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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 Chester (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 Chester. 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 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.

Chester is located in Eaton County.

To see how the shape of Michigan's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Eaton County: Barry, Calhoun, Clinton, Ingham, Ionia & Jackson.

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

  • Eaton County     (The home county of Chester)
  • Barry County
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
    • Duck Lake
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Pennfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Rice Creek
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Bedford
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bedford have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedford
      • Bedford is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bedford <1>
    • Brownlee Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brownlee Park have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownlee Park
      • Brownlee Park is located in Calhoun County
    • Verona Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Marengo
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Marshall
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Marshall have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshall
      • Marshall is located in Calhoun County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,923 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Marshall <1>
    • Ceresco
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ceresco have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceresco
      • Ceresco is located in Calhoun County
    • Battle Creek
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Level Park
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Oak Park
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Oak Park. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Park
      • Oak Park is located in Calhoun County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Oak Park
      • From Chester to Oak Park
    • Springfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Springfield have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
      • Springfield is located in Calhoun County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,184 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Springfield <1>
  • Clinton County
  • Ingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
    • Edgemont Park
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Edgemont Park have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgemont Park
      • Edgemont Park is located in Ingham County
    • Holt
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Holt have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holt
      • Holt is located in Ingham County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Holt <1>
    • Lansing
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • North Lansing
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Onondaga
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Mason
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mason have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
      • Mason is located in Ingham County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,389 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mason <1>
    • East Lansing
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Lansing have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Lansing
      • East Lansing is located in Ingham County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 47,641 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for East Lansing <1>
    • North Leslie
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Leslie have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Leslie
      • North Leslie is located in Ingham County
    • Okemos
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Leslie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Haslett
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Haslett have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haslett
      • Haslett is located in Ingham County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Haslett <1>
    • Meridian
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Meridian. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
      • Meridian is located in Ingham County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Meridian
      • From Chester to Meridian
    • Pollok ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Ionia County
  • Jackson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
    • Springport
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Devereaux
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Tompkins
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tompkins have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tompkins
      • Tompkins is located in Jackson County
    • Berryville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Rives Junction
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rives Junction have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rives Junction
      • Rives Junction is located in Jackson County
    • Parma
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Parma have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parma
      • Parma is located in Jackson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 731 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Parma <1>
  • Kalamazoo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
    • South Gull Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Gull Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gull Lake
      • South Gull Lake is located in Kalamazoo County
    • Augusta
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Highland Park
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Yorkville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Yorkville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
      • Yorkville is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Yorkville
      • From Chester to Yorkville
  • Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
    • Alto
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Alto have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alto
      • Alto is located in Kent County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alto <1>
    • Segwun
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Chester ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Chester.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Gresham Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Gresham Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Gresham Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Millerburg Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Millerburg Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Millerburg Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Cogsdil Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Cogsdil Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Cogsdil Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • West Carmel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the West Carmel Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the West Carmel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Ames Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ames Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ames Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Maple Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Kalamo Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Kalamo Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Kalamo Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Needmore Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Needmore Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Needmore Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Moyer Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Moyer Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Moyer Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Freemire Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Freemire Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Freemire Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Vermontville Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Vermontville Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Vermontville Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Mason Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mason Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mason Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (275 more) ...
    • Spaulding Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Spaulding Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Spaulding Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Center Eaton Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Center Eaton Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Center Eaton Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Benton Twp. Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Benton Twp. Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Benton Twp. Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Chester had a population of 142 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Gresham
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Carlisle
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Charlotte
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Vermontville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vermontville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermontville
    • Vermontville is located in Eaton County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 770 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vermontville <1>
  • Kalamo
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Kalamo have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalamo
    • Kalamo is located in Eaton County
  • Shaytown
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shaytown have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaytown
    • Shaytown is located in Eaton County
  • Ainger
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Potterville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Hoytville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hoytville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoytville
    • Hoytville is located in Eaton County
  • Nashville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Nashville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nashville
    • Nashville is located in Barry County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,696 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nashville <1>
  • Mulliken
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Maple Grove
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Chester ...

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 109 newspapers that have been published in the area around Chester.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Chester, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Chester.

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 Chester:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Chester. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Eaton County: www.eatoncounty.org/

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

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 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.
<3>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.
<4>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.
<5>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 Chester, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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- Chester) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Chester. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.6055, Longitude: -84.9147    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025