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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 Decker (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 Decker. 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 hospitals and 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.

Decker is located in Sanilac 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 Sanilac County: Huron, Lapeer, Saint Clair & Tuscola.

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

  • Sanilac County     (The home county of Decker)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Decker, with the one closest to Decker listed first.
    • Hemans
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hemans. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemans
      • Hemans is located in Sanilac County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Hemans
      • From Decker to Hemans
    • Snover
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Elmer
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Juhl
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Juhl. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juhl
      • Juhl is located in Sanilac County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Juhl
      • From Decker to Juhl
    • Argyle
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Marlette
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Sandusky
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Watertown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Berkshire ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Berkshire. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkshire
      • Berkshire is located in Sanilac County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Berkshire
      • From Decker to Berkshire
    • McGregor
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for McGregor. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGregor
      • McGregor is located in Sanilac County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to McGregor
      • From Decker to McGregor
    • Cash
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Cash. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cash
      • Cash is located in Sanilac County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Cash
      • From Decker to Cash
    • Deckerville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Deckerville have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deckerville
      • Deckerville is located in Sanilac County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 775 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Deckerville <2>
  • Huron County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Decker, with the one closest to Decker listed first.
    • Ubly
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Bach
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Owendale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Owendale have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owendale
      • Owendale is located in Huron County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 221 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Owendale <2>
    • Bad Axe
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bad Axe have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bad Axe
      • Bad Axe is located in Huron County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,889 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bad Axe <2>
    • Ruth
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ruth have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
      • Ruth is located in Huron County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ruth <2>
    • Elkton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Kilmanagh
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • White Rock
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Pigeon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Sebewaing
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Helena
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Helena. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
      • Helena is located in Huron County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Helena
      • From Decker to Helena
    • Berne
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Berne. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berne
      • Berne is located in Huron County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Berne
      • From Decker to Berne
  • Lapeer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Decker, with the one closest to Decker listed first.
    • Clifford
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clifford have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifford
      • Clifford is located in Lapeer County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 323 people
    • Silverwood
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Silverwood have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silverwood
      • Silverwood is located in Lapeer County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Silverwood <2>
    • Brown City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Burnside
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Burnside. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
      • Burnside is located in Lapeer County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Burnside
      • From Decker to Burnside
    • North Branch
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Kings Mill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Barnes Lake - Millers Lake
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Lum
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Otter Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Otter Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otter Lake
      • Otter Lake is located in Lapeer County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 377 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Otter Lake <2>
    • Columbiaville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Attica
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Attica have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
      • Attica is located in Lapeer County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Attica <2>
    • Imlay City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Saint Clair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Decker, with the one closest to Decker listed first.
    • Yale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Brockway
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Brockway. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brockway
      • Brockway is located in Saint Clair County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Brockway
      • From Decker to Brockway
  • Tuscola County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Decker, with the one closest to Decker listed first.
    • Wilmot
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Kingston
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Deford
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Cass City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cass City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cass City
      • Cass City is located in Tuscola County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,273 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cass City <2>
    • Elmwood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Gagetown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gagetown have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gagetown
      • Gagetown is located in Tuscola County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gagetown <2>
    • Mayville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Caro
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Wahjamega
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Wahjamega. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahjamega
      • Wahjamega is located in Tuscola County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Wahjamega
      • From Decker to Wahjamega
    • Colling
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Colling. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colling
      • Colling is located in Tuscola County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Colling
      • From Decker to Colling
    • Fostoria
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fostoria have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
      • Fostoria is located in Tuscola County
    • Juniata
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Decker ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Decker.

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 Decker covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

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.<6>

While we didn't find Decker in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Decker.

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

  • Shabbona
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shabbona have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona
    • Shabbona is located in Sanilac County
  • Elmer
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Wilmot
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Kingston
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Juhl
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Juhl. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juhl
    • Juhl is located in Sanilac County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Juhl
    • From Decker to Juhl
  • Deford
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Marlette
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Argyle
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Wickware
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wickware have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wickware
    • Wickware is located in Sanilac County
  • Clifford
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clifford have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifford
    • Clifford is located in Lapeer County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 323 people
  • Cass City
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cass City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cass City
    • Cass City is located in Tuscola County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,273 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cass City <2>
  • Cumber
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cumber have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumber
    • Cumber is located in Sanilac County
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • East Dayton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Dayton have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Dayton
      • East Dayton is located in Tuscola County
    • Freidberger
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Freidberger have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freidberger
      • Freidberger is located in Sanilac County
    • Berkshire ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Berkshire. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkshire
      • Berkshire is located in Sanilac County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Berkshire
      • From Decker to Berkshire

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

Newspapers Published in Decker ...

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 Decker.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Decker, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Decker.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Decker:

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

The official website for Sanilac County: www.sanilaccounty.net/

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

Footnotes ...

<1>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.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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.
<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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Decker) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Decker. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 43.4590, Longitude: -83.0496    
<6>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 Decker, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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In closing, please keep in mind that we can not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information on this website, so use with care. We encourage you to double-check the information that is critical to you.

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025