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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 Bissell (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 Bissell. 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.

Bissell is located in Sangamon 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 Sangamon County: Christian, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery & Morgan.

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

  • Sangamon County     (The home county of Bissell)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bissell, with the one closest to Bissell listed first.
    • Riverton
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Spaulding
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Spaulding is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 836 people
    • Clear Lake
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Clear Lake is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
    • Grandview
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Grandview is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,369 people
    • Sherman
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Ridgely
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Ridgely is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgely
    • Springfield
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Dawson
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Rochester
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Hawthorne Place
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Hawthorne Place is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorne Place
    • Jerome
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Jerome is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,575 people
    • Leland Grove
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Leland Grove is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,451 people
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bissell, with the one closest to Bissell listed first.
    • Ashland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Newmansville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Newmansville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
    • Gurney ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Gurney is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
    • Sylvan ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Sylvan is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
    • Philadelphia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Philadelphia is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Old Princeton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Old Princeton is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Princeton
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bissell, with the one closest to Bissell listed first.
    • Bolivia
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Bolivia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivia
    • Edinburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Mount Auburn
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Grove City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Grove City is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
    • Tovey
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Tovey is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tovey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 467 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tovey <1>
    • Bulpitt
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Kincaid
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Jeisyville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Jeisyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeisyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
    • Sharpsburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Sharpsburg is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
    • Zenobia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Zenobia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenobia
    • Langleyville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Langleyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langleyville
    • Stonington
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bissell, with the one closest to Bissell listed first.
    • Cornland
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Elkhart
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake Fork
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Broadwell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Broadwell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Middletown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Mount Pulaski
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Chestervale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
    • Latham
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • New Holland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Lincoln
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Chestnut
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Bell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Bell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bissell, with the one closest to Bissell listed first.
    • Niantic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Blue Mound
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Harristown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Boody
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Warrensburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Bearsdale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Bearsdale is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
  • Macoupin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bissell, with the one closest to Bissell listed first.
    • Virden
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Girard
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bissell, with the one closest to Bissell listed first.
    • Mason City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Teheran
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Teheran is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
    • Natrona
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Natrona is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
    • Easton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Kilbourne
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Menard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bissell, with the one closest to Bissell listed first.
    • Athens
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Croft
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Croft is located in Menard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
    • Greenview
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Petersburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Tallula
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Oakford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bissell, with the one closest to Bissell listed first.
    • White Oak
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • White Oak is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
    • Farmersville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bissell, with the one closest to Bissell listed first.
    • Prentice
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Prentice is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prentice
    • Alexander
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Waverly
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Franklin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Bissell ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bissell.

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

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

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

  • Bissell Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bissell Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Bissell Cemetery is located 5 miles [8 km]<2> to the northeast of Springfield.
    • The Bissell Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Churchill Cemetery
    • German Prairie Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #104767 <3>
  • Roselawn Memorial Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Camp Butler National Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Ladysmith Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Mallory Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Taylor Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Wolf Creek Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Calvary Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Springfield.
    • The Calvary Cemetery has also been known as:
    • German Catholic Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #104996 <3>
  • Oak Ridge Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Lincoln Tomb
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Kern Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (286 more) ...
    • Martin Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Stewart Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Bice Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)

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.<4>

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

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

  • Riverton
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Spaulding
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Spaulding is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 836 people
  • Ridgely
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Ridgely is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgely
  • Sherman
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Barclay
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Barclay is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barclay
  • Springfield
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Rochester
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Dawson
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Williamsville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Bradfordton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Bradfordton is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradfordton
  • Buffalo Hart
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Buffalo Hart is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Hart
  • Cantrall
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Buffalo
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Woodside
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Woodside is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodside
    • Cotton Hill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Cotton Hill is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Hill

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

Newspapers Published in Bissell ...

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 Bissell.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bissell, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bissell.

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 websites either 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 Bissell:

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