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 Bestwall (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 Bestwall. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Bestwall is located in Marshall County.
To see how the shape of Kansas' counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Marshall County: Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Riley, Washington, Gage (NE) & Pawnee (NE).
Below are the counties that are near Bestwall. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bestwall:
- Marshall County (The home county of Bestwall)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestwall, with the one closest to Bestwall listed first.
- Blue Rapids
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Alcove Spring ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Alcove Spring is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alcove Spring
- Irving ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Irving is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Waterville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Carden
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Carden is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carden
- Marysville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Winifred
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Winifred is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winifred
- Home
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Frankfort
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Frankfort is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort
- Population from the 2020 Census: 689 people
- Beattie
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Beattie is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beattie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 188 people
- Bremen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bremen is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bremen
- Marietta
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Marietta is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestwall, with the one closest to Bestwall listed first.
- Green
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Garfield Center
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Garfield Center is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield Center
- Oscar ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Oscar is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oscar
- Nemaha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestwall, with the one closest to Bestwall listed first.
- Baileyville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Baileyville is located in Nemaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baileyville
- Centralia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Pottawatomie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestwall, with the one closest to Bestwall listed first.
- Olsburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Blaine
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Blaine is located in Pottawatomie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blaine
- Fostoria
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Fostoria is located in Pottawatomie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
- Wheaton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wheaton is located in Pottawatomie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheaton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Duluth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Duluth is located in Pottawatomie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duluth
- Westmoreland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Onaga
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Riley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestwall, with the one closest to Bestwall listed first.
- Winkler
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Winkler is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkler
- Randolph
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Randolph is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- May Day
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- May Day is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May Day
- Walsburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Walsburg is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walsburg
- Lasita ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lasita is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lasita
- Leonardville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Leonardville is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leonardville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 432 people
- Leonardville has also been known as:
- Leonard
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Leonardville <1>
- Riley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Riley is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 955 people
- Former names for Riley:
- Riley Center
- Union
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Riley <1>
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestwall, with the one closest to Bestwall listed first.
- Barnes
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Chepstow
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Chepstow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chepstow
- Hanover
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Greenleaf
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Kimeo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Kimeo is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimeo
- Washington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Lanham
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Lanham is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanham
- Linn
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Hollenberg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hollenberg is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollenberg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 20 people
- Palmer
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Palmer is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Morrowville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Morrowville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrowville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
- Gage County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestwall, with the one closest to Bestwall listed first.
- Barneston
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Lanham
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Lanham is located in Gage County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanham
- Odell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Liberty
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Wymore
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Blue Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Jefferson County (NE)
- Steele City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bestwall, see our County-by-County Page for Bestwall.
Cemeteries Near Bestwall ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bestwall.
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 Bestwall - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bestwall covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bestwall, with the one closest to Bestwall listed first.
- Prospect Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Fairmont Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Saville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Elm Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Edinborough Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Riverside Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Marshall Center Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Keefover Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Kenyon Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Harbaugh Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (168 more) ...
- Antioch Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cottage Hill Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- St. Weneceslaus Catholic Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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>
While we didn't find Bestwall in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bestwall.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bestwall, with the one closest to Bestwall listed first.
- Blue Rapids
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Schroyer
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Schroyer is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schroyer
- Waterville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Irving ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Irving is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Reedsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Reedsville is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedsville
- Reedsville has also been known as:
- Hazelville
- Marysville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Home
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Barnes
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Herkimer
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Herkimer is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herkimer
- Frankfort
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Frankfort is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort
- Population from the 2020 Census: 689 people
- Chepstow
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Chepstow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chepstow
- Bremen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bremen is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bremen
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Beattie
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Beattie is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beattie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 188 people
- Vliets
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Vliets is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vliets
- Marietta
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Marietta is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bestwall. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bestwall.
Newspapers Published in Bestwall ...
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 179 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bestwall.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bestwall, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bestwall.
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 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 Bestwall:
- Websites specific to Kansas
- Pages specific to Marshall County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clay County
- Nemaha County
- Pottawatomie County
- Riley County
- Washington County
- Gage County
- Jefferson County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Kansas
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 Bestwall, 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 from Point A (ie- Bestwall) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |