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 California (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 California. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
California 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 California. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to California:
- Branch County (The home county of California)
- The following are listed by their distance from California, with the one closest to California listed first.
- Ray
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Canada Shores
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Canada Shores is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Shores
- Fisher
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Fisher is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher
- Quincy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Coldwater
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Trailtree Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Trailtree Village is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trailtree Village
- Hatmaker
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Hatmaker is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatmaker
- Batavia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Batavia is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batavia
- Gilead
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Gilead is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
- Bronson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Girard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Girard is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girard
- Hodunk
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hodunk is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodunk
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from California, with the one closest to California listed first.
- Tekonsha
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Burlington
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Burlington is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 277 people
- Homer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Athens
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- East Leroy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- East Leroy is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Leroy
- Hillsdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from California, with the one closest to California listed first.
- Montgomery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Montgomery is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
- Population from the 2020 Census: 329 people
- Reading
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Camden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Allen
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Frontier
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Frontier is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frontier
- Steamburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Steamburg is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steamburg
- Hillsdale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Jonesville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Osseo
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Ransom
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Ransom is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ransom
- Shadyside
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Shadyside is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shadyside
- Litchfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from California, with the one closest to California listed first.
- Hanover
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Concord
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Horton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lenawee County
- The following are listed by their distance from California, with the one closest to California listed first.
- Hudson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Munson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Munson is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munson
- Rollin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Rollin is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollin
- Addison
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Joseph County
- The following are listed by their distance from California, with the one closest to California listed first.
- Burr Oak
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Fawn River
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Fawn River is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fawn River
- Colon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- 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>
- Findley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Findley is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Findley
- Fairfax
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fairfax is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfax
- Sturgis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Factoryville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Factoryville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Factoryville
- Leonidas
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Nottawa
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- DeKalb County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from California, with the one closest to California listed first.
- Ashley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Butler
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Fairfield Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Fairfield Center is located in DeKalb County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield Center
- Waterloo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Moore
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Moore is located in DeKalb County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore
- Corunna
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Corunna is located in DeKalb County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corunna
- Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
- LaGrange County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from California, with the one closest to California listed first.
- Greenfield Mills
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Greenfield Mills is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield Mills
- Brushy Prairie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Brushy Prairie is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Prairie
- Mongo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Stroh
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Stroh is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stroh
- Brighton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Brighton is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton
- Gravel Beach
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Gravel Beach is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravel Beach
- Plato
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Plato is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plato
- South Milford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- South Milford is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Milford
- Howe
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Valentine
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Valentine is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valentine
- LaGrange
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Noble County (IN)
- Wakeville Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wakeville Village is located in Noble County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakeville Village
- Steuben County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from California, with the one closest to California listed first.
- Ray
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Ray is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Clear Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Clear Lake is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Fremont
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jamestown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jamestown is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- York
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- York is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Angola
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Alvarado
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Alvarado is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
- Orland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Russels Point
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Russels Point is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russels Point
- Pleasant Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Lake is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Lake
- Hamilton
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Hamilton is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,595 people
- Hudson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Fulton County (OH)
- Fayette
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Williams County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from California, with the one closest to California listed first.
- Northwest
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Northwest is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest
- Cooney
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cooney is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooney
- Columbia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Columbia is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Ainger
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ainger is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ainger
- Edon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Edon is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 807 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Edon <1>
- Jim Town
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jim Town is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jim Town
- Pioneer
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Blakeslee
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Montpelier
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Holiday City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Holiday City is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
- Denmark ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Denmark is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Kunkle
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kunkle is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kunkle
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to California, see our County-by-County Page for California.
Cemeteries Near California ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of California.
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 California - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for California covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from California, with the one closest to California listed first.
- California Corners Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Hultz Family Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Amish Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Brown Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Covenant Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Lester Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Munday Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Berg Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- West Reading Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- The Old Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Old Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, The Old Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Fremont (IN).
- The Old Cemetery has also been known as:
- Fremont Cemetery
- Old Fremont Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #170367 <2>
- Gleason Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Fisher Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (335 more) ...
- Lawrence Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lakeside Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Teeters Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that California had a population of 165 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from California, with the one closest to California listed first.
- Ray
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Ray is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Algansee
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Algansee is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Algansee
- Clear Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Clear Lake is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Montgomery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Montgomery is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
- Population from the 2020 Census: 329 people
- Camden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Reading
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Quincy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Northwest
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Northwest is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest
- Bethel
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Bethel is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- East Gilead
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- East Gilead is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gilead
- Nevada Mills
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Nevada Mills is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nevada Mills
- Ellis
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Ellis is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Cooney
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cooney is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooney
- Nettle Lake
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Nettle Lake is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettle Lake
- Cambria
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Cambria is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambria
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around California. See our List of 1890's Communities around California.
Newspapers Published in California ...
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 California.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of California, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for California.
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 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 California:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Branch County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Calhoun County
- Hillsdale County
- Jackson County
- Lenawee County
- Saint Joseph County
- DeKalb County
- LaGrange County
- Noble County
- Steuben County
- Fulton 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> | 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 California, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- California) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |