RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Michigan >> Antrim County >> Chestonia >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Chestonia (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 Chestonia. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Chestonia is located in Antrim 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 Antrim County: Charlevoix, Crawford, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska & Otsego.

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

  • Antrim County     (The home county of Chestonia)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chestonia, with the one closest to Chestonia listed first.
    • Finkton
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Finkton is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finkton
    • Alba
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Bellaire
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Wetzel ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Wetzel is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wetzel
      • Wetzel has also been known as:
      • Wetzell
    • Central Lake
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Mancelona
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Ellsworth
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Clam Lake ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Clam Lake is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Lake
    • Eastport
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Alden
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Kewadin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Elk Rapids
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
  • Charlevoix County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chestonia, with the one closest to Chestonia listed first.
    • Goo ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Goo is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goo
    • East Jordan
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Boyne Falls
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Boyne City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Boyne City is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyne City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,717 people
      • Former names for Boyne City:
      • Bay Springs
      • Boyne
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Boyne City <1>
    • Ironton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Ironton is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironton
    • Horton Bay
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Horton Bay is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton Bay
    • Walloon Lake
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Zenith Heights
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Zenith Heights is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenith Heights
    • Norwood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Norwood is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
    • Charlevoix
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Bay Shore
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Bay Shore is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay Shore
  • Cheboygan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chestonia, with the one closest to Chestonia listed first.
    • Wildwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Wildwood is located in Cheboygan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
    • Wolverine
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Crawford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chestonia, with the one closest to Chestonia listed first.
    • Deward ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Deward is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deward
    • Frederic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • McIntyre Landing
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • McIntyre Landing is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntyre Landing
  • Emmet County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chestonia, with the one closest to Chestonia listed first.
    • Bay Harbor
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Petoskey
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Bay View
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Kegomic ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Kegomic is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kegomic
    • Harbor Springs
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Conway
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Forest Beach
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Forest Beach is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Beach
    • Ramona Park
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Ramona Park is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramona Park
    • Roaring Brook
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Roaring Brook is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaring Brook
    • Wequetonsing
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Wequetonsing is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wequetonsing
    • Oden
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Ponshewaing
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Ponshewaing is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponshewaing
  • Grand Traverse County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chestonia, with the one closest to Chestonia listed first.
    • Old Mission
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Angel
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Angel is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angel
      • Angel has also been known as:
      • Angel Station
      • Angell Station
    • Mapleton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Mapleton is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleton
    • Tunk ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Tunk is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunk
    • Mabel
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Mabel is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabel
    • Williamsburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Acme
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Kalkaska County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chestonia, with the one closest to Chestonia listed first.
    • Westwood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Westwood is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
    • Rapid City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Torch River
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Torch River is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torch River
    • Barker Creek
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Barker Creek is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barker Creek
    • Kalkaska
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Sigma
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Sigma is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sigma
    • Angling
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Angling is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angling
    • Lodi
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Lodi is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
    • Spencer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Spencer is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
    • South Boardman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Leelanau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chestonia, with the one closest to Chestonia listed first.
    • Omena
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Peshawbestown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Peshawbestown is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peshawbestown
    • Manseau ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Manseau is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manseau
    • Northport
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Onominee ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Onominee is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onominee
      • Onominee has also been known as:
      • Onominese
      • Onomonese
      • Onuminee
      • Onumunese
    • Suttons Bay
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Otsego County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chestonia, with the one closest to Chestonia listed first.
    • Elmira
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Hallock
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Hallock is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallock
    • Berryville ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Berryville is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
    • Gaylord
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Pearll City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Pearll City is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearll City
    • Arbutus Beach
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Arbutus Beach is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbutus Beach
    • Vanderbilt
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Waters
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Sparr
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Sparr is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparr
    • Lower Chub Landing ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lower Chub Landing is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Chub Landing
    • Green Timbers
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Green Timbers is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Timbers
    • Johannesburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Chestonia ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Chestonia.

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 Chestonia - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Rock Elm Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Bliss Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Chestonia Twp. #1 Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Trojanek Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Settlement Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Morehouse Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Brown Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Densmore Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Flewelling Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Bryden Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Todd Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (113 more) ...
    • Chestonia Twp. #2 Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Lewis Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Jones Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)

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 Chestonia had a population of 23 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Finkton
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Finkton is located in Antrim County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finkton
  • East Jordan
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Alba
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Snowflake
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Snowflake is located in Antrim County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snowflake
  • Bellaire
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Wetzel ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Wetzel is located in Antrim County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wetzel
    • Wetzel has also been known as:
    • Wetzell
  • Central Lake
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Mancelona
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Elmira
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Boyne Falls
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Advance
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Advance is located in Charlevoix County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Advance
  • Antrim
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Antrim is located in Antrim County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antrim
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Boyne City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Boyne City is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyne City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,717 people
      • Former names for Boyne City:
      • Bay Springs
      • Boyne
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Boyne City <1>
    • Ellsworth
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Clam Lake ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Clam Lake is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Lake

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

Newspapers Published in Chestonia ...

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 91 newspapers that have been published in the area around Chestonia.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Chestonia, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Chestonia.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy 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 information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Chestonia:

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 Chestonia, 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' (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- Chestonia) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.