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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Bristol. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Bristol to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Bristol, 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 Bristol (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 Bristol. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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 Bristol is historic, it would have been located within present day Effingham 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 Effingham County: Clay, Cumberland, Fayette, Jasper & Shelby.

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

  • Effingham County     (The home county of Bristol)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
    • Mason
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Mason is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 333 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mason <2>
    • Edgewood
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Gilmore
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Gilmore is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Watson
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Heartville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Heartville is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heartville
    • Dexter
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Dexter is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
    • Funkhouser
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Funkhouser is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funkhouser
    • Altamont
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Effingham
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Teutopolis
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Moccasin
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Moccasin is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
    • Shumway
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Dieterich
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
    • Iola
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Louisville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Ingraham
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Sailor Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Kenner
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Xenia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Flora
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Clay City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Camp Travis
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Camp Travis is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Travis
  • Cumberland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
    • Neoga
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Neoga is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neoga
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,585 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Neoga <2>
    • Jewett
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Walla Walla
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Walla Walla is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walla Walla
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
    • La Clede
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • La Clede is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
    • Farina
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Loogootee
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Saint Peter
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Howards Point ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Howards Point is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howards Point
    • Saint Elmo
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Avena
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Avena is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avena
    • Brownstown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Saint Paul
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
    • Holliday
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Holliday is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
    • Bluff City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Bluff City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Shobonier
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Vandalia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
    • Wheeler
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Lis
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Lis is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lis
    • Bogota
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Bogota is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogota
    • Newton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Falmouth
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Falmouth is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth
    • Rose Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Rose Hill is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
    • West Liberty
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • West Liberty is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Liberty
    • Hidalgo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
    • Kinmundy
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Omega
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Alma
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Iuka
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Bannister
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Vernon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Patoka
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Salem
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Union Town
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Union Town is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Town
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
    • Wakefield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Wakefield is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakefield
    • Passport
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Passport is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passport
    • Noble
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Dundas
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
    • Sigel
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Stewardson
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Fancher
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Fancher is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher
    • Mode
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Mode is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mode
    • Cowden
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Trowbridge
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Trowbridge is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trowbridge
    • Herrick
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Strasburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Lakewood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Lakewood is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
    • Rinard
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Johnsonville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Bristol ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bristol.

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

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

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

  • Old Mason Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Mason Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Edgewood Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Robinson Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Brown Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Wright Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Price Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Wabash Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Anne's Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Bailey Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Davidson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Fender Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (466 more) ...
    • New Hope Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Leith Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Brockett Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)

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 Bristol in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bristol.

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

  • Edgewood
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Mason
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Mason is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 333 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mason <2>
  • La Clede
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • La Clede is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
  • Gilmore
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Gilmore is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
  • Hill
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Hill is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill
  • Iola
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Hord
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Hord is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hord
  • Watson
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Riffle
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Riffle is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riffle
  • Eberle
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Eberle is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eberle
  • Farina
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Dexter
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Dexter is located in Effingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Elliottstown
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Elliottstown is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliottstown
    • Funkhouser
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Funkhouser is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funkhouser
    • Altamont
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Bristol ...

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 64 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bristol.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bristol, 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 Bristol.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Bristol:

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