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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 Bridges Mill (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 Bridges Mill. 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.

Name Variations for Bridges Mill ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

  • A typical abbreviation for Bridges Mill: Bridges Ml. (or less commonly used: Bridges Mll.)
  • While the name of this community is Bridges Mill, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Bridges Mill may originally have been Bridge's Mill.

    Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Bridges Mill might be written as Bridge Mill.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

Neighboring Parishes/Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring parishes/counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northwest corner of their home parish. During their lives, most doctors were in the next parish to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the parish to the north.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring parishes/counties instead of the parish in which they lived:  their home parish contained property and probate records; the parish to the west contained birth and death records; the parish to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring parishes/counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Bridges Mill is located in Claiborne Parish.

To see how the shape of Louisiana's parishes may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following parishes adjoin and form the boundaries of Claiborne Parish: Columbia (AR), Union (AR), Bienville, Lincoln, Union & Webster.

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

  • Claiborne Parish     (The home parish of Bridges Mill)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bridges Mill, with the one closest to Bridges Mill listed first.
    • Athens
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Darley
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Darley is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darley
    • Sugar Creek
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Sugar Creek is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Creek
    • Arizona
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Arizona is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arizona
    • Holly Springs
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Holly Springs is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
    • Homer
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Homer is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,789 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Homer <2>
    • Lisbon
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Blackburn
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Blackburn is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackburn
    • Summerfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Summerfield is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
    • Weldon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Weldon is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
    • Dykesville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Dykesville is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dykesville
    • Gordon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Gordon is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
    • Haynesville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Bienville Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bridges Mill, with the one closest to Bridges Mill listed first.
    • Arcadia
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Gibsland
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Mount Lebanon
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Mount Lebanon is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Lebanon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
    • Taylor
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Bryceland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Bryceland is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryceland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
    • Bienville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Sparta
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Sparta is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
    • Liberty Hill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Liberty Hill is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Hill
    • Jamestown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Lucky
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Lucky is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucky
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
    • Armistead
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Armistead is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armistead
    • English
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • English is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English
    • Castor
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Bossier Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bridges Mill, with the one closest to Bridges Mill listed first.
    • Haughton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Princeton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Jackson Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bridges Mill, with the one closest to Bridges Mill listed first.
    • Ansley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Ansley is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ansley
    • Quitman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • East Hodge
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • East Hodge is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hodge
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 270 people
    • Hodge
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • North Hodge
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • North Hodge is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hodge
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 372 people
    • Jonesboro
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Lincoln Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bridges Mill, with the one closest to Bridges Mill listed first.
    • Simsboro
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Vining Mills ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Vining Mills is located in Lincoln Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining Mills
    • Grambling
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Hico
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Hico is located in Lincoln Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hico
    • Vienna
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Vienna is located in Lincoln Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vienna
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 365 people
    • Dubach
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Ruston
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Unionville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Unionville is located in Lincoln Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionville
    • Cedarton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Cedarton is located in Lincoln Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarton
    • Choudrant
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Sibley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Sibley is located in Lincoln Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sibley
  • Union Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bridges Mill, with the one closest to Bridges Mill listed first.
    • Cane Ridge ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Cane Ridge is located in Union Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Ridge
    • Bernice
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Pisgah
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Pisgah is located in Union Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
    • Lillie
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Webster Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bridges Mill, with the one closest to Bridges Mill listed first.
    • Dubberly
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Minden
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Sibley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Heflin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Dixie Inn
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Dixie Inn is located in Webster Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie Inn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 266 people
    • Buckhorn ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Buckhorn is located in Webster Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
    • Yellow Pine
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Yellow Pine is located in Webster Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Pine
    • Doyline
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Cotton Valley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Shongaloo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Union County (AR)
    • Dodge City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Dodge City is located in Union County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bridges Mill, see our Parish-by-Parish Page for Bridges Mill.

Cemeteries Near Bridges Mill ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bridges Mill.

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 Bridges Mill - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Moore Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Brice Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Old Mt. Calm Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Mt. Calm Cemetery
    • The Old Mt. Calm Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Davis Family Cemetery
    • Mt. Calm Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
    • Mt. Calvary Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2290571 <3>
  • Hurricane Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Duty Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Duty Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Duty Cemetery is located outside and to the west of Arcadia.
  • Walker Community African-American Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Arcadia Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Sapp Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Craighead Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Whitley Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • New Herbron Baptist Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Alabama Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (263 more) ...
    • Macedonia Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Salem Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Upper Old Athens Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)

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

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

  • Arcadia
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Athens
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Marsalis
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Marsalis is located in Claiborne Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marsalis
  • Darley
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Darley is located in Claiborne Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darley
  • Gibsland
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Mount Lebanon
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Mount Lebanon is located in Bienville Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Lebanon
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
  • Sugar Creek
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Sugar Creek is located in Claiborne Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Creek
  • Taylor
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Aycock
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Aycock is located in Claiborne Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aycock
  • Langston
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Langston is located in Claiborne Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
  • Bear Creek
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Bear Creek is located in Bienville Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
  • Simsboro
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Knowles ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Knowles is located in Lincoln Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowles
    • Arizona
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Arizona is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arizona
    • Holly Springs
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Holly Springs is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs

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

Newspapers Published in Bridges Mill ...

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 56 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bridges Mill.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bridges Mill, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bridges Mill.

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 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 Bridges Mill:

Footnotes ...

<1>It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties).
<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>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 Bridges Mill, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Bridges Mill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.