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 Bessie (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 Bessie. 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.
Bessie is located in Jackson County.
To see how the shape of North Carolina's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Jackson County: Haywood, Macon, Swain, Transylvania & Oconee (SC).
Below are the counties that are near Bessie. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bessie:
- Jackson County (The home county of Bessie)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Erastus
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Erastus is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erastus
- Glenville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cashiers
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Highlands
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Tuckasegee
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Forest Hills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Forest Hills is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
- Forest Hills has also been known as:
- Forest Hills village
- Village of Forest Hills
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Forest Hills <1>
- Cullowhee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- East Laport
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- East Laport is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
- Argura
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Argura is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argura
- Gay
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Gay is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gay
- Greens Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Greens Creek is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greens Creek
- Webster
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Webster is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- Dillsboro
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Cherokee County
- Topton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Haywood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Hazelwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Hazelwood is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
- Lavinia ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Lavinia is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavinia
- Maggie Valley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Waynesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Cruso
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cruso is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruso
- Sonoma ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sonoma is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
- Lake Junaluska
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Clyde
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Ellijay
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Lickskillet
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lickskillet is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickskillet
- Franklin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Scaly Mountain
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Riverside
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Riverside is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Otto
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Leatherman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Orlando
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Orlando is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Tellico
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Tellico is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tellico
- Fairview
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Fairview is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Swain County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Unahala
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Unahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unahala
- Cherokee
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Oconaluftee Indian Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bryson City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Almond
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wesser
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wesser is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesser
- Judson ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Judson is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
- Forney ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Forney is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forney
- Nantahala
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Nantahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nantahala
- Bushnell ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bushnell is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushnell
- Transylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Sapphire
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Lake Toxaway
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Toxaway Falls ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Toxaway Falls is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxaway Falls
- Balsam Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Rosman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- East Fork
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- East Fork is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fork
- Brevard
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Pisgah Forest
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Seven Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Seven Springs is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Springs
- Cedar Mountain
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Rabun County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Sky Valley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dillard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Antioch
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Antioch is located in Rabun County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Mountain City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Clayton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Germany
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Germany is located in Rabun County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germany
- Tiger
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wiley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lakemont
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Towns County (GA)
- Tate City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Tate City is located in Towns County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tate City
- Oconee County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Mountain Rest
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Tamassee
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Salem
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Longcreek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Walhalla
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Battle Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Battle Creek is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battle Creek
- West Union
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Pickens County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Rocky Bottom
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Rocky Bottom is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Bottom
- Sunset
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Nine Times
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Nine Times is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nine Times
- Crow Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Crow Creek is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow Creek
- Knob ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Knob is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bessie, see our County-by-County Page for Bessie.
Cemeteries Near Bessie ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bessie.
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 Bessie - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bessie covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Erastus Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Evvitt Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Norton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Strain Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Mt. Moriah Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Moriah Cemetery
- The Mt. Moriah Cemetery has also been known as:
- Goldmine Cemetery
- Miller Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Highlands Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Norton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lower Zachary Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Upper Zachary Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Horse Cove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Whiteside Cove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (312 more) ...
- Wilson Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Smook Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Woodring Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
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 Bessie in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bessie.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Glenville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cashiers
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Big Ridge
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Big Ridge is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Ridge
- Ellijay
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Highlands
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Fallcliff
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Fallcliff is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fallcliff
- Tuckasegee
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Cullasaja
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Cullasaja is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullasaja
- Cullowhee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Cowarts
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Cowarts is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowarts
- East Laport
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- East Laport is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
- Wolf Mountain
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Wolf Mountain is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Mountain
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Franklin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Scaly Mountain
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Webster
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Webster is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bessie. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bessie.
Newspapers Published in Bessie ...
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 23 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bessie.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bessie, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bessie.
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 Bessie:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Jackson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cherokee County
- Haywood County
- Macon County
- Swain County
- Transylvania County
- Rabun County
- Towns County
- Oconee County
- Pickens County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for North Carolina
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 Bessie, 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- Bessie) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |