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 Bessie (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 Bessie. 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.
Bessie is located in Franklin County.
To see how the shape of Illinois' counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Franklin County: Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Perry, Saline & Williamson.
Below are the counties that are near Bessie. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bessie:
- Franklin County (The home county of Bessie)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Hanaford
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hanaford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanaford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 316 people
- Akin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Parrish
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Parrish is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrish
- Smothersville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Smothersville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smothersville
- Steel City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Steel City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steel City
- Benton
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Ewing
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Thompsonville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Deering City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Deering City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deering City
- West City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- West City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 626 people
- Frisco
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Frisco is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
- Fitt's Hill ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Fitt's Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitt's Hill
- Gallatin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Omaha
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Elba
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Elba is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Hamilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Macedonia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Flint
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Flint is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
- Lovilla
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
- Walpole
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Walpole is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walpole
- Dahlgren
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Diamond City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Diamond City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
- McLeansboro
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Piopolis
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
- Broughton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Belle Prairie City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
- Jefferson City ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Dowell
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Elkville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Hallidayboro
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Hallidayboro is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallidayboro
- De Soto
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Carbondale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Vergennes
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Ina
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ina is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,279 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ina <1>
- Fitzgerrell ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fitzgerrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzgerrell
- Nason
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bonnie
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Belle Rive
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Dareville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dareville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dareville
- Emerson City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Emerson City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson City
- Opdyke
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Waltonville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Marcoe
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Marcoe is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcoe
- Scheller
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Marlow
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Marlow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Eagle Point Bay
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Eagle Point Bay is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Point Bay
- Egyptian Hills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Egyptian Hills is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egyptian Hills
- New Burnside
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Deer Ridge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Deer Ridge is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Ridge
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Du Quoin
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Du Quoin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Quoin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,591 people
- Saint Johns
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Saint Johns is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Sunfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Sunfield is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
- Tamaroa
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Pyatts
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Pyatts is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyatts
- Saline County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Cornerville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cornerville is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerville
- Long Branch
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Long Branch is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
- Galatia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Raleigh
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Buena Vista
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Buena Vista is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Muddy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wasson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wasson is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasson
- Carrier Mills
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Carrier Mills is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrier Mills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,527 people
- Former names for Carrier Mills:
- Carriers Mills
- Morrilsville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Carrier Mills <1>
- Eldorado
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Harrisburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Ledford
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Ledford is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ledford
- Liberty
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Liberty is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Du Bois
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Du Bois is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Bois
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Radom
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ashley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Keenes
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Wayne City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sims
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- White County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Enfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Norris City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Springerton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Stokes
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Stokes is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
- Roland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Roland is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roland
- Mill Shoals
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Corinth
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Corinth is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Freeman Spur
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Freeman Spur is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman Spur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 276 people
- Freeman Spur has also been known as:
- Freeman Spur village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Freeman Spur <1>
- Johnston City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Stiritz
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Stiritz is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiritz
- Pittsburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Hartford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hartford is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartford
- Whiteash
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Whiteash is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteash
- Estimated population in 2014: 240 people
- Herrin Junction ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Herrin Junction is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrin Junction
- Spillertown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Spillertown is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spillertown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
- Herrin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Colp
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Colp is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colp
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Former name for Colp:
- Colpville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Colp <1>
- Energy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bessie, see our County-by-County Page for Bessie.
Cemeteries Near Bessie ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bessie.
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 Bessie - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bessie covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Manion Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Franklin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Swofford Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Otterson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Baxter Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Jones Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Overturf Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Miller Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Phillips Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- County Farm Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Neal Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Crawford Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (462 more) ...
- Melvin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Brady Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Drummond Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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>
While we didn't find Bessie in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bessie.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Smothersville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Smothersville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smothersville
- Parrish
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Parrish is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrish
- Akin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Benton
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Ewing
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Thompsonville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Macedonia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Frankfort
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Frankfort is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort
- Fitt's Hill ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Fitt's Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitt's Hill
- Taylor Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
- Locust Grove ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Locust Grove is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Grove
- West End
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- West End is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West End
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Rural Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Rural Hill is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rural Hill
- Braden
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Braden is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braden
- Spring Garden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Spring Garden is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Garden
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bessie. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bessie.
Newspapers Published in Bessie ...
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 28 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bessie.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bessie, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bessie.
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 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 Bessie:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Franklin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Gallatin County
- Hamilton County
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Johnson County
- Perry County
- Saline County
- Washington County
- Wayne County
- White County
- Williamson County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Illinois
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 Bessie, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bessie) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |