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 Bessville (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 Bessville. 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 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.
Bessville is located in Bollinger 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 Bollinger County: Cape Girardeau, Madison, Perry, Stoddard & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Bessville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bessville:
- Bollinger County (The home county of Bessville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessville, with the one closest to Bessville listed first.
- Glenallen
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Glenallen is located in Bollinger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenallen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 83 people
- Grassy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Grassy is located in Bollinger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grassy
- Lutesville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lutesville is located in Bollinger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lutesville
- Marble Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Seopus
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Seopus is located in Bollinger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seopus
- Patton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Patton Junction
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Patton Junction is located in Bollinger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patton Junction
- Leopold
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Leopold is located in Bollinger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leopold
- Laflin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Laflin is located in Bollinger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laflin
- Buchanan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Buchanan is located in Bollinger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buchanan
- Sedgewickville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sedgewickville is located in Bollinger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedgewickville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
- Zalma
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Zalma is located in Bollinger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zalma
- Estimated population in 2016: 89 people
- Cape Girardeau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessville, with the one closest to Bessville listed first.
- Gravel Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Gravel Hill is located in Cape Girardeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravel Hill
- Burfordville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Crump
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Crump is located in Cape Girardeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crump
- Millersville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Whitewater
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Whitewater is located in Cape Girardeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitewater
- Population from the 2020 Census: 123 people
- Daisy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Daisy is located in Cape Girardeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daisy
- Friedheim
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Ridge
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Allenville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Allenville is located in Cape Girardeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 118 people
- Cliff ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cliff is located in Cape Girardeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliff
- Green Cox
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Green Cox is located in Cape Girardeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Cox
- Delta
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Delta is located in Cape Girardeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 421 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Delta <1>
- Iron County
- Des Arc
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Des Arc is located in Iron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Des Arc
- Population from the 2020 Census: 162 people
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessville, with the one closest to Bessville listed first.
- Marquand
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Marquand is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marquand
- Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
- Cornwall
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cornwall is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornwall
- Cobalt
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cobalt is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobalt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- Millcreek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Millcreek is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millcreek
- Fredericktown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Junction City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Junction City is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 314 people
- Saco
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Saco is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saco
- Mine La Motte
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mine La Motte is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mine La Motte
- Tin Mountain
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Tin Mountain is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tin Mountain
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessville, with the one closest to Bessville listed first.
- Millheim
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Millheim is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millheim
- Biehle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Biehle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biehle
- Silver Lake
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Silver Lake is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
- Longtown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Longtown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longtown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
- Uniontown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Uniontown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Perryville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Eureka
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Eureka is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Saint Francois County
- Knob Lick
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Knob Lick is located in Saint Francois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob Lick
- Sainte Genevieve County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessville, with the one closest to Bessville listed first.
- Womack
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Womack is located in Sainte Genevieve County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Womack
- Avon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Avon is located in Sainte Genevieve County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Clearwater
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Clearwater is located in Sainte Genevieve County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clearwater
- Coffman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Coffman is located in Sainte Genevieve County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffman
- Minnith
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Minnith is located in Sainte Genevieve County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnith
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessville, with the one closest to Bessville listed first.
- Perkins
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Perkins is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perkins
- Chaffee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Caney Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Caney Creek is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caney Creek
- Stoddard County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessville, with the one closest to Bessville listed first.
- Advance
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Brownwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Brownwood is located in Stoddard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
- Leora
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Leora is located in Stoddard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leora
- Painton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Painton is located in Stoddard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Painton
- Tillman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Tillman is located in Stoddard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tillman
- Bell City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bell City is located in Stoddard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 422 people
- Puxico
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessville, with the one closest to Bessville listed first.
- Cascade
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cascade is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cascade
- Clubb
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Clubb is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clubb
- Hiram
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Hiram is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hiram
- Lowndes
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Lowndes is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowndes
- McGee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- McGee is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGee
- Lodi
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Lodi is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
- Bounds
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Bounds is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bounds
- Silva
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Silva is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silva
- Shook
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Shook is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shook
- Brunot
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Brunot is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brunot
- Greenville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Patterson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bessville, see our County-by-County Page for Bessville.
Cemeteries Near Bessville ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bessville.
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 Bessville - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bessville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bessville, with the one closest to Bessville listed first.
- McMahan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Moores Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Berry Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hawn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Blaylock Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Moores Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Mouser Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Deck Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wallis Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Slinkard Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Myers Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Buehler Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (350 more) ...
- Bess Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Lincoln Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Whitener Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitener Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Whitener Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the south of Marquand.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #32266 <2>
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bessville had a population of 43 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bessville, with the one closest to Bessville listed first.
- Glenallen
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Glenallen is located in Bollinger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenallen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 83 people
- Marquand
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Marquand is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marquand
- Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
- Lutesville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lutesville is located in Bollinger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lutesville
- Marble Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Patton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Gravelton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Gravelton is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravelton
- Leopold
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Leopold is located in Bollinger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leopold
- Cornwall
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cornwall is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornwall
- Buchanan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Buchanan is located in Bollinger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buchanan
- Laflin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Laflin is located in Bollinger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laflin
- Zion
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Zion is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
- Gravel Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Gravel Hill is located in Cape Girardeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravel Hill
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Alliance
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Alliance is located in Bollinger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alliance
- Zalma
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Zalma is located in Bollinger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zalma
- Estimated population in 2016: 89 people
- Crump
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Crump is located in Cape Girardeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crump
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bessville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bessville.
Newspapers Published in Bessville ...
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 57 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bessville.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bessville, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bessville.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Bessville:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Bollinger County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cape Girardeau County
- Iron County
- Madison County
- Perry County
- Saint Francois County
- Sainte Genevieve County
- Scott County
- Stoddard County
- Wayne County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Missouri
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 Bessville, 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- Bessville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |