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 Bemis (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 Bemis. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.
Bemis is located in Randolph County.
To see how the shape of West Virginia's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Randolph County: Barbour, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Tucker, Upshur & Webster.
Below are the counties that are near Bemis. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bemis:
- Randolph County (The home county of Bemis)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bemis, with the one closest to Bemis listed first.
- Evenwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Evenwood is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evenwood
- Beverly
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Wymer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Wymer is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wymer
- Canfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Canfield is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canfield
- Elkins
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Whitmer
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Whitmer is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitmer
- Leadsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Leadsville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leadsville
- Gilman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gilman is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilman
- Harman
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Whyte
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Whyte is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whyte
- Womelsdorf
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Womelsdorf is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Womelsdorf
- Population from the 2020 Census: 235 people
- Mill Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Mill Creek is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
- Harperton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Harperton is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harperton
- Barbour County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bemis, with the one closest to Bemis listed first.
- Junior
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Junior is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junior
- Population from the 2020 Census: 483 people
- Belington
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Huffman ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Huffman is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffman
- Wilmoth ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wilmoth is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmoth
- Valley Bend
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Clements ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Clements is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clements
- Audra
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Audra is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Audra
- Calhoun
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Calhoun is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
- Kalamazoo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kalamazoo is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalamazoo
- Vannoys Mill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Vannoys Mill is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vannoys Mill
- Union
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Union is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Tygart Junction
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Tygart Junction is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tygart Junction
- Valley Furnace
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Valley Furnace is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Furnace
- Grant County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bemis, with the one closest to Bemis listed first.
- Hopeville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hopeville is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Pansy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Pansy is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pansy
- Pendleton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bemis, with the one closest to Bemis listed first.
- Circleville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Onego
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Onego is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onego
- Dry Run
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Dry Run is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Run
- Macksville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Macksville is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksville
- Zigler
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Zigler is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zigler
- Ruddle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Ruddle is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruddle
- Franklin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Harper
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Harper is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Brushy Run
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Brushy Run is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Run
- Ketterman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Ketterman is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ketterman
- Kline
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Kline is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kline
- Moyers
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Moyers is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moyers
- Brandywine
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pocahontas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bemis, with the one closest to Bemis listed first.
- Wildell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Wildell is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildell
- Thornwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Thornwood is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornwood
- Durbin
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Frank
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Frank is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frank
- Arbovale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Green Bank
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Cass
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Tucker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bemis, with the one closest to Bemis listed first.
- Pleasant Run
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Run is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Run
- Porterwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Porterwood is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterwood
- Gladwin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gladwin is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladwin
- Elk
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Elk is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk
- Hambleton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Hambleton is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hambleton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 212 people
- Hendricks
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Hendricks is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendricks
- Population from the 2020 Census: 254 people
- Parsons
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Canaan Valley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Coketon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Coketon is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coketon
- Davis
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Thomas
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pierce
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Pierce is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierce
- Upshur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bemis, with the one closest to Bemis listed first.
- Gormley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Gormley is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gormley
- Queens
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Queens is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queens
- Sand Run
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Sand Run is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Run
- Excelsior
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Excelsior is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
- Swamp Run
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Swamp Run is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swamp Run
- Overhill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Overhill is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overhill
- Beans Mill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Beans Mill is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Mill
- Sellers ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Sellers is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- Tallmansville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Tenmile
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Tenmile is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenmile
- Alton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Alton is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alton
- Alexander
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Alexander is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
- Reger
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Reger is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reger
- Highland County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bemis, with the one closest to Bemis listed first.
- Hightown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Hightown is located in Highland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightown
- Possum Trot
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Possum Trot is located in Highland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possum Trot
- Monterey
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Meadowdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Meadowdale is located in Highland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowdale
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bemis, see our County-by-County Page for Bemis.
Cemeteries Near Bemis ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bemis.
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 Bemis - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bemis covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bemis, with the one closest to Bemis listed first.
- IOOF Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for IOOF Cemetery
- The IOOF Cemetery has also been known as:
- Elkins Memorial Gardens
- Odd Fellows Cemetery
- Beverly Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Mt. Iser Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Stalnaker Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- White Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- St. Brendens Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Laurel Hill Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Little Arlington Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Arlington Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Little Arlington Cemetery is located outside and to the east of Leadsville.
- The Little Arlington Cemetery has also been known as:
- American Legion Little Arlington Cemetery
- Maplewood Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Crouch Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Coffman Chapel Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Mountain State Memorial Gardens
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (105 more) ...
- Kerns Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Old Brick Church Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ft. Milroy Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
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 Bemis in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bemis.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bemis, with the one closest to Bemis listed first.
- Glady
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Faulkner
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Faulkner is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faulkner
- Beverly
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Osceola
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Osceola is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Alpena
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Alpena is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpena
- Elkins
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Job
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Job is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Job
- Leadsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Leadsville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leadsville
- Gilman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gilman is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilman
- Whyte
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Whyte is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whyte
- Huff ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Huff is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huff
- Huttonsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Kerens
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Kerens is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerens
- Pettit ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Pettit is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pettit
- Cassity
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Cassity is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassity
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bemis. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bemis.
Newspapers Published in Bemis ...
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 28 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bemis.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bemis, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bemis.
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 Bemis:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Randolph County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barbour County
- Grant County
- Pendleton County
- Pocahontas County
- Tucker County
- Upshur County
- Highland County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for West Virginia
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 Bemis, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Bemis) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |