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 Colon (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 Colon. 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.
Colon is located in Saint Joseph 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 Saint Joseph County: Elkhart (IN), LaGrange (IN), Branch, Cass & Kalamazoo.
Below are the counties that are near Colon. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Colon:
- Saint Joseph County (The home county of Colon)
- The following are listed by their distance from Colon, with the one closest to Colon listed first.
- Fairfax
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Fairfax is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfax
- Leonidas
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Findley
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Findley is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Findley
- Factoryville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Factoryville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Factoryville
- Mendon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Burr Oak
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Nottawa
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wasepi
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Wasepi is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasepi
- Centreville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Centreville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,400 people
- Fawn River
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Fawn River is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fawn River
- Sturgis
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Parkville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Parkville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkville
- Bluff Beach
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bluff Beach is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Beach
- Branch County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colon, with the one closest to Colon listed first.
- Sherwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sherwood is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 306 people
- Matteson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Matteson is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matteson
- Bronson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Batavia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Batavia is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batavia
- Union City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hatmaker
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hatmaker is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatmaker
- Gilead
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Gilead is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
- Hodunk
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Hodunk is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodunk
- Coldwater
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Girard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Girard is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girard
- Trailtree Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Trailtree Village is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trailtree Village
- Canada Shores
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Canada Shores is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Shores
- Quincy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colon, with the one closest to Colon listed first.
- Athens
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- East Leroy
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- East Leroy is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Leroy
- Joppa
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Joppa is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa
- Burlington
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Burlington is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 277 people
- West Leroy
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- West Leroy is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Leroy
- Sonoma
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Sonoma is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
- Tekonsha
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Beadle Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Beadle Lake is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beadle Lake
- Fort Custer
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Fort Custer is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Custer
- Former name for Fort Custer:
- Camp Custer
- Battle Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Springfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Ceresco
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ceresco is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceresco
- Brownlee Park
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Brownlee Park is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownlee Park
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colon, with the one closest to Colon listed first.
- Corey
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Corey is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corey
- Jones
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Marcellus
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Wakelee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Wakelee is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakelee
- Union
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Vandalia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Vandalia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- Hillsdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colon, with the one closest to Colon listed first.
- Allen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Litchfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Montgomery
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Montgomery is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
- Population from the 2020 Census: 329 people
- Reading
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Kalamazoo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colon, with the one closest to Colon listed first.
- Fulton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Fulton is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Vicksburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Scotts
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Pavillion Center
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Pavillion Center is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavillion Center
- Climax
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Climax is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Climax
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Schoolcraft
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Portage
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Galesburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Milwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Milwood is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milwood
- Comstock
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Comstock is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comstock
- Augusta
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Eastwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Eastwood is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
- Kalamazoo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colon, with the one closest to Colon listed first.
- Mattawan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lawton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Elkhart County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Colon, with the one closest to Colon listed first.
- Middlebury
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bristol
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- LaGrange County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Colon, with the one closest to Colon listed first.
- Greenfield Mills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Greenfield Mills is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield Mills
- Brighton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Brighton is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton
- Howe
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Mongo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Scott
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Scott is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott
- Seyberts
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Seyberts is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seyberts
- LaGrange
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Plato
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Plato is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plato
- Brushy Prairie
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Brushy Prairie is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Prairie
- Shipshewana
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Valentine
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Valentine is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valentine
- Stroh
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Stroh is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stroh
- Gravel Beach
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Gravel Beach is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravel Beach
- Steuben County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Colon, with the one closest to Colon listed first.
- Orland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jamestown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jamestown is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Fremont
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Angola
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ray
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ray is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Clear Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clear Lake is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Pleasant Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Lake is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Lake
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Colon, see our County-by-County Page for Colon.
Cemeteries Near Colon ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Colon.
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 Colon - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Colon covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Colon, with the one closest to Colon listed first.
- Lakeside Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- South Colon Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- McAuley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Banta Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Babcock Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Blossom Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Locust Grove Mennonite Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Findley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Leonidas Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Sherwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Nottawa Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sanborn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (325 more) ...
- Matteson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Factoryville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sprung 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Colon had a population of 489 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Colon had a population of 1,155 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Colon, with the one closest to Colon listed first.
- Fairfax
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Fairfax is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfax
- Leonidas
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Findley
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Findley is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Findley
- Sherwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sherwood is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 306 people
- Matteson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Matteson is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matteson
- Factoryville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Factoryville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Factoryville
- Wasepi
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Wasepi is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasepi
- Nottawa
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Burr Oak
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Mendon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bronson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Athens
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Centreville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Centreville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,400 people
- Fulton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Fulton is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Batavia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Batavia is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batavia
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Colon. See our List of 1890's Communities around Colon.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Colon ...
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 84 newspapers that have been published in the area around Colon.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Colon. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Colon and those printed in the larger area surrounding Colon.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3> of Colon.
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 Colon:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Saint Joseph County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Branch County
- Calhoun County
- Cass County
- Hillsdale County
- Kalamazoo County
- Van Buren County
- Elkhart County
- LaGrange County
- Steuben 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> | 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 Colon, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Colon) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |