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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 Cedar Lake (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 Cedar Lake. 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.

Name Variations for Cedar Lake ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Cedar Lake: Cedar Lk.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Cedar Lake. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Cedar Lake.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 doctors and 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.

Cedar Lake is located in Montcalm 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 Montcalm County: Clinton, Gratiot, Ionia, Isabella, Kent, Mecosta & Newaygo.

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

  • Montcalm County     (The home county of Cedar Lake)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Lake, with the one closest to Cedar Lake listed first.
    • Vestaburg
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Vestaburg is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vestaburg
    • Edmore
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Wyman
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Wyman is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
    • McBride
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Six Lakes
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Entrican
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Entrican is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Entrican
    • Stanton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Crystal
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Sidney
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Sheridan
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Vickeryville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Vickeryville is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vickeryville
    • Langston
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Langston is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
    • Butternut
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Butternut is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butternut
  • Clare County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Lake, with the one closest to Cedar Lake listed first.
    • Clare
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Farwell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Lake is located in Clare County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake
      • Former name for Lake:
      • Lake Station
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Lake, with the one closest to Cedar Lake listed first.
    • Maple Rapids
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Maple Rapids is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Rapids
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 671 people
    • Fowler
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Gratiot County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Lake, with the one closest to Cedar Lake listed first.
    • Elm Hall
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Elm Hall is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Hall
    • Riverdale
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Sumner
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Sumner is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumner
    • Elwell
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Forest Hill
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Forest Hill is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
    • Alma
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Alma is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,807 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alma <1>
    • Saint Louis
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Ithaca
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Middleton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Perrinton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Perrinton is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perrinton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 391 people
    • Breckenridge
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • North Star
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • North Star is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Star
      • North Star has also been known as:
      • Northstar
    • Pompeii
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
  • Ionia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Lake, with the one closest to Cedar Lake listed first.
    • Palo
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Palo is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo
    • Shiloh
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Shiloh is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
    • Hubbardston
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Woods Corners
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Woods Corners is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Corners
    • Matherton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Matherton is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matherton
    • Orleans
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Orleans is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
    • Belding
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Smyrna
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Muir
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Pewamo
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Ionia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Lyons
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • South Ionia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • South Ionia is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ionia
  • Isabella County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Lake, with the one closest to Cedar Lake listed first.
    • Winn
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Winn is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winn
    • Strickland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Strickland is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickland
    • Blanchard
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Crawford
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Crawford is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
    • Summerton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Summerton is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerton
    • Lake Isabella
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Lake Isabella is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Isabella
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,688 people
      • Lake Isabella has also been known as:
      • Lake Isabella village
    • Mount Pleasant
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Shepherd
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Coe
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Coe is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coe
    • Beal City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Beal City is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal City
    • Weidman
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Alembic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Alembic is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alembic
    • Jordan
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Jordan is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
  • Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Lake, with the one closest to Cedar Lake listed first.
    • Harvard
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Harvard is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard
    • Sand Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Sheffield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Sheffield is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
    • Grattan
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Grattan is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grattan
  • Mecosta County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Lake, with the one closest to Cedar Lake listed first.
    • Millbrook
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Millbrook is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
    • Halls Corner
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Halls Corner is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Corner
    • Remus
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Mecosta
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Rustford
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Rustford is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustford
    • Canadian Lakes
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Canadian Lakes is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadian Lakes
    • Morley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Barryton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Rodney
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Borland
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Borland is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borland
    • Stanwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Chippewa Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Midland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Lake, with the one closest to Cedar Lake listed first.
    • Oil City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Oil City is located in Midland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
    • Redstone
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Redstone is located in Midland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redstone
    • Porter
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Porter is located in Midland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
    • Ryan
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Ryan is located in Midland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan

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

Cemeteries Near Cedar Lake ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cedar Lake.

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 Cedar Lake - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Cedar Lake Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Home Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Vinewood Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Richland Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Palmer Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • McBrides Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Ferris Center Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Elm Hall Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Riverdale Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Sibley Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Klees Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Union Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (215 more) ...
    • Hillcrest Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Evergreen Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Rolland Twp. Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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 in 1895, Cedar Lake had a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Edmore
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Wyman
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Wyman is located in Montcalm County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
  • McBride
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Westville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Westville is located in Montcalm County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westville
  • Elm Hall
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Elm Hall is located in Gratiot County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Hall
  • Riverdale
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Six Lakes
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Entrican
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Entrican is located in Montcalm County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Entrican
  • Stanton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Strickland
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Strickland is located in Isabella County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickland
  • Blanchard
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Crystal
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Sumner
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Sumner is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumner
    • Millbrook
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Millbrook is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
    • Crawford
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Crawford is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford

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

Newspapers Published in Cedar Lake ...

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 210 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cedar Lake.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Cedar Lake, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Cedar Lake.

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 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 Cedar Lake:

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 Cedar Lake, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Cedar Lake) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.