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 Bell Oak (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 Bell Oak. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Bell Oak is located in Ingham County.
To see how the shape of Michigan's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Ingham County: Clinton, Eaton, Jackson, Livingston, Shiawassee & Washtenaw.
Below are the counties that are near Bell Oak. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bell Oak:
- Ingham County (The home county of Bell Oak)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bell Oak, with the one closest to Bell Oak listed first.
- Webberville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Williamston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Meridian
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Meridian is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
- Pollok ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pollok is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pollok
- Pollok has also been known as:
- Pollock
- Haslett
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Okemos
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Dansville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- East Lansing
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Mason
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bunker Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bunker Hill is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
- Holt
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Lansing
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bell Oak, with the one closest to Bell Oak listed first.
- Bath
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Clinton Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Clinton Village is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton Village
- Gunnisonville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Gunnisonville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunnisonville
- East DeWitt
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- East DeWitt is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East DeWitt
- Price
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Price is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Price
- Ovid
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- De Witt
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Shepardsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Shepardsville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepardsville
- Duplain
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Duplain is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duplain
- Elsie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Johns
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Eaton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bell Oak, with the one closest to Bell Oak listed first.
- Millett
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Millett is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millett
- Millett has also been known as:
- Milletts
- Waverly
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Waverly is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Dimondale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Kingsland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Kingsland is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsland
- Petrieville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Petrieville is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petrieville
- West Windsor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- West Windsor is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Windsor
- Eaton Rapids
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Grand Ledge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Potterville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Genesee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bell Oak, with the one closest to Bell Oak listed first.
- Gaines
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Argentine
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Argentine is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argentine
- Duffield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Duffield is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duffield
- Linden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Fenton
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Swartz Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Bayport Park
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bayport Park is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayport Park
- Lake Fenton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Lake Fenton is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Fenton
- Lakeside
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Lakeside is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
- Flushing
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Brent Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Brent Creek is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brent Creek
- Grand Blanc
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Gratiot County
- Bannister
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bell Oak, with the one closest to Bell Oak listed first.
- Munith
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Waterloo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Waterloo is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
- Trist
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Trist is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trist
- Berryville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Berryville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
- Rives Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rives Junction is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rives Junction
- Tompkins
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Tompkins is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tompkins
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bell Oak, with the one closest to Bell Oak listed first.
- Fowlerville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cohoctah
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Cohoctah is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cohoctah
- Parkers Corners
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Parkers Corners is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkers Corners
- Oak Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Deer Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Deer Creek is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Creek
- Howell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Plainfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Plainfield is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield
- Gregory
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Anderson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Anderson is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
- Parshallville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Parshallville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parshallville
- Chubb's Corners ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Chubb's Corners is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chubb's Corners
- Chalkerville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Chalkerville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalkerville
- Chalkerville has also been known as:
- Chalkers Landing
- Oakland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bell Oak, with the one closest to Bell Oak listed first.
- Hickory Ridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Hickory Ridge is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Ridge
- West Highland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- West Highland is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Highland
- Clyde
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Highland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Holly
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Five Points
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Five Points is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Newark
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Newark is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- East Highland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- East Highland is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Highland
- Milford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Seven Harbors
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Seven Harbors is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Harbors
- Saginaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bell Oak, with the one closest to Bell Oak listed first.
- Chapin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Chapin is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
- Oakley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Shiawassee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bell Oak, with the one closest to Bell Oak listed first.
- Nicholson
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Nicholson is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicholson
- Morrice
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Perry
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Shaftsburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Shaftsburg is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaftsburg
- Bancroft
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Newburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Newburg is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Byron
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Laingsburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Durand
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Vernon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Corunna
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Middletown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Middletown is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Washtenaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bell Oak, with the one closest to Bell Oak listed first.
- Dover
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Dover is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Hudson Mills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hudson Mills is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudson Mills
- Chelsea
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Dexter
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bell Oak, see our County-by-County Page for Bell Oak.
Cemeteries Near Bell Oak ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bell Oak.
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 Bell Oak - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bell Oak covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bell Oak, with the one closest to Bell Oak listed first.
- In God We Trust Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Miller Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rowley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Webberville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Conway Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Brick Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Perry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Roselawn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Coffery Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Benjamin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Scribner Road Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (305 more) ...
- Beard Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Summit Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Cabot Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
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.<3>
While we didn't find Bell Oak in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bell Oak.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bell Oak, with the one closest to Bell Oak listed first.
- Webberville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Williamston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fowlerville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Perry
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Morrice
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Shaftsburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Shaftsburg is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaftsburg
- Meridian
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Meridian is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
- Fleming
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Fleming is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming
- Pittsburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Pittsburg is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg
- Cohoctah
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Cohoctah is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cohoctah
- Bancroft
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Okemos
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Dansville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Deer Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Deer Creek is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Creek
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bell Oak. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bell Oak.
Newspapers Published in Bell Oak ...
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 185 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bell Oak.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bell Oak, 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 Bell Oak.
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 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 Bell Oak:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Ingham County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clinton County
- Eaton County
- Genesee County
- Gratiot County
- Jackson County
- Livingston County
- Oakland County
- Saginaw County
- Shiawassee County
- Washtenaw County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Michigan
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> | 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. |
| <3> | 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 Bell Oak, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Bell Oak) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |