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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 Brookside (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 Brookside. 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 hospitals 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.

Brookside is located in Grand Traverse 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 Grand Traverse County: Antrim, Benzie, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee & Wexford.

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

  • Grand Traverse County     (The home county of Brookside)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
    • Traverse City
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Grawn
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Acme
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Devils Elbow
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Devils Elbow is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devils Elbow
    • Interlochen
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Mayfield
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Mayfield is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
    • Williamsburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Angel
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Angel is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angel
      • Angel has also been known as:
      • Angel Station
      • Angell Station
    • Mapleton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Mapleton is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleton
    • Kingsley
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Kingsley is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,618 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kingsley <1>
    • Karlin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Karlin is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Karlin
    • Pavlovic Corner
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Pavlovic Corner is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavlovic Corner
  • Antrim County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
    • Elk Rapids
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Kewadin
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Alden
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Clam Lake ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Clam Lake is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Lake
    • Bellaire
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Central Lake
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Eastport
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Mancelona
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Benzie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
    • Lake Ann
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Bendon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Bendon is located in Benzie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bendon
    • Platte River
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Platte River is located in Benzie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Platte River
    • Wallin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Wallin is located in Benzie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallin
    • Griner Station
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Griner Station is located in Benzie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griner Station
      • Griner Station has also been known as:
      • Print
    • Nessen City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Nessen City is located in Benzie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nessen City
    • Honor
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Thompsonville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Aral ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Aral is located in Benzie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aral
      • Aral has also been known as:
      • Otter Creek
    • Benzonia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Beulah
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Elberta
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Kalkaska County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
    • Barker Creek
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Barker Creek is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barker Creek
    • Torch River
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Torch River is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torch River
    • Rapid City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Fife Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • South Boardman
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Kalkaska
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Deibert
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Deibert is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deibert
    • Lodi
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Lodi is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
    • Spencer
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Spencer is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
    • Westwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Westwood is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
    • Sigma
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Sigma is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sigma
    • Sharon ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Sharon is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
      • Sharon has also been known as:
      • Big Oley
      • Jam One
  • Leelanau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
    • Greilickville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Greilickville is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greilickville
    • Hatchs
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Hatchs is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatchs
    • Solon
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Solon is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solon
    • Bingham
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Bingham is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingham
    • Cedar
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Isadore ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Isadore is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isadore
    • Maple City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Bodus
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Bodus is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bodus
    • Schomberg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Schomberg is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schomberg
    • Lake Leelanau
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Burdickville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Burdickville is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdickville
    • Jacktown ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Jacktown is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacktown
      • Jacktown has also been known as:
      • Osborn
  • Manistee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
    • Harlan ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Harlan is located in Manistee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlan
    • Pomona
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Pomona is located in Manistee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pomona
    • Copemish
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Henry ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Henry is located in Manistee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henry
    • Humphrey
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Humphrey is located in Manistee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humphrey
    • Malcolm
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Malcolm is located in Manistee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malcolm
  • Wexford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brookside, with the one closest to Brookside listed first.
    • Baxter
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Baxter is located in Wexford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter
    • Buckley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Bagnall
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Bagnall is located in Wexford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagnall
    • Glengary
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Glengary is located in Wexford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glengary
    • Sherman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Sherman is located in Wexford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
    • Mesick
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Manton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Meauwataka
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Meauwataka is located in Wexford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meauwataka
    • Yuma
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Yuma is located in Wexford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuma
    • Harrietta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Bond's Mills ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Bond's Mills is located in Wexford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bond's Mills

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

Cemeteries Near Brookside ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brookside.

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 Brookside - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Brookside covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • Memorial Gardens Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Oakwood Catholic Diocesan Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Oakwood Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Linwood Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Maple Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Heimforth Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Fouch Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Acme Twp. Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Acme Twp. Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Solon Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Bingham Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Monroe Center Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (144 more) ...
    • Koch Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • New Inland Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Old Inland Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 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>

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

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

  • Traverse City
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Grawn
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Acme
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Solon
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Solon is located in Leelanau County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solon
  • Interlochen
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Cedar Run
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Cedar Run is located in Benzie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Run
  • Monroe Center
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Monroe Center is located in Grand Traverse County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe Center
  • Mayfield
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Mayfield is located in Grand Traverse County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
  • Bingham
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Bingham is located in Leelanau County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingham
  • Lake Ann
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Hannah
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Hannah is located in Grand Traverse County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hannah
  • Bates
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Bates is located in Grand Traverse County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bates
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Yuba
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Yuba is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuba
    • Bendon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Bendon is located in Benzie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bendon
    • Keswick
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Keswick is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keswick

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

Newspapers Published in Brookside ...

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 75 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brookside.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brookside, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Brookside.

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 Brookside:

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 Brookside, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Brookside) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.