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 Bear Spring (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 Bear Spring. 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.
Name Variations for Bear Spring ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Bear Spring: Bear Spg. (or less commonly used: Bear Spng. or Bear Sprng.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Bear Spring. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Bear Spring.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 and hospitals 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.
Bear Spring is located in Stewart County.
To see how the shape of Tennessee's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Stewart County: Calloway (KY), Christian (KY), Trigg (KY), Benton, Henry, Houston & Montgomery.
Below are the counties that are near Bear Spring. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bear Spring:
- Stewart County (The home county of Bear Spring)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Spring, with the one closest to Bear Spring listed first.
- Indian Mound
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dover
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Dover is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,578 people
- Former name for Dover:
- Monroe
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dover <1>
- Legate
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Legate is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Legate
- Throckmorton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Throckmorton is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Throckmorton
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,692 people
- Cumberland City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Parker Town ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Parker Town is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker Town
- Bumpus Mills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Snider
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Snider is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snider
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Spring, with the one closest to Bear Spring listed first.
- Faxon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Faxon is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faxon
- Big Sandy
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Brevards Ferry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Brevards Ferry is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brevards Ferry
- Estimated population in 2014: 40,982 people
- Cheatham County
- Henrietta
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Henrietta is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
- Estimated population in 2014: 921 people
- Dickson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Spring, with the one closest to Bear Spring listed first.
- Slayden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Slayden is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slayden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Woods Valley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Woods Valley is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Valley
- Dunn Chapel
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Dunn Chapel is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn Chapel
- Vanleer
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Stayton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Stayton is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stayton
- Tennessee City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tennessee City is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tennessee City
- Charlotte
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Spring, with the one closest to Bear Spring listed first.
- Oak Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Oak Hill is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,703 people
- Mount Vista ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Mount Vista is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vista
- Springville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Manleyville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Manleyville is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manleyville
- Oakland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oakland is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- India
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- India is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for India
- Conyersville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Conyersville is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conyersville
- Houston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Spring, with the one closest to Bear Spring listed first.
- Brownsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Brownsville is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Estimated population in 2014: 9,974 people
- Erin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Tennessee Ridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- McKinnon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- McKinnon is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinnon
- Magnolia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Magnolia is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Omega ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Omega is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
- Humphreys County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Spring, with the one closest to Bear Spring listed first.
- Halls Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Halls Creek is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Creek
- Trinity
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Trinity is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
- Estimated population in 2014: 625 people
- Pigeon Roost
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Pigeon Roost is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon Roost
- Estimated population in 2014: 6,132 people
- McEwen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Waverly
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Spring, with the one closest to Bear Spring listed first.
- Oakwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Oakwood is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Dotsonville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Dotsonville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotsonville
- Woodlawn
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Oakridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Oakridge is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakridge
- Estimated population in 2014: 29,303 people
- Louise Heights
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Louise Heights is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louise Heights
- Estimated population in 2014: 5,715 people
- Stryker Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Stryker Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stryker Village
- Louise
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Louise is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louise
- Clarksville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Liverworth
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Liverworth is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liverworth
- McAllisters Crossroads
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Wingate West
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Wingate West is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingate West
- Estimated population in 2014: 954 people
- Saint Bethlehem
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Southside
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Calloway County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Spring, with the one closest to Bear Spring listed first.
- New Concord
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- New Providence
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- New Providence is located in Calloway County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Providence
- Christian County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Spring, with the one closest to Bear Spring listed first.
- LaFayette
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bennettstown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bennettstown is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennettstown
- Garrettsburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Garrettsburg is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrettsburg
- Howel
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Howel is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howel
- Herndon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Herndon is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herndon
- Oak Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Newstead
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Newstead is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newstead
- Church Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Church Hill is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill
- Gracey
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Gracey is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gracey
- Hopkinsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pembroke
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Marshall County (KY)
- Aurora
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Trigg County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Spring, with the one closest to Bear Spring listed first.
- Caledonia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Caledonia is located in Trigg County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Canton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Canton is located in Trigg County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
- Cadiz
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Trigg Furnace
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Trigg Furnace is located in Trigg County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trigg Furnace
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bear Spring, see our County-by-County Page for Bear Spring.
Cemeteries Near Bear Spring ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bear Spring.
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 Bear Spring - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bear Spring covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bear Spring, with the one closest to Bear Spring listed first.
- Moore Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Brigham Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Glasgow Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Carlisle Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Austin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Heflin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Keatts Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hart Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hall Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Nelums Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Settle Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Byrd Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (804 more) ...
- Thompson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Dunbar Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Haus Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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>
While we didn't find Bear Spring in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bear Spring.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bear Spring, with the one closest to Bear Spring listed first.
- Indian Mound
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dover
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Dover is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,578 people
- Former name for Dover:
- Monroe
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dover <1>
- Legate
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Legate is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Legate
- Big Rock
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Cumberland City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Needmore
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Needmore is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needmore
- Bellamy ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Bellamy is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellamy
- Bumpus Mills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Oakwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Oakwood is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Stewart
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tennessee Ridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Erin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Tharpe
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Tharpe is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tharpe
- McKinnon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- McKinnon is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinnon
- Jordan Springs ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Jordan Springs is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan Springs
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bear Spring. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bear Spring.
Newspapers Published in Bear Spring ...
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 18 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bear Spring.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bear Spring, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bear Spring.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Bear Spring:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Stewart County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Cheatham County
- Dickson County
- Henry County
- Houston County
- Humphreys County
- Montgomery County
- Calloway County
- Christian County
- Marshall County
- Trigg County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Tennessee
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 Bear Spring, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bear Spring) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |