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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 Clarion (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 Clarion. 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.

Clarion is located in Charlevoix 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 Charlevoix County: Antrim, Emmet & Otsego.

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

  • Charlevoix County     (The home county of Clarion)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clarion, with the one closest to Clarion listed first.
    • Walloon Lake
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Zenith Heights
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Zenith Heights is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenith Heights
    • Boyne City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • Boyne Falls
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Horton Bay
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Horton Bay is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton Bay
    • Bay Shore
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Bay Shore is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay Shore
    • Goo ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Goo is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goo
    • Ironton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Ironton is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironton
    • East Jordan
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Charlevoix
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Norwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Norwood is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
  • Antrim County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clarion, with the one closest to Clarion listed first.
    • Ellsworth
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Finkton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Finkton is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finkton
    • Alba
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Central Lake
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Eastport
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Wetzel ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Wetzel is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wetzel
      • Wetzel has also been known as:
      • Wetzell
    • Bellaire
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Mancelona
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Clam Lake ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Clam Lake is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Lake
  • Cheboygan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clarion, with the one closest to Clarion listed first.
    • Wildwood
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Wildwood is located in Cheboygan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
    • Wolverine
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Burt Lake
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Indian River
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Giauque Beach
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Giauque Beach is located in Cheboygan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Giauque Beach
    • Afton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Topinabee
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Fingerboard Corner
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Fingerboard Corner is located in Cheboygan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fingerboard Corner
    • Veery Point
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Veery Point is located in Cheboygan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Veery Point
    • Long Point
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Long Point is located in Cheboygan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Point
    • Riggsville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Riggsville is located in Cheboygan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riggsville
    • Silver Beach
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Silver Beach is located in Cheboygan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Beach
    • Mullett Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Mullett Lake is located in Cheboygan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mullett Lake
  • Crawford County
    • Deward ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Deward is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deward
  • Emmet County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clarion, with the one closest to Clarion listed first.
    • Petoskey
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Bay View
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Kegomic ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Kegomic is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kegomic
    • Bay Harbor
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Conway
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Ramona Park
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Ramona Park is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramona Park
    • Roaring Brook
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Roaring Brook is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaring Brook
    • Wequetonsing
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Wequetonsing is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wequetonsing
    • Harbor Springs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Oden
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Ponshewaing
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Ponshewaing is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponshewaing
    • Forest Beach
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Forest Beach is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Beach
    • Alanson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Kalkaska County
    • Westwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Westwood is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
  • Otsego County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clarion, with the one closest to Clarion listed first.
    • Berryville ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Berryville is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
    • Elmira
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Hallock
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Hallock is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallock
    • Vanderbilt
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Green Timbers
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Green Timbers is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Timbers
    • Gaylord
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Pearll City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Pearll City is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearll City
    • Sparr
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Sparr is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparr
    • Arbutus Beach
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Arbutus Beach is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbutus Beach
    • Waters
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Johannesburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Clarion ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Clarion.

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

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

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

  • Dunkard Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Maple Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Hill Cemetery
    • The Maple Hill Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Clarion Cemetery
  • Duncan Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Evangeline Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Howard Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Joy Valley Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Maple Lawn Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Okiron Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Francis Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Dyer Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Wilson Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (111 more) ...

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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Clarion had a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Boyne City
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • 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>
  • Petoskey
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Bay View
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Boyne Falls
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Kegomic ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Kegomic is located in Emmet County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kegomic
  • Horton Bay
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Horton Bay is located in Charlevoix County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton Bay
  • Advance
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Advance is located in Charlevoix County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Advance
  • Epsilon
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Epsilon is located in Emmet County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Epsilon
  • Conway
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Harbor Springs
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Wildwood
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Wildwood is located in Cheboygan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
  • Oden
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Burgess
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Burgess is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
    • Ironton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Ironton is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironton
    • East Jordan
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Clarion ...

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 71 newspapers that have been published in the area around Clarion.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Clarion, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Clarion.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Clarion:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Clarion) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<4>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 Clarion, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.