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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 Bentley (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 Bentley. 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.

Bentley is located in Bay 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 Bay County: Arenac, Gladwin, Midland, Saginaw & Tuscola.

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

  • Bay County     (The home county of Bentley)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bentley, with the one closest to Bentley listed first.
    • Mount Forest
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Forest
      • Mount Forest is located in Bay County
    • Nine Mile
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nine Mile
      • Nine Mile is located in Bay County
    • Woodville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • 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
      (10 miles [16.1 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>
    • Duel
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duel
      • Duel is located in Bay County
    • Linwood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Seidlers
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seidlers
      • Seidlers is located in Bay County
    • Willard
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willard
      • Willard is located in Bay County
    • Brissette Beach
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brissette Beach
      • Brissette Beach is located in Bay County
    • Kawkawlin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Auburn
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Fisherville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisherville
      • Fisherville is located in Bay County
    • Wenona Beach ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Wenona Beach. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona Beach
      • Wenona Beach is located in Bay County
  • Arenac County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bentley, with the one closest to Bentley listed first.
    • Standish
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • 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>
    • Sterling
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • 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>
    • Saganing
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saganing
      • Saganing is located in Arenac County
    • Whites Beach
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whites Beach
      • Whites Beach is located in Arenac County
    • Omer
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • 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
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • 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
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • 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
    • Au Gres
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Harmon City Heights
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • 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
  • Clare County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bentley, with the one closest to Bentley listed first.
    • Meredith
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meredith
      • Meredith is located in Clare County
    • Dover
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
      • Dover is located in Clare County
  • Gladwin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bentley, with the one closest to Bentley listed first.
    • Rhodes
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes
      • Rhodes is located in Gladwin County
    • Highwood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highwood
      • Highwood is located in Gladwin County
    • White Star
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Star
      • White Star is located in Gladwin County
    • Wooden Shoe Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooden Shoe Village
      • Wooden Shoe Village is located in Gladwin County
    • Sugar Rapids
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Rapids
      • Sugar Rapids is located in Gladwin County
    • Gladwin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Beaverton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
  • Iosco County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bentley, with the one closest to Bentley listed first.
    • Whittemore
      (25 miles [40.2 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
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • 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>
    • White Rock ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 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
  • Isabella County
    • Loomis
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loomis
      • Loomis is located in Isabella County
  • Midland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bentley, with the one closest to Bentley listed first.
    • Edenville
      (16 miles [25.7 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
      (16 miles [25.7 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>
    • Midland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Averill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Averill have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Averill
      • Averill is located in Midland County
    • Sanford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Coleman
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Ogemaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bentley, with the one closest to Bentley listed first.
    • Skidway Lake
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • 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
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • West Branch
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Campbells Corners
      (25 miles [40.2 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
  • Saginaw County
    • Freeland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Freeland have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeland
      • Freeland is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Freeland <2>

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

Newspapers Published in Bentley ...

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 78 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bentley.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bentley, 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 Bentley.

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 either 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 Bentley:

Cemeteries Near Bentley ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bentley.

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 Bentley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • Gibson Twp. Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Rhodes Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Rhodes Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Rhodes Cemetery
  • New Rhodes Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the New Rhodes Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the New Rhodes Cemetery
  • Hope Lutheran Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Forest Twp. Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • St. Marys Mt. Calvary Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Forest Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Sterling Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • 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
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • 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
  • Resurrection of the Lord Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Resurrection of the Lord Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Resurrection of the Lord Cemetery
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • 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
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • 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
  • Continue List   (120 more) ...
    • St. Joseph's Polish National Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • 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
    • Billings Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Billings Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Billings Cemetery
    • St. Agnes Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for the St. Agnes Cemetery. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • The St. Agnes Cemetery has also been known as:
      • St. Agnes Catholic Church Cemetery
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Agnes Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1967162 <5>

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>

While we didn't find Bentley in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bentley.

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

  • Rhodes
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes
    • Rhodes is located in Gladwin County
  • Mount Forest
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Forest
    • Mount Forest is located in Bay County
  • Nine Mile
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nine Mile
    • Nine Mile is located in Bay County
  • Worth
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • 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
  • Standish
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • 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>
  • Sterling
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • 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>
  • Pinconning
    (10 miles [16.1 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>
  • Alger
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Alger have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alger
    • Alger is located in Arenac County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alger <2>
  • Melita
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • 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
  • Arenac
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • 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
  • Omer
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • 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
  • Greenwood
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • 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
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • McClure
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • 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
    • Edenville
      (16 miles [25.7 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
      (16 miles [25.7 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>

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

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

The official website for Bay County: www.co.bay.mi.us/

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>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.
<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- Bentley) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Bentley. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 43.9481, Longitude: -84.1344       In this case, the coordinates for Bentley have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>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.
<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 Bentley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 07 Apr 2024