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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 Bishop (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 Bishop. 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 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.

Bishop is located in Mason 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 Mason County: Cass, Fulton, Logan, Menard, Schuyler & Tazewell.

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

  • Mason County     (The home county of Bishop)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bishop, with the one closest to Bishop listed first.
    • Forest City
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Forest City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
    • Topeka
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Union
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Union is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Goofy Ridge
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Goofy Ridge is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goofy Ridge
    • Buzzville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Buzzville is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buzzville
    • Manito
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Poplar City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Easton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Teheran
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Teheran is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
    • Havana
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Long Branch
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Long Branch is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
    • Natrona
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Natrona is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
    • Mason City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bishop, with the one closest to Bishop listed first.
    • Newmansville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Newmansville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
    • Chandlerville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Sylvan ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Sylvan is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bishop, with the one closest to Bishop listed first.
    • Liverpool
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Banner
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Sepo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Sepo is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sepo
    • Dunfermline
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint David
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Breeds
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Breeds is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breeds
    • Bryant
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Lewistown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Canton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Marbletown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Marbletown is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marbletown
    • Brereton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Brereton is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brereton
    • Cuba
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Cuba is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,149 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cuba <1>
    • Fiatt
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Knox County
    • Yates City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bishop, with the one closest to Bishop listed first.
    • New Holland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Emden
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Middletown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Hartsburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Bell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Bell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
    • Evans
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Evans is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
    • Broadwell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Broadwell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Elkhart
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Lincoln
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Menard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bishop, with the one closest to Bishop listed first.
    • Oakford
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Greenview
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Petersburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Croft
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Croft is located in Menard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
    • Athens
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Tallula
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Peoria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bishop, with the one closest to Bishop listed first.
    • Kingston Mines
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Glasford
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Mapleton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Bartonville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Hanna City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Trivoli
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Maxwell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Maxwell is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
    • Bellevue
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Bellevue is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,037 people
    • Norwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Norwood is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
    • West Peoria
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Edwards
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Peoria
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Pottstown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Pottstown is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown
  • Sangamon County
    • Cantrall
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Schuyler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bishop, with the one closest to Bishop listed first.
    • Bluff City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Bader
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Bader is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
    • Browning
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bishop, with the one closest to Bishop listed first.
    • Radville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Radville is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radville
    • Parkland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Parkland is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkland
    • Green Valley
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Winkel ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Winkel is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkel
    • Talbott
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Talbott is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talbott
    • South Pekin
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • South Pekin is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Pekin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,081 people
    • Stoehrs
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Stoehrs is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoehrs
    • Hawley ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Hawley is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawley
    • Midway
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Midway is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Powerton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Powerton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powerton
    • Delavan
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Crescent
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Crescent is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
    • Dillon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Dillon is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillon

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

Cemeteries Near Bishop ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bishop.

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 Bishop - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Bishop Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Quiver Presbyterian Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Heater Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Coon Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Pleasant View Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Rakestraw Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Steging Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Samm's Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Albright Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Meadow Lawn Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Oak GroveCemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (342 more) ...
    • St. Fredrick's Catholic Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Liverpool Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Easton Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bishop had a population of 109 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Forest City
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Forest City is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
  • Topeka
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Union
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Union is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
  • Poplar City
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Manito
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Liverpool
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Easton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Teheran
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Teheran is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
  • Maples Mill
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Maples Mill is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maples Mill
  • Havana
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Kelsey
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Kelsey is located in Mason County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsey
  • Banner
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Green Valley
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Sepo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Sepo is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sepo
    • Monterey
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Monterey is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey

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

Newspapers Published in Bishop ...

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 169 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bishop.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bishop, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bishop.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Bishop:

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 Bishop, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Bishop) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.