fairport
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Fairport is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Ainsworth
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Riverside
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Havre
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Havre is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havre
- Crawfordsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Washington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kalona
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- West Chester
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- West Chester is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
- Coppock
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Coppock is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coppock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 48 people
- Wellman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Brighton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Nira
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Nira is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nira
- Rubio
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rubio is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rubio
- Mercer County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Eliza
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Eliza is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eliza
- Petersville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Petersville is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersville
- New Boston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mannon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Mannon is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mannon
- Rock Island County (IL)
- Illinois City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Illinois City is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinois City
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bethel, see our County-by-County Page for Bethel.
Cemeteries Near Bethel ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bethel.
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 Bethel - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bethel covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Salem Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Bethel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Foster Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Litsey Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Knight Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Clarke Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Harrisburg Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Boston Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Grave Yard Point Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Clark Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Beauchamp Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (389 more) ...
- Forbes Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Swank Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland 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>
While we didn't find Bethel in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bethel.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Cotter
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cotter is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Ainsworth
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Port Allen ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Port Allen is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Allen
- Conesville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Conesville is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
- Iowa Junction ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Iowa Junction is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- Columbus Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Lone Tree
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Riverside
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- River Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- River Junction is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Junction
- Columbus City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Columbus City is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 371 people
- Fredonia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fredonia is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Havre
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Havre is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havre
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Washington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Crawfordsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Nichols
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Nichols is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bethel. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bethel.
Newspapers Published in Bethel ...
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 69 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bethel.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bethel, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bethel.
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 Bethel:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Louisa County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cedar County
- Des Moines County
- Henry County
- Iowa County
- Jefferson County
- Johnson County
- Keokuk County
- Muscatine County
- Washington County
- Mercer County
- Rock Island County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Iowa
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 Bethel, 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 from Point A (ie- Bethel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |