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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 Bellville (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 Bellville. 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 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.

Bellville is located in Marion County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Marion County: Adams (IL), Pike (IL), Lewis, Monroe, Ralls & Shelby.

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

  • Marion County     (The home county of Bellville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellville, with the one closest to Bellville listed first.
    • Philadelphia
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Philadelphia is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Nelsonville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Nelsonville is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonville
    • Dodge City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Dodge City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
    • Palmyra
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Taylor
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Helton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Helton is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
    • Hannibal
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Oakwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Oakwood is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
    • Cave City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Cave City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave City
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellville, with the one closest to Bellville listed first.
    • Newark
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Plevna
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Plevna is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plevna
    • Jeddo
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Jeddo is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeddo
    • Hedge City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Hedge City is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedge City
    • Novelty
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Knox City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Forest Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Forest Springs is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Springs
  • Lewis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellville, with the one closest to Bellville listed first.
    • Argola
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Argola is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argola
    • Durham
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Ewing
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Maywood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Maywood is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
    • Gilead
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Gilead is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
    • Weber
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Weber is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber
    • Lewistown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Sellers
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Sellers is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
    • New Court Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • New Court Village is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Court Village
    • La Belle
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Monticello
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Monticello is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
    • La Grange
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Canton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellville, with the one closest to Bellville listed first.
    • Anabel
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Anabel is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anabel
    • Woodville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Woodville is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
  • Monroe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellville, with the one closest to Bellville listed first.
    • Monroe City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • North Fork
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • North Fork is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fork
    • Stoutsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Goss
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Goss is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goss
    • Florida
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Granville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Granville is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
    • Paris
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Woodlawn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Woodlawn is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
    • Holliday
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Holliday is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
    • Duncans Bridge
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Duncans Bridge is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncans Bridge
    • Santa Fe
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Santa Fe is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santa Fe
    • Madison
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Ash
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Ash is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash
  • Ralls County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellville, with the one closest to Bellville listed first.
    • The Landing
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • The Landing is located in Ralls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Landing
    • Rensselaer
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Rensselaer is located in Ralls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rensselaer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
    • Shaver Ford ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Shaver Ford is located in Ralls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaver Ford
    • Greenlawn
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Greenlawn is located in Ralls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlawn
    • Center
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Perry
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • New London
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Madisonville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Madisonville is located in Ralls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonville
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellville, with the one closest to Bellville listed first.
    • Emden
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Emden is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emden
    • Kendall
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Kendall is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
    • Hunnewell
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Hunnewell is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunnewell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
    • Lakenan
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Lakenan is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakenan
    • Shelbyville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Shelbyville is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelbyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 512 people
    • Bethel
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Shelbina
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Kirby
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Kirby is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirby
    • Lentner
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Lentner is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lentner
    • Leonard
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Clarence
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Enterprise
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Enterprise is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
  • Adams County (IL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellville, with the one closest to Bellville listed first.
    • Marblehead
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Marblehead is located in Adams County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marblehead
    • Quincy
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Quincy is located in Adams County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 39,589 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Quincy <1>
    • Fall Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Fall Creek is located in Adams County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Creek
    • Ewbanks
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Ewbanks is located in Adams County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewbanks
  • Pike County (IL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellville, with the one closest to Bellville listed first.
    • Shepherd
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Shepherd is located in Pike County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepherd
    • Spencer
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Spencer is located in Pike County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer

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

Cemeteries Near Bellville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bellville.

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

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

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

  • Andrew Chapel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Calvert Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Ebenezer Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • How Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Cobb Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Terrell Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Coleman Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Philadelphia Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Hunnewell Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Methodist Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (209 more) ...
    • Holy Rosary Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • St. Jude Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • St. Judes Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)

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

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

  • Emden
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Emden is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emden
  • Warren
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Warren is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
  • Oakdale
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Oakdale is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
  • Kendall
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Kendall is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
  • Philadelphia
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Philadelphia is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
  • Hunnewell
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Hunnewell is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunnewell
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
  • Cherry Dell ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Cherry Dell is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Dell
  • Lakenan
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Lakenan is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakenan
  • Monroe City
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Emerson
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Emerson is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson
  • Benbow
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Benbow is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benbow
  • Nelsonville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Nelsonville is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonville
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Ely
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Ely is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ely
    • Shelbyville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Shelbyville is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelbyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 512 people
    • Shelbina
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Bellville ...

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 98 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bellville.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bellville, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bellville.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Bellville:

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 Bellville, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Bellville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.