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 Bradley (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 Bradley. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Bradley is located in Allegan 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 Allegan County: Barry, Kalamazoo, Kent, Ottawa & Van Buren.
Below are the counties that are near Bradley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bradley:
- Allegan County (The home county of Bradley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bradley, with the one closest to Bradley listed first.
- Wayland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Shelbyville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Hilliards
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Hilliards is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
- Martin
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hopkins
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Moline
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Moline is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
- Dorr
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Watson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Watson is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Hooper
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hooper is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooper
- Neeley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Neeley is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neeley
- South Monterey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- South Monterey is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Monterey
- New Salem
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- New Salem is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Allegan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Barry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bradley, with the one closest to Bradley listed first.
- Middleville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Irving
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Irving is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Doster
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Doster is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doster
- Prairieville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Prairieville is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Cloverdale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cloverdale is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Delton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hastings
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Cedar Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Creek is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
- Hickory Corners
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Freeport
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Dowling
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Dowling is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowling
- Banfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Banfield is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banfield
- Morgan
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Morgan is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bradley, with the one closest to Bradley listed first.
- Bedford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Level Park
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Level Park is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Park
- Fort Custer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fort Custer is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Custer
- Former name for Fort Custer:
- Camp Custer
- Oak Park
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Park is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Park
- Springfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Eaton County
- Woodbury
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Woodbury is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbury
- Ionia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bradley, with the one closest to Bradley listed first.
- Elmdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Elmdale is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmdale
- Campbell Corners
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Campbell Corners is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Corners
- Clarksville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Odessa
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Saranac
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kalamazoo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bradley, with the one closest to Bradley listed first.
- Alamo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Alamo is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamo
- East Cooper
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- East Cooper is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cooper
- Highland Park
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Highland Park is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
- Richland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- South Gull Lake
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- South Gull Lake is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gull Lake
- Parchment
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Yorkville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Yorkville is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
- Westwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Westwood is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
- Eastwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Eastwood is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
- Kalamazoo
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Comstock
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Comstock is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comstock
- Oshtemo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Augusta
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Kent County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bradley, with the one closest to Bradley listed first.
- Corinth
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Corinth is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- North Dorr
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- North Dorr is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Dorr
- Caledonia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Byron Center
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Carlisle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Carlisle is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
- Cutlerville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Dutton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Dutton is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutton
- Kentwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Burlingame Heights
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Burlingame Heights is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame Heights
- Burlingame
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Burlingame is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
- Clyde Park
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Clyde Park is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde Park
- Wyoming
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Alto
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ottawa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bradley, with the one closest to Bradley listed first.
- Forest Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Grove is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove
- Jamestown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jamestown is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Forest Grove Station
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Grove Station is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove Station
- Drenthe
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Drenthe is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drenthe
- Hudsonville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Jenison
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- South Blendon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- South Blendon is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Blendon
- Zeeland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bauer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bauer is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Holland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Noordeloos
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Noordeloos is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noordeloos
- Waverly
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Waverly is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Beechwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Beechwood is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bradley, with the one closest to Bradley listed first.
- Kendall
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Kendall is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
- Gobles
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- North Lake
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- North Lake is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Lake
- Almena
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Almena is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almena
- Bloomingdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Grand Junction
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Glendale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Glendale is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
- Lacota
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lacota is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacota
- Mattawan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Breedsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bradley, see our County-by-County Page for Bradley.
Cemeteries Near Bradley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bradley.
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 Bradley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bradley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bradley, with the one closest to Bradley listed first.
- Selkirk Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Bradley Indian Mission Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Elmwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Round Andrews Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Andrews Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Round Andrews Cemetery is located 10 miles [16.1 km]<2> to the northeast of Allegan.
- The Round Andrews Cemetery has also been known as:
- Hopkinsburg Cemetery
- Ingerson Cemetery
- Pioneer Cemetery
- Round Family Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #796 <3>
- German Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Maplewood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Messer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- St.s Cyril & Methodius' Catholic Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- East Martin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Robbins Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Hooker Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (321 more) ...
- St. Stanislaus' Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hicks Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bradley had a population of 120 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bradley, with the one closest to Bradley listed first.
- Shelbyville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Wayland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hilliards
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Hilliards is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
- Martin
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bowens Mill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bowens Mill is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowens Mill
- Corning
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Corning is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
- Hopkins
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Watson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Watson is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Dorr
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Moline
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Moline is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
- Hooper
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hooper is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooper
- South Monterey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- South Monterey is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Monterey
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Ross
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Ross is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
- Middleville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Corinth
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Corinth is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bradley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bradley.
Newspapers Published in Bradley ...
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 108 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bradley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bradley, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bradley.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Bradley:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Allegan County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barry County
- Calhoun County
- Eaton County
- Ionia County
- Kalamazoo County
- Kent County
- Ottawa 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> | 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- Bradley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Bradley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |