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 La Belle (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 La Belle. 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 hospitals and 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.
La Belle is located in Lewis 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 Lewis County: Adams (IL), Hancock (IL), Clark, Knox, Marion & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near La Belle. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to La Belle:
- Lewis County (The home county of La Belle)
- The following are listed by their distance from La Belle, with the one closest to La Belle listed first.
- Lewistown
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- New Court Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- New Court Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Court Village
- Monticello
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Monticello is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Williamstown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Williamstown is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
- Argola
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Argola is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argola
- Ewing
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sellers
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Sellers is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- Gilead
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Gilead is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
- Durham
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Weber
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Weber is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber
- Canton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Maywood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Maywood is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
- Adair County
- The following are listed by their distance from La Belle, with the one closest to La Belle listed first.
- Brashear
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Brashear is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brashear
- Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
- Wilson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Wilson is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Gibbs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Bullion ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Bullion is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullion
- Clark County
- The following are listed by their distance from La Belle, with the one closest to La Belle listed first.
- Neeper
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Neeper is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neeper
- Wyaconda
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Wyaconda is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyaconda
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Saint Patrick
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Patrick is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
- Luray
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Luray is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 94 people
- Medill
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Medill is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medill
- Kahoka
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Clark City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Clark City is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark City
- Wayland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Wayland is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
- Chambersburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Chambersburg is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambersburg
- Revere
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Peaksville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Peaksville is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaksville
- Alexandria
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from La Belle, with the one closest to La Belle listed first.
- Jeddo
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Jeddo is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeddo
- Forest Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Springs is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Springs
- Knox City
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Newark
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Colony
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Colony is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Hedge City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hedge City is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedge City
- Plevna
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Plevna is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plevna
- Edina
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Rutledge
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Baring
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Novelty
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Greensburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Greensburg is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greensburg
- Macon County
- Sue City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sue City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sue City
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from La Belle, with the one closest to La Belle listed first.
- Nelsonville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Nelsonville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonville
- Philadelphia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Philadelphia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Taylor
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Dodge City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Dodge City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Palmyra
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Scotland County
- The following are listed by their distance from La Belle, with the one closest to La Belle listed first.
- Gorin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Gorin is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gorin
- South Gorin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- South Gorin is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gorin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Pleasant Retreat
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Retreat is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Retreat
- Arbela
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Granger
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Granger is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
- Unity
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Unity is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unity
- Memphis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from La Belle, with the one closest to La Belle listed first.
- Bethel
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Leonard
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Kirby
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Kirby is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirby
- Emden
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Emden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emden
- Shelbyville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Shelbyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelbyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 512 people
- Kendall
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Kendall is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
- Shelbina
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Lakenan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lakenan is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakenan
- Lentner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lentner is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lentner
- Adams County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from La Belle, with the one closest to La Belle listed first.
- Meyer
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Meyer is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
- Lima
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Marcelline
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Marcelline is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcelline
- Ursa
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Quincy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hancock County (IL)
- Warsaw
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to La Belle, see our County-by-County Page for La Belle.
Cemeteries Near La Belle ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of La Belle.
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 La Belle - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for La Belle covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from La Belle, with the one closest to La Belle listed first.
- LaBelle Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Bondurant Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Midway Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Knox City Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Washburn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Withers Family Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Glover Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Chapel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Cecil Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Newark Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Newark Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<3> to the west of Newark.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #30509 <2>
- Prim Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (198 more) ...
- Bancert Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Morris Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- East Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that La Belle had a population of 702 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, La Belle had a population of 631 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from La Belle, with the one closest to La Belle listed first.
- Forest Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Springs is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Springs
- Lewistown
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Knox City
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Deer Ridge
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Deer Ridge is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Ridge
- Newark
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Steffenville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Steffenville is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steffenville
- Argola
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Argola is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argola
- Colony
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Colony is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Tolona
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Tolona is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolona
- Monticello
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Monticello is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Bunker Hill ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bunker Hill is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
- Williamstown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Williamstown is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Hedge City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hedge City is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedge City
- Plevna
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Plevna is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plevna
- Elgin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Elgin is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around La Belle. See our List of 1890's Communities around La Belle.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of La Belle ...
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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around La Belle.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of La Belle. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of La Belle and those printed in the larger area surrounding La Belle.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of La Belle.
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 La Belle:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Lewis County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adair County
- Clark County
- Knox County
- Macon County
- Marion County
- Scotland County
- Shelby County
- Adams County
- Hancock 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- La Belle) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 La Belle, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |