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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 Alger (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 Alger. 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 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.

Alger is located in Arenac County.

To see how the shape of Michigan's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Arenac County: Bay, Gladwin, Iosco & Ogemaw.

Below are the counties that are near Alger. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Alger:

  • Arenac County     (The home county of Alger)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alger, with the one closest to Alger listed first.
    • Sterling
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sterling have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterling
      • Sterling is located in Arenac County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 498 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sterling <2>
    • Standish
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Standish have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standish
      • Standish is located in Arenac County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,388 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Standish <2>
    • Omer
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Omer have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omer
      • Omer is located in Arenac County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 288 people
    • Twining
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Twining have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twining
      • Twining is located in Arenac County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
    • Turner
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Turner have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turner
      • Turner is located in Arenac County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
    • Saganing
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saganing
      • Saganing is located in Arenac County
    • Whites Beach
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whites Beach
      • Whites Beach is located in Arenac County
    • Au Gres
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Harmon City Heights
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Harmon City Heights have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmon City Heights
      • Harmon City Heights is located in Arenac County
  • Bay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alger, with the one closest to Alger listed first.
    • Bentley
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bentley have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
      • Bentley is located in Bay County
    • Mount Forest
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Forest
      • Mount Forest is located in Bay County
    • Nine Mile
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nine Mile
      • Nine Mile is located in Bay County
    • Woodville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Woodville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
      • Woodville is located in Bay County
    • Pinconning
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pinconning have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinconning
      • Pinconning is located in Bay County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,219 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pinconning <2>
    • Linwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Duel
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duel
      • Duel is located in Bay County
    • Brissette Beach
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brissette Beach
      • Brissette Beach is located in Bay County
    • Seidlers
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seidlers
      • Seidlers is located in Bay County
  • Clare County
    • Meredith
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meredith
      • Meredith is located in Clare County
  • Gladwin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alger, with the one closest to Alger listed first.
    • Sugar Rapids
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Rapids
      • Sugar Rapids is located in Gladwin County
    • Rhodes
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes
      • Rhodes is located in Gladwin County
    • White Star
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Star
      • White Star is located in Gladwin County
    • Wooden Shoe Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooden Shoe Village
      • Wooden Shoe Village is located in Gladwin County
    • Highwood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highwood
      • Highwood is located in Gladwin County
    • Gladwin
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Beaverton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
  • Iosco County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alger, with the one closest to Alger listed first.
    • Whittemore
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Whittemore have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittemore
      • Whittemore is located in Iosco County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 375 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Whittemore <2>
    • National City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for National City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for National City
      • National City is located in Iosco County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for National City <2>
    • Hale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Long Lake
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • White Rock ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for White Rock have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
      • White Rock is located in Iosco County
  • Midland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alger, with the one closest to Alger listed first.
    • Edenville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Edenville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edenville
      • Edenville is located in Midland County
    • Hope
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hope have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hope
      • Hope is located in Midland County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hope <2>
  • Ogemaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alger, with the one closest to Alger listed first.
    • Skidway Lake
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Skidway Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skidway Lake
      • Skidway Lake is located in Ogemaw County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Skidway Lake <2>
    • Prescott
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • West Branch
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Campbells Corners
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Campbells Corners have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbells Corners
      • Campbells Corners is located in Ogemaw County
    • Fayettes Corner ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayettes Corner
      • Fayettes Corner is located in Ogemaw County
    • Rose City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rose City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose City
      • Rose City is located in Ogemaw County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 629 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rose City <2>
    • Lupton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Damon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damon
      • Damon is located in Ogemaw County
    • South Branch
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Roscommon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alger, with the one closest to Alger listed first.
    • Saint Helen
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Prudenville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Prudenville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prudenville
      • Prudenville is located in Roscommon County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Prudenville <2>

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Alger, see our County-by-County Page for Alger.

Newspapers Published in Alger ...

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 26 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alger.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Alger, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Alger.

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 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 Alger:

Cemeteries Near Alger ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alger.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Alger covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Alger, with the one closest to Alger listed first.

  • Alger Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Bourret Twp. Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for the Bourret Twp. Cemetery. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<5>
    • The Bourret Twp. Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Bourret Cemetery
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bourret Twp. Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #144 <4>
  • Sterling Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sterling Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sterling Cemetery
  • St. George Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. George Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. George Cemetery
  • Mills Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mills Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mills Cemetery
  • Plains Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Plains Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Plains Cemetery
  • Clayton Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Clayton Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Clayton Cemetery
  • Edwards Twp. Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Joseph's Polish National Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Joseph's Polish National Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Joseph's Polish National Cemetery
  • Gibson Twp. Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Brookside Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Brookside Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Brookside Cemetery
  • St. Joseph's Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Joseph's Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Joseph's Cemetery
  • Continue List   (100 more) ...
    • St. Johns Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Johns Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Johns Cemetery
    • Woodmere Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Woodmere Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Woodmere Cemetery
    • Richland Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Richland Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Richland Cemetery

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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Alger had a post office and railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Alger, with the one closest to Alger listed first.

  • Greenwood
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Greenwood have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
    • Greenwood is located in Ogemaw County
  • Melita
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Melita have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melita
    • Melita is located in Arenac County
  • Sterling
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sterling have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterling
    • Sterling is located in Arenac County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 498 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sterling <2>
  • Maple Ridge
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Maple Ridge have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Ridge
    • Maple Ridge is located in Arenac County
  • Prescott
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • West Branch
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Standish
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Standish have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standish
    • Standish is located in Arenac County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,388 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Standish <2>
  • Selkirk
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Selkirk have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selkirk
    • Selkirk is located in Ogemaw County
  • Campbells Corners
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Campbells Corners have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbells Corners
    • Campbells Corners is located in Ogemaw County
  • Omer
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Omer have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omer
    • Omer is located in Arenac County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 288 people
  • Ogemaw Springs
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ogemaw Springs have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogemaw Springs
    • Ogemaw Springs is located in Ogemaw County
  • Rhodes
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes
    • Rhodes is located in Gladwin County
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Worth
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Worth have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worth
      • Worth is located in Arenac County
    • Arenac
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Arenac have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arenac
      • Arenac is located in Arenac County
    • McClure
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for McClure have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClure
      • McClure is located in Gladwin County

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Alger. See our List of 1890's Communities around Alger.

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Alger. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of Michigan: https://www.michigan.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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 from Point A (ie- Alger) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Alger. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 44.1256, Longitude: -84.1211       In this case, the coordinates for Alger have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<4>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.
<5>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<6>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 Alger, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 07 Apr 2024