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 Butler (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 Butler. 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 and 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.
Butler is located in Branch 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 Branch County: LaGrange (IN), Steuben (IN), Calhoun, Hillsdale & Saint Joseph.
Below are the counties that are near Butler. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Butler:
- Branch County (The home county of Butler)
- The following are listed by their distance from Butler, with the one closest to Butler listed first.
- Quincy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Girard
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Girard is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girard
- Trailtree Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Trailtree Village is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trailtree Village
- Coldwater
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hodunk
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Hodunk is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodunk
- Fisher
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Fisher is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher
- Union City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Batavia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Batavia is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batavia
- Canada Shores
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Canada Shores is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Shores
- Matteson
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Matteson is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matteson
- Hatmaker
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hatmaker is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatmaker
- Sherwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Sherwood is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 306 people
- Ray
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Butler, with the one closest to Butler listed first.
- Homer
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tekonsha
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Burlington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Burlington is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 277 people
- Marengo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Marengo is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marengo
- Marshall
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Albion
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ceresco
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ceresco is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceresco
- Rice Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Rice Creek is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice Creek
- Joppa
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Joppa is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa
- Athens
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- East Leroy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- East Leroy is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Leroy
- Beadle Lake
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Beadle Lake is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beadle Lake
- Brownlee Park
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Brownlee Park is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownlee Park
- Eaton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Butler, with the one closest to Butler listed first.
- Olivet
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Bellevue
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Charlesworth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Charlesworth is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlesworth
- Ainger
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Ainger is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ainger
- Hillsdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Butler, with the one closest to Butler listed first.
- Litchfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Allen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Mosherville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Mosherville is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mosherville
- Jonesville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hillsdale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Reading
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Moscow
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Moscow is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- North Adams
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- North Adams is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Adams
- Population from the 2020 Census: 461 people
- Steamburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Steamburg is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steamburg
- Montgomery
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Montgomery is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
- Population from the 2020 Census: 329 people
- Jerome
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Osseo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Camden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Ingham County
- Onondaga
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Butler, with the one closest to Butler listed first.
- Concord
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hanover
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Horton
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Spring Arbor
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Devereaux
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Devereaux is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devereaux
- Parma
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sandstone
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sandstone is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandstone
- Liberty
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Liberty is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- South Jackson
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- South Jackson is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jackson
- Springport
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Woodville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Woodville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Vandercook Lake
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Vandercook Lake is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandercook Lake
- Jackson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jackson is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32,374 people
- Former name for Jackson:
- Jacksonopolis
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jackson <1>
- Kalamazoo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Butler, with the one closest to Butler listed first.
- Fulton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Fulton is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Climax
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Climax is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Climax
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Scotts
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Lenawee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Butler, with the one closest to Butler listed first.
- Addison
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Cement City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Addison Junction
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Addison Junction is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison Junction
- Devils Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Devils Lake is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devils Lake
- Manitou Beach
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Rollin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Rollin is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollin
- Hudson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Manitou Beach - Devils Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Saint Joseph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Butler, with the one closest to Butler listed first.
- Factoryville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Factoryville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Factoryville
- Colon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Colon is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,155 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Colon <1>
- Leonidas
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Fairfax
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Fairfax is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfax
- Burr Oak
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Findley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Findley is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Findley
- Mendon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- LaGrange County (IN)
- Greenfield Mills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Greenfield Mills is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield Mills
- Steuben County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Butler, with the one closest to Butler listed first.
- Ray
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Ray is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Clear Lake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Clear Lake is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Fremont
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Jamestown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Jamestown is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- York
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- York is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Orland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Angola
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Williams County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Butler, with the one closest to Butler listed first.
- Northwest
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Northwest is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest
- Cooney
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Cooney is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooney
- Columbia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Columbia is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Ainger
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Ainger is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ainger
- Pioneer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Butler, see our County-by-County Page for Butler.
Cemeteries Near Butler ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Butler.
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 Butler - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Butler covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Butler, with the one closest to Butler listed first.
- Butler Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Boot Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Whig Center Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Clarks Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Shooks Prairie Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Saratoga Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Clarendon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Litchfield Village Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- West Clarendon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Todd Town Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (355 more) ...
- Old Homer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cook's Prairie Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Riverside Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Butler had a population of 50 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Butler, with the one closest to Butler listed first.
- South Butler
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- South Butler is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Butler
- Clarendon
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Clarendon is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarendon
- Litchfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Homer
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tekonsha
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Girard
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Girard is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girard
- Quincy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Allen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Eckford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Eckford is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eckford
- Condit
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Condit is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Condit
- Hodunk
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Hodunk is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodunk
- Coldwater
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Jonesville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Burlington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Burlington is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 277 people
- Pulaski
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Pulaski is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pulaski
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Butler. See our List of 1890's Communities around Butler.
Newspapers Published in Butler ...
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 43 newspapers that have been published in the area around Butler.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Butler, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Butler.
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 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 Butler:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Branch County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Calhoun County
- Eaton County
- Hillsdale County
- Ingham County
- Jackson County
- Kalamazoo County
- Lenawee County
- Saint Joseph County
- LaGrange County
- Steuben 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 Butler, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Butler) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |