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 Betzer (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 Betzer. 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.
Betzer is located in Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale County: Steuben (IN), Branch, Calhoun, Jackson, Lenawee, Fulton (OH) & Williams (OH).
Below are the counties that are near Betzer. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Betzer:
- Hillsdale County (The home county of Betzer)
- The following are listed by their distance from Betzer, with the one closest to Betzer listed first.
- Buckeye ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Buckeye is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye
- Lickly Corners
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Lickly Corners is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickly Corners
- Ransom
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ransom is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ransom
- Waldron
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Waldron is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 521 people
- Prattville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Prattville is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prattville
- Shadyside
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Shadyside is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shadyside
- Frontier
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Frontier is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frontier
- Pittsford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Locust Corners
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Locust Corners is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Corners
- Osseo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Steamburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Steamburg is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steamburg
- Hillsdale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Camden
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Branch County
- The following are listed by their distance from Betzer, with the one closest to Betzer listed first.
- Ray
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Fisher
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fisher is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher
- Quincy
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Canada Shores
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Canada Shores is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Shores
- Coldwater
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Trailtree Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Trailtree Village is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trailtree Village
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Betzer, with the one closest to Betzer listed first.
- Hanover
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Liberty
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Liberty is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Clarklake
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Brooklyn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Horton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- South Jackson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- South Jackson is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jackson
- Concord
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Napoleon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Vandercook Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Vandercook Lake is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandercook Lake
- Lenawee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Betzer, with the one closest to Betzer listed first.
- Munson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Munson is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munson
- Hudson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Canandaigua
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Canandaigua is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canandaigua
- Morenci
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- North Morenci
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- North Morenci is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Morenci
- Rollin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Rollin is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollin
- Clayton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Clayton is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 328 people
- Seneca
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Seneca is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca
- Addison
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Manitou Beach
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Addison Junction
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Addison Junction is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison Junction
- Manitou Beach - Devils Lake
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Devils Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Devils Lake is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devils Lake
- DeKalb County (IN)
- Butler
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Steuben County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Betzer, with the one closest to Betzer listed first.
- Clear Lake
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Clear Lake is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- York
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- York is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Ray
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Ray is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Alvarado
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Alvarado is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
- Fremont
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Russels Point
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Russels Point is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russels Point
- Hamilton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hamilton is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,595 people
- Angola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Jamestown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Jamestown is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Pleasant Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Lake is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Lake
- Defiance County (OH)
- Ney
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Ney is located in Defiance County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ney
- Population from the 2020 Census: 337 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ney <1>
- Fulton County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Betzer, with the one closest to Betzer listed first.
- Fayette
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ritters ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Ritters is located in Fulton County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritters
- Powers ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Powers is located in Fulton County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers
- Powers has also been known as:
- Powers Station
- Thelma ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Thelma is located in Fulton County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thelma
- Burlington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Burlington is located in Fulton County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
- Inlet ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Inlet is located in Fulton County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
- Denson ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Denson is located in Fulton County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denson
- Oakshade
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Oakshade is located in Fulton County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakshade
- Eckley ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Eckley is located in Fulton County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eckley
- Eckley has also been known as:
- Eckley Station
- Archbold
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Pettisville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Pettisville is located in Fulton County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pettisville
- Advance
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Advance is located in Fulton County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Advance
- Lyons
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Henry County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Betzer, with the one closest to Betzer listed first.
- Ridgeville Corners
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ridgeville Corners is located in Henry County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeville Corners
- Napoleon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Okolona
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Okolona is located in Henry County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okolona
- Okolona has also been known as:
- Okalona
- Williams County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Betzer, with the one closest to Betzer listed first.
- Alvordton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Pioneer
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kunkle
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Kunkle is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kunkle
- Jim Town
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Jim Town is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jim Town
- Holiday City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Holiday City is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
- West Unity
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Ainger
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Ainger is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ainger
- Montpelier
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Northwest
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Northwest is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest
- Cooney
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cooney is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooney
- Pulaski
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Pulaski is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pulaski
- Stryker
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Columbia
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Columbia is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Betzer, see our County-by-County Page for Betzer.
Cemeteries Near Betzer ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Betzer.
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 Betzer - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Betzer covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Betzer, with the one closest to Betzer listed first.
- Evergreen Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Waldron Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lickly Corners Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Mud Lake Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Amboy Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Primrose Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Walnut Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Prattville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Doty Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Wild Cherry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Alfred Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Drake Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (387 more) ...
- Black Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- County Line Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Betzer had a population of 20 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Betzer, with the one closest to Betzer listed first.
- Waldron
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Waldron is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 521 people
- Ransom
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ransom is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ransom
- Primrose
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Primrose is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primrose
- Pioneer
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Alvordton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Frontier
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Frontier is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frontier
- Pittsford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Kunkle
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Kunkle is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kunkle
- Munson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Munson is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munson
- Osseo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Fayette
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hudson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Cambria
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cambria is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambria
- West Unity
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Zone
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Zone is located in Fulton County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zone
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Betzer. See our List of 1890's Communities around Betzer.
Newspapers Published in Betzer ...
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 52 newspapers that have been published in the area around Betzer.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Betzer, 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 Betzer.
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 helpful 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 Betzer:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Hillsdale County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Branch County
- Jackson County
- Lenawee County
- DeKalb County
- Steuben County
- Defiance County
- Fulton County
- Henry County
- Williams 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> | 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 Betzer, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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- Betzer) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |