Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Bethel. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Bethel to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Bethel, please Contact Us.
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 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Bethel is historic, it would have been located within present day Clay 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 Clay County: Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Marion, Richland & Wayne.
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:
- Clay County (The home county of Bethel)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Xenia
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Kenner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kenner is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
- Iola
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Louisville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Flora
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Clay City
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Sailor Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Camp Travis
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Camp Travis is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Travis
- Ingraham
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Centralia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Boulder
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Boulder is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
- Effingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Edgewood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Mason
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Gilmore
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Gilmore is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
- Watson
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Altamont
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Heartville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Heartville is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heartville
- Dexter
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Dexter is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
- Funkhouser
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Funkhouser is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funkhouser
- Effingham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Dieterich
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Moccasin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Moccasin is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Farina
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- La Clede
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- La Clede is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
- Saint Peter
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Loogootee
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Paul
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
- Saint Elmo
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Howards Point ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Howards Point is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howards Point
- Avena
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Avena is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avena
- Brownstown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Shobonier
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bluff City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bluff City is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Vandalia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Bogota
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bogota is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogota
- Wheeler
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Shields
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Shields is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
- Pigeon ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Texico
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dix
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Markham City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Markham City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham City
- Idlewood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
- Bluford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Marlow
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Marlow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
- Summersville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Summersville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summersville
- Jefferson City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jefferson City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
- Mount Vernon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Omega
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Omega is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
- Iuka
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kinmundy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bannister
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bannister is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
- Alma
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Union Town
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Union Town is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Town
- Hickory Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
- Salem
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Cartter
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cartter is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
- Kell
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Odin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Fairman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Fairman is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairman
- Richland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Passport
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Passport is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passport
- Noble
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Wakefield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Wakefield is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakefield
- Wynoose
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Wynoose is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
- Gallagher
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Gallagher is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Wamac
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wamac is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wamac
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
- Baldwin Heights
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Johnsonville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rinard
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cisne
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Enterprise
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Enterprise is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- Geff
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Jeffersonville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
- Keenes
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Sims
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Wayne City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Boyleston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Boyleston is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
- Mount Erie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fairfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
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.
- Parker Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Edwards Family Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Shadden Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Stipp Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Smith Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Clack Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Songer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Phillips Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Millican Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Onstott Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Mound Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Negro Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Continue List (466 more) ...
- Oskaloosa Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lovells Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Bee Branch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
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.
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.
- Oskaloosa
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oskaloosa is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oskaloosa
- Omega
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Omega is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
- Xenia
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Iuka
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kenner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kenner is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
- Farina
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Riffle
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Riffle is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riffle
- Iola
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Kinmundy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bannister
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bannister is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
- Louisville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Flora
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- La Clede
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- La Clede is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
- Alma
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Orchardville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Orchardville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchardville
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 29 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 29 miles [46.7 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 like to start with 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 Bethel:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Clay County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clinton County
- Effingham County
- Fayette County
- Jasper County
- Jefferson County
- Marion County
- Richland County
- Washington County
- Wayne County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Illinois
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Bethel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |