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 Bertrand (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 Bertrand. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Bertrand is located in Berrien 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 Berrien County: LaPorte (IN), Saint Joseph (IN), Cass & Van Buren.
Below are the counties that are near Bertrand. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bertrand:
- Berrien County (The home county of Bertrand)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bertrand, with the one closest to Bertrand listed first.
- Niles
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Buchanan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bakertown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bakertown is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakertown
- Dayton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Dayton is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Berrien Center
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Berrien Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Galien
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Galien is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galien
- Population from the 2020 Census: 527 people
- Glendora
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Glendora is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendora
- Hills Corners
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hills Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills Corners
- Eau Claire
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Snow
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Snow is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow
- Hartman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Hartman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
- Avery
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Avery is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bertrand, with the one closest to Bertrand listed first.
- Edwardsburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Sumnerville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Sumnerville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumnerville
- Pokagon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pokagon is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pokagon
- Cassopolis
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dowagiac
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- La Grange
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- La Grange is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
- Brownsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Brownsville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Union
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Penn
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Penn is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn
- Vandalia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Vandalia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- Wakelee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Wakelee is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakelee
- Jones
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Corey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Corey is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corey
- Saint Joseph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bertrand, with the one closest to Bertrand listed first.
- Mottville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Mottville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mottville
- Fabius
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Fabius is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fabius
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bertrand, with the one closest to Bertrand listed first.
- Keeler
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Keeler is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeler
- Decatur
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hartford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Elkhart County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bertrand, with the one closest to Bertrand listed first.
- Simonton Lake
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Simonton Lake is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simonton Lake
- Jamestown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jamestown is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Elkhart
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Garden Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Garden Village is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Dunlap
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Dunlap is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlap
- Wakarusa
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bristol
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Southwest
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Southwest is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southwest
- Foraker
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Foraker is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foraker
- Goshen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Nappanee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bainter Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bainter Town is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainter Town
- Gravelton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gravelton is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravelton
- LaPorte County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bertrand, with the one closest to Bertrand listed first.
- Rolling Prairie
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Hesston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Hesston is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesston
- Smith
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Smith is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith
- Kankakee
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Kankakee is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kankakee
- Stillwell
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Stillwell is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stillwell
- La Porte
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Kingsbury
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Kingsbury is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 239 people
- Michiana Shores
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Door Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Door Village is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Door Village
- Kingsford Heights
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kingsford Heights is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsford Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,379 people
- Long Beach
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Waterford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Waterford is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
- Marshall County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bertrand, with the one closest to Bertrand listed first.
- La Paz
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- La Paz is located in Marshall County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Paz
- Population from the 2020 Census: 549 people
- Bremen
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Harris
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Harris is located in Marshall County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Linkville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Linkville is located in Marshall County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linkville
- Tyner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Tyner is located in Marshall County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyner
- Plymouth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Donaldson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Donaldson is located in Marshall County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donaldson
- Saint Joseph County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bertrand, with the one closest to Bertrand listed first.
- Roseland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Roseland is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 635 people
- Georgetown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Georgetown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Indian Village
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Indian Village is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- South Bend
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Granger
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mishawaka
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Zeigler
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Zeigler is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeigler
- Gulivoire Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Gulivoire Park is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulivoire Park
- Nutwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Nutwood is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutwood
- Osceola
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Osceola is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,486 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Osceola <1>
- Crumstown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Crumstown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumstown
- New Carlisle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Lakeville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Starke County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bertrand, with the one closest to Bertrand listed first.
- Koontz Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Koontz Lake is located in Starke County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koontz Lake
- Grovertown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Grovertown is located in Starke County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grovertown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bertrand, see our County-by-County Page for Bertrand.
Cemeteries Near Bertrand ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bertrand.
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 Bertrand - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bertrand covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bertrand, with the one closest to Bertrand listed first.
- Bertrand Protestant Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Truitt Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Ann Beason Purdy Groves
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Father Allouez Grave Site
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Silverbrook Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Springbrook Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Calvary Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Highland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Riverview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Stuckey Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stuckey Cemetery
- The Stuckey Cemetery has also been known as:
- Tutt Cemetery
- Truitt Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (262 more) ...
- Orchard Hills Country Club Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Howe Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Portage Prairie Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
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 Bertrand in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bertrand.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bertrand, with the one closest to Bertrand listed first.
- Niles
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- South Bend
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Buchanan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Granger
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mishawaka
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Fairland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Fairland is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairland
- Edwardsburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Dayton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Dayton is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Pokagon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pokagon is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pokagon
- Dailey
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dailey is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dailey
- Terre Coupee
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Terre Coupee is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Coupee
- Crumstown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Crumstown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumstown
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Nutwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Nutwood is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutwood
- Berrien Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Osceola
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Osceola is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,486 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Osceola <1>
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bertrand. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bertrand.
Newspapers Published in Bertrand ...
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 76 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bertrand.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bertrand, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bertrand.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Bertrand:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Berrien County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cass County
- Saint Joseph County
- Van Buren County
- Elkhart County
- LaPorte County
- Marshall County
- Saint Joseph County
- Starke 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 Bertrand, 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- Bertrand) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |