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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals 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.
Bethel is located in Upshur County.
To see how the shape of Texas' counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Upshur County: Camp, Gregg, Marion, Morris, Smith & Wood.
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:
- Upshur County (The home county of Bethel)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- James
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- James is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James
- Diana
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Graceton
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Graceton is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graceton
- Glenwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Glenwood is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Indian Rock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Indian Rock is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Rock
- Ore City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Coffeeville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Coffeeville is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffeeville
- Gilmer
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Delrose
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Delrose is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delrose
- Union Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Union Grove is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 372 people
- Bettie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Bettie is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bettie
- Ewell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ewell is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewell
- Camp County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Center Point ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Center Point is located in Camp County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
- Pine
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Pine is located in Camp County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine
- Pittsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Harvard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Harvard is located in Camp County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard
- Leesburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rocky Mound
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rocky Mound is located in Camp County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Mound
- Population from the 2020 Census: 78 people
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Avinger
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Hughes Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Gregg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Judson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Seven Pines
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Seven Pines is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Pines
- East Mountain
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- East Mountain is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Mountain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 878 people
- Teneryville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Teneryville is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teneryville
- Warren City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Warren City is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
- White Oak
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Greggton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Greggton is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greggton
- Longview
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Clarksville City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Clarksville City is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksville City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 945 people
- Gladewater
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rolling Meadows
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Rolling Meadows is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rolling Meadows
- Danville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Danville is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Harrison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Morton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Morton is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morton
- Harleton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Noonday
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Noonday is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noonday
- Lansing
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lansing is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lansing
- Hallsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Nesbitt
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Nesbitt is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nesbitt
- Population from the 2010 Census: 281 people
- Woodlawn
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Woodlawn is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
- Marshall
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pope City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Pope City is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pope City
- Baldwin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Baldwin is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Jackson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Jackson is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
- Macedonia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Macedonia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
- Sarber
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sarber is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarber
- Kellyville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Kellyville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyville
- Jefferson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Lodi
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Morris County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Lone Star
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Jenkins
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Jenkins is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenkins
- Daingerfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Cason
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Rocky Branch
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Rocky Branch is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Branch
- Panola County
- Center Point ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Center Point is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
- Rusk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Laird Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Monroe
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Monroe is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Pirtle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Pirtle is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pirtle
- Jacobs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Jacobs is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacobs
- Sexton City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Sexton City is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexton City
- Tatum
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- New London
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Smith County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Starrville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Starrville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starrville
- Winona
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Browning
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Browning is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browning
- Jamestown ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Jamestown is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Jamestown has also been known as:
- Jimtown
- Wood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Perryville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Perryville is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perryville
- Hawkins
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Pine Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Pine Mills is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
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.
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Mattox Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Ashland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jones Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Glenwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- George Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Floyds Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Hill CME Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Davis Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- New Prospect Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Reynolds Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (198 more) ...
- East Mtn. Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hebron Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Hebron Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery is located
- The Hebron Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Hebron Baptist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #509000 <2>
- Eagle Creek 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.<3>
While we didn't find Bethel in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bethel.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Diana
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Glenwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Glenwood is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Judson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Coffeeville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Coffeeville is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffeeville
- West Mountain
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- West Mountain is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Mountain
- Gilmer
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Longview
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Bettie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Bettie is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bettie
- Gladewater
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ewell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ewell is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewell
- Pritchett
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Pritchett is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pritchett
- LaFayette
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- LaFayette is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaFayette
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Lansing
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lansing is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lansing
- Wilkins
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wilkins is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkins
- Hallsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
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 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 63 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bethel.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bethel, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bethel.
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 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 Bethel:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Upshur County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Camp County
- Cass County
- Gregg County
- Harrison County
- Marion County
- Morris County
- Panola County
- Rusk County
- Smith County
- Wood County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Texas
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 Bethel, 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 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'. |