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 Bethel (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 Bethel. 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 doctors and 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.
Bethel is located in Shelby 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 Shelby County: Knox, Lewis, Macon, Marion, Monroe & Randolph.
Below are the counties that are near Bethel. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bethel:
- Shelby County (The home county of Bethel)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Shelbyville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Shelbyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelbyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 512 people
- Kirby
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Kirby is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirby
- Leonard
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Emden
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Emden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emden
- Shelbina
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Kendall
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kendall is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
- Lentner
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lentner is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lentner
- Lakenan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Lakenan is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakenan
- Clarence
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hunnewell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hunnewell is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunnewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
- Enterprise
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Enterprise is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- Adair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Wilson
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Wilson is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Gibbs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Brashear
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Brashear is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brashear
- Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Plevna
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Plevna is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plevna
- Newark
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hedge City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hedge City is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedge City
- Novelty
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Jeddo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Jeddo is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeddo
- Knox City
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Edina
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Forest Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Forest Springs is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Springs
- Hurdland
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Hurdland is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurdland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 153 people
- Colony
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Colony is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Kenwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Kenwood is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenwood
- Baring
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Argola
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Argola is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argola
- La Belle
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Ewing
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Lewistown
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Durham
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- New Court Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- New Court Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Court Village
- Gilead
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Gilead is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
- Maywood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Maywood is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
- Sellers
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sellers is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- Monticello
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Monticello is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Weber
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Weber is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber
- Williamstown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Williamstown is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Anabel
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Anabel is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anabel
- Sue City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Sue City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sue City
- Economy
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Economy is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Economy
- Woodville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Woodville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Atlanta
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Atlanta is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlanta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 384 people
- Love Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Love Lake is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Love Lake
- Macon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- La Plata
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Excello
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bloomington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Bloomington is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomington
- Barnesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Barnesville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesville
- Bevier
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Nelsonville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Nelsonville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonville
- Philadelphia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Philadelphia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Taylor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Dodge City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Dodge City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Palmyra
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- North Fork
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- North Fork is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fork
- Monroe City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Granville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Granville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
- Woodlawn
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Woodlawn is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
- Stoutsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Duncans Bridge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Duncans Bridge is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncans Bridge
- Goss
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Goss is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goss
- Holliday
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Holliday is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Paris
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Ash
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ash is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash
- Madison
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Florida
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ralls County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- The Landing
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- The Landing is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Landing
- Rensselaer
(29 miles [46.7 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
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Shaver Ford is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaver Ford
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bethel, see our County-by-County Page for Bethel.
Cemeteries Near Bethel ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bethel.
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 Bethel - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bethel covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Pickett Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Hebron Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Zion Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Forest Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hiles Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Peoples Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fairview Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hickman Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Nelson Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Gray Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (179 more) ...
- Anderson Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Eaton Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Methodist Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bethel had a population of 246 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Bethel had a population of 112 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Epworth
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Epworth is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Epworth
- Kirby
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Kirby is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirby
- Shelbyville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Shelbyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelbyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 512 people
- Elgin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Elgin is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
- Plevna
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Plevna is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plevna
- Newark
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Leonard
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Oakdale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Oakdale is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Cherry Dell ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Cherry Dell is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Dell
- Steffenville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Steffenville is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steffenville
- Emden
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Emden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emden
- Hagers Grove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Hagers Grove is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagers Grove
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Cherry Box
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Cherry Box is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Box
- Lentner
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lentner is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lentner
- Shelbina
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bethel. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bethel.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Bethel ...
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 74 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bethel.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Bethel. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Bethel and those printed in the larger area surrounding Bethel.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Bethel.
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 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 Bethel:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Shelby County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adair County
- Knox County
- Lewis County
- Macon County
- Marion County
- Monroe County
- Ralls 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> | 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 Bethel, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- Bethel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |