RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Michigan >> Mecosta County >> Sparks CemeteryIndex...










Learn About
The Commemorative
Quarter for
Michigan

The Commemorative Quarter for Michigan





A visit to the Sparks Cemetery ...

Introduction ...

Note: We have organized the cemeteries in our Gazetteer based on a problem that we had while working on our own genealogy. Without specifying the cemeteries involved, we found an ancestor that we believed to have been buried in one cemetery was actually buried elsewhere.

We discovered that his burial had been refused at the last moment and the family had scrambled to make new arrangements. By looking at nearby cemeteries, the surrounding communities and in newspapers of the period, we were finally able to locate his burial site.

Should you find yourself in the same situation, we hope that our Gazetteer helps you discover your lost ancestor.

The Location of the Sparks Cemetery ...

Note: The GPS location that we are using for the Sparks Cemetery can be traced back to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)<1>

We are using the following GPS coordinates (latitude and longitude) for the Sparks Cemetery

Lat:   43.7725°   (43° 46' 21")

Lon:   -85.2442°   (-85° 14' 39")

The Sparks Cemetery is located in Mecosta County<2>.

The county seat for Mecosta County is located in Big Rapids. Big Rapids lies 12 miles [19.3 km]<3> to the west southwest of the Sparks Cemetery .

List of nearby cemeteries ...

Based on our list of cemeteries, we know of 20 that are within 9 miles [14.5 km] of the Sparks Cemetery.<4>

We've listed the following cemeteries based on their distance from Sparks Cemetery, with the nearest first.

  • Eaton Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Eaton Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Eaton Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Eaton Cemetery is located in Mecosta County
  • Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Church Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Church Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Church Cemetery is located in Mecosta County
  • Chippewa Lake Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Chippewa Lake Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Chippewa Lake Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Chippewa Lake Cemetery is located in Mecosta County
  • Chippewa Twp. Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Chippewa Twp. Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Chippewa Twp. Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Chippewa Twp. Cemetery is located in Mecosta County
  • Brown Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Brown Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Brown Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Brown Cemetery is located in Mecosta County
  • South Evart Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the South Evart Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the South Evart Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The South Evart Cemetery is located in Osceola County
  • Pioneer Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pioneer Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pioneer Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Pioneer Cemetery is located in Mecosta County
  • Kirschner Farm Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Kirschner Farm Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Kirschner Farm Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Kirschner Farm Cemetery is located in Mecosta County
  • Martiny Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Martiny Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Martiny Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Martiny Cemetery is located in Mecosta County
  • Flake Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Fork Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Fork Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Fork Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Fork Cemetery is located in Mecosta County
  • Proctor Family Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Proctor Family Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Proctor Family Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Proctor Family Cemetery is located in Osceola County
  • Continue List   (8 more) ...
    • Grant Center #1 Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Grant Center #1 Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Grant Center #1 Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Grant Center #1 Cemetery is located in Mecosta County
    • Grant Center #2 Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Grant Center #2 Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Grant Center #2 Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Grant Center #2 Cemetery is located in Mecosta County
    • Strong Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Strong Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Strong Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Strong Cemetery is located in Mecosta County
    • Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery is located in Osceola County
    • South Grant Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the South Grant Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the South Grant Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The South Grant Cemetery is located in Mecosta County
    • Rodney Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Rodney Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Rodney Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Rodney Cemetery is located in Mecosta County
    • Dye Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Dye Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Dye Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Dye Cemetery is located in Mecosta County
    • Forest Hill Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)

For an expanded list with details, please visit our List of cemeteries.

List of neighboring communities ...

The following 23 communities are within 10 miles [16.1 km]<3> of the Sparks Cemetery.

We've listed the following communities based on their distance from Sparks Cemetery, with the nearest first.

  • Chippewa Lake
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Barryton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Barryton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barryton
    • Barryton is located in Mecosta County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 357 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Barryton <6>
  • Pogy
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Pogy. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<7>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pogy
    • Pogy is located in Mecosta County
  • Rodney
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rodney have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodney
    • Rodney is located in Mecosta County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rodney <6>
  • Sherman City ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman City
    • Sherman City is located in Isabella County
  • Sears
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sears have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sears
    • Sears is located in Osceola County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sears <6>
  • Evart
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Evart have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evart
    • Evart is located in Osceola County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,886 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Evart <6>
  • Mecosta
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mecosta have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mecosta
    • Mecosta is located in Mecosta County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 459 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mecosta <6>
  • Brinton
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinton
    • Brinton is located in Isabella County
  • Hersey
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hersey have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersey
    • Hersey is located in Osceola County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 347 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hersey <6>
  • Big Rapids
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Big Rapids have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rapids
    • Big Rapids is located in Mecosta County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,408 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Big Rapids <6>
  • Paris
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (11 more) ...
    • Canadian Lakes
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadian Lakes
      • Canadian Lakes is located in Mecosta County
    • Remus
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake
      • Lake is located in Clare County
      • Former name for Lake:
      • Lake Station
    • Weidman
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Weidman have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weidman
      • Weidman is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Weidman <6>
    • Lake Isabella
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Isabella
      • Lake Isabella is located in Isabella County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,688 people
      • Lake Isabella has also been known as:
      • Lake Isabella village
    • Reed City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Stanwood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Halls Corner
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Corner
      • Halls Corner is located in Mecosta County
    • Avondale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Avondale. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<7>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
      • Avondale is located in Osceola County
    • Millbrook
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Millbrook have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
      • Millbrook is located in Mecosta County
    • Hawkins
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkins
      • Hawkins is located in Newaygo County

For the full list of neighboring communities with details, please visit our extended List of Communities.

Nearby communities with newspapers ...

The following communities are those where newspapers have been published and are located in the vicinity of the Sparks Cemetery. Unless otherwise noted, the following communities are located in Mecosta County.

More information can be found on our list of Local Newspapers for The Sparks Cemetery.

We've listed the following communities alphabetically.

Websites to help with your research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we 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 websites are open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that might help with the Sparks Cemetery:

Miscellaneous References and Mentions ...

Our approach is to add the name of a cemetery whenever we see it mentioned - usually from newspapers, old books and maps. Typically we have little information to start with, but we continue to add detail as we find it.

We've created the following list to keep track of the sources that we found useful for the Sparks Cemetery:

  • Referenced GNIS Record ...
  • GNIS ID #638467  (Sparks Cemetery)
    • Note: GNIS record #638467 has been archived by the USGS. It is no longer maintained by the USGS, nor can it be retrieved from their website.
    • Class: cemetery         Map Name: Merrill Lake
    • County: Mecosta         Elev: 347
    • Location given for GNIS #638467 (Sparks Cemetery)

The official website for Mecosta County: www.co.mecosta.mi.us/

The official website for State of Michigan: https://www.michigan.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>If you're interested in how the shape of Michigan's counties, including Mecosta, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
<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 from Point A (ie- ) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point at the Sparks Cemetery. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 43.7725, Longitude: -85.2442       In this case, the coordinates for the Sparks Cemetery have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<4>While we have an extensive database of cemeteries (with over 200,000 entries), you can be assured that it's not complete and our list will be missing cemeteries.
<5>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.
<6>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<7>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.




 

Copyright 2025
All Rights Reserved

Thank you for visiting our website.

In closing, please keep in mind that we can not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information on this website, so use with care. We encourage you to double-check the information that is critical to you.

If you've found an error or have additional information that you would like to share, please don't hesitate to write: Click here to contact us.

This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025