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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 Alton (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 Alton. 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.

Alton is located in Kent County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Kent County: Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo & Ottawa.

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

  • Kent County     (The home county of Alton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alton, with the one closest to Alton listed first.
    • Parnell
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Parnell is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
    • Grattan
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Grattan is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grattan
    • Lowell
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Cannonsburg
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Segwun
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Segwun is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Segwun
    • Ada
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Forest Hills
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Forest Hills is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
    • Alto
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Harvard
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Harvard is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard
    • Rockford
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Northview
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Northview is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northview
    • Belmont
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Allegan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alton, with the one closest to Alton listed first.
    • Moline
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Moline is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
    • Dorr
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Wayland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • New Salem
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • New Salem is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
    • Bradley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Bradley is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
    • Hilliards
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Hilliards is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
  • Barry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alton, with the one closest to Alton listed first.
    • Freeport
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Middleville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Irving
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Irving is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
    • Woodland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Woodland is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 449 people
    • Hastings
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Morgan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Morgan is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alton, with the one closest to Alton listed first.
    • Westphalia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Fowler
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Eaton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alton, with the one closest to Alton listed first.
    • Woodbury
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Woodbury is located in Eaton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbury
    • Sunfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Mulliken
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Little Venice
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Little Venice is located in Eaton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Venice
  • Ionia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alton, with the one closest to Alton listed first.
    • Smyrna
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Belding
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Saranac
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Orleans
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Orleans is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
    • Elmdale
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Elmdale is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmdale
    • Clarksville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Ionia
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • South Ionia
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • South Ionia is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ionia
    • Woods Corners
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Woods Corners is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Corners
    • Shiloh
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Shiloh is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
    • Campbell Corners
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Campbell Corners is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Corners
    • Lake Odessa
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
  • Montcalm County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alton, with the one closest to Alton listed first.
    • Greenville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Eureka Place
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Eureka Place is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Place
    • Amsden
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Amsden is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amsden
    • Gowen
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Fenwick
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Fenwick is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenwick
    • Sheridan
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Sidney
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Trufant
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Langston
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Langston is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
    • Pierson
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Vickeryville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Vickeryville is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vickeryville
    • Stanton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
  • Muskegon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alton, with the one closest to Alton listed first.
    • Bailey
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Canada Corners
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Canada Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Corners
  • Newaygo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alton, with the one closest to Alton listed first.
    • Sun
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Sun is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun
    • Ashland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Ashland is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
  • Ottawa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alton, with the one closest to Alton listed first.
    • Jenison
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Wright
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Wright is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
    • Marne
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Conklin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Hudsonville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Lamont
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Lamont is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
    • Jamestown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Jamestown is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
    • Bauer
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Bauer is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
    • Forest Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Forest Grove is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove
    • Coopersville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Allendale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Eastmanville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Eastmanville is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastmanville

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

Cemeteries Near Alton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alton.

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 Alton - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Alton Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Fallass Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Mason Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Parnell Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Vergennes Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Krum Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Fox's Corner Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox's Corner Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Fox's Corner Cemetery is located outside and to the north of Lowell.
    • The Fox's Corner Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Foxes Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2181718 <2>
  • St. Mary Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Oakwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Grattan Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Marble Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (288 more) ...
    • Wright Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Pinckney Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • St. Mary's Catholic 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Alton had a population of 75 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Fallassburg
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Fallassburg is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fallassburg
  • Parnell
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Parnell is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
  • Grattan
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Grattan is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grattan
  • Lowell
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Smyrna
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Cannonsburg
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Ada
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Belding
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Saranac
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Cascade
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Cascade is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cascade
  • Chauncey
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Chauncey is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chauncey
  • Whitneyville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Whitneyville is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitneyville
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Alto
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Elmdale
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Elmdale is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmdale
    • Orleans
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Orleans is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans

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

Newspapers Published in Alton ...

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 250 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alton.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Alton, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Alton.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Alton:

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 Alton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Alton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.