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 Colfax (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 Colfax. 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 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.
Colfax is located in Oceana 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 Oceana County: Lake, Mason, Muskegon & Newaygo.
Below are the counties that are near Colfax. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Colfax:
- Oceana County (The home county of Colfax)
- The following are listed by their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
- Walkerville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cobmoosa
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cobmoosa is located in Oceana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobmoosa
- Cobmoosa has also been known as:
- Cob Moo Sa
- Elbridge
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Elbridge is located in Oceana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elbridge
- Hesperia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Ferry
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Ferry is located in Oceana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferry
- Hart
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Shelby
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- French Town
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- French Town is located in Oceana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for French Town
- Mears
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Pentwater
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- New Era
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Rothbury
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Camp Claybanks ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Camp Claybanks is located in Oceana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Claybanks
- Lake County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
- Marlborough
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Marlborough is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlborough
- Baldwin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Idlewild
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Idlewild is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewild
- Sauble
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Sauble is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sauble
- Nirvana
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Nirvana is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nirvana
- Peacock
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Peacock is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peacock
- Chase
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Irons
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Luther
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Manistee County
- Dublin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Dublin is located in Manistee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dublin
- Mason County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
- Carr
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Carr is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carr
- Carr has also been known as:
- Carr Settlement
- McCumber Settlement
- Fern
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fern is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fern
- Fern has also been known as:
- Adamsville
- Wiley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wiley is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiley
- Wiley has also been known as:
- Wileys
- Walhalla
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Custer
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Custer is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
- Former names for Custer:
- Black Creek
- Ferryville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Custer <1>
- Tallman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Tallman is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallman
- Tallman has also been known as:
- Weaver
- Meisenheimer Corners
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Scottville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Scottville is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,209 people
- Scottville has also been known as:
- Mason Center
- Sweetland
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Scottville <1>
- Batcheller ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Batcheller is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batcheller
- Batcheller has also been known as:
- Turtle Lake
- Amber
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Amber is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amber
- Amber has also been known as:
- Slaughtburg
- Elm Flats ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Elm Flats is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Flats
- Millerton ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Millerton is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
- Sugar Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sugar Grove is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
- Sugar Grove has also been known as:
- Clark's Corners
- Mecosta County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
- Paris
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Big Rapids
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Muskegon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
- Brunswick
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Brunswick is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brunswick
- Holton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Lakewood Club
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Lakewood Club is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood Club
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,292 people
- Twin Lake
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Montague
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Whitehall
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dalton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Dalton is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalton
- Sylvan Beach
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sylvan Beach is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan Beach
- Wabaningo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wabaningo is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wabaningo
- Newaygo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
- Huber
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Huber is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huber
- Bitely
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Woodland Park
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Woodland Park is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Park
- Lilley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Lilley is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilley
- Brohman
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Brohman is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brohman
- Former names for Brohman:
- Dingman
- Otia
- Aetna
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Aetna is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aetna
- Ramona
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ramona is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramona
- Wooster
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Wooster is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooster
- Fremont
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Fremont is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,102 people
- Former name for Fremont:
- Fremont Center
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fremont <1>
- Reeman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Reeman is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeman
- White Cloud
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Brookside
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Brookside is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
- Bishop
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Bishop is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
- Osceola County
- Reed City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Colfax, see our County-by-County Page for Colfax.
Cemeteries Near Colfax ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Colfax.
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 Colfax - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Colfax covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
- Colfax Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Abson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Troy Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Walkerville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Volney Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Carpenter Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Indian Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Indian Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Goodrich Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Indian Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- McCumber Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Continue List (172 more) ...
- Elbridge Twp. Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gale Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mt. Malissa Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
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>
While we didn't find Colfax in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Colfax.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
- Volney
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Volney is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volney
- Elbridge
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Elbridge is located in Oceana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elbridge
- Cobmoosa
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cobmoosa is located in Oceana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobmoosa
- Cobmoosa has also been known as:
- Cob Moo Sa
- Crystal Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Crystal Valley is located in Oceana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Valley
- Fern
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fern is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fern
- Fern has also been known as:
- Adamsville
- Bitely
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Lilley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Lilley is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilley
- Hesperia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Wiley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wiley is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiley
- Wiley has also been known as:
- Wileys
- Ferry
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Ferry is located in Oceana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferry
- Brohman
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Brohman is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brohman
- Former names for Brohman:
- Dingman
- Otia
- Hart
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Aetna
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Aetna is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aetna
- Custer
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Custer is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
- Former names for Custer:
- Black Creek
- Ferryville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Custer <1>
- Baldwin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Colfax. See our List of 1890's Communities around Colfax.
Newspapers Published in Colfax ...
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 98 newspapers that have been published in the area around Colfax.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Colfax, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Colfax.
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 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 Colfax:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Oceana County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Lake County
- Manistee County
- Mason County
- Mecosta County
- Muskegon County
- Newaygo County
- Osceola County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Michigan
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 Colfax, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Colfax) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |