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 Bedford (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 Bedford. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.
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 north 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.
Bedford is located in Calhoun 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 Calhoun County: Barry, Branch, Eaton, Hillsdale, Jackson, Kalamazoo & Saint Joseph.
Below are the counties that are near Bedford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bedford:
- Calhoun County (The home county of Bedford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Level Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Level Park is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Park
- Oak Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Park is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Park
- Springfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Verona Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Verona Park is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verona Park
- Pennfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Pennfield is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennfield
- Battle Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Brownlee Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Brownlee Park is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownlee Park
- Fort Custer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fort Custer is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Custer
- Former name for Fort Custer:
- Camp Custer
- Beadle Lake
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Beadle Lake is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beadle Lake
- Sonoma
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Sonoma is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
- West Leroy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- West Leroy is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Leroy
- Ceresco
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ceresco is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceresco
- Joppa
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Joppa is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa
- Allegan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Neeley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Neeley is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neeley
- Hooper
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Hooper is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooper
- Plainwell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Martin
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Shelbyville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Otsego
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Watson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Watson is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Bradley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bradley is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
- Wayland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Barry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Banfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Banfield is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banfield
- Hickory Corners
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dowling
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Dowling is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowling
- Cedar Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Creek is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
- Maple Grove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Maple Grove is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
- Delton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cloverdale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cloverdale is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Prairieville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Prairieville is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Morgan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Morgan is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Nashville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Doster
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Doster is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doster
- Hastings
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Irving
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Irving is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Branch County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Union City
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Hodunk
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Hodunk is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodunk
- Sherwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Sherwood is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 306 people
- Girard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Girard is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girard
- Eaton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Bellevue
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Ainger
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Ainger is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ainger
- Olivet
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Carlisle
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Carlisle is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
- Vermontville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Chester
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Chester is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chester
- Charlotte
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Gresham
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Gresham is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
- Little Venice
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Little Venice is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Venice
- Stalls Corner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Stalls Corner is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stalls Corner
- Woodbury
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Woodbury is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbury
- Charlesworth
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Charlesworth is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlesworth
- Needmore
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Needmore is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needmore
- Ionia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Lake Odessa
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Campbell Corners
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Campbell Corners is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Corners
- Clarksville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Devereaux
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Devereaux is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devereaux
- Springport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Kalamazoo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Augusta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- South Gull Lake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- South Gull Lake is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gull Lake
- Yorkville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Yorkville is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
- Highland Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Highland Park is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
- Galesburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Richland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Climax
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Climax is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Climax
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Comstock
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Comstock is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comstock
- Scotts
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- East Cooper
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- East Cooper is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cooper
- Eastwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Eastwood is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
- Parchment
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Pavillion Center
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Pavillion Center is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavillion Center
- Kent County
- Caledonia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Joseph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Factoryville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Factoryville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Factoryville
- Leonidas
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Mendon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Colon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Colon is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,155 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Colon <1>
- Parkville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Parkville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkville
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Kendall
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Kendall is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
- Mattawan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- North Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- North Lake is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Lake
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bedford, see our County-by-County Page for Bedford.
Cemeteries Near Bedford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bedford.
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 Bedford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bedford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Bedford Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Iden Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Holiday Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hamilton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Bedford Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bedford Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Haskell Home Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Checkered Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Day Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ft. Custer National Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Covey Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Reese Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (289 more) ...
- West Pennfield 'Hicks' Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pennfield 'Hicks' Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the West Pennfield 'Hicks' Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northwest of Pennfield.
- The West Pennfield 'Hicks' Cemetery has also been known as:
- Hicks Cemetery
- Hicks / West Pennfield Cemetery
- Pennfield Charter Twp. Hicks Cemetery
- West Pennfield Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #171020 <2>
- Stony Lake Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Post Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bedford had a population of 278 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Banfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Banfield is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banfield
- Battle Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Assyria
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Assyria is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Assyria
- Lacey
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Lacey is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
- Hickory Corners
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dowling
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Dowling is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowling
- Yorkville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Yorkville is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
- Cedar Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Creek is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
- Galesburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sonoma
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Sonoma is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
- Bellevue
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Maple Grove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Maple Grove is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Delton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Richland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Climax
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Climax is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Climax
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bedford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bedford.
Newspapers Published in Bedford ...
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 181 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bedford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bedford, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bedford.
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 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 Bedford:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Calhoun County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegan County
- Barry County
- Branch County
- Eaton County
- Ionia County
- Jackson County
- Kalamazoo County
- Kent County
- Saint Joseph County
- Van Buren County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Michigan
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 Bedford, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bedford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |