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 Drew (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 Drew. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Drew is located in Isabella 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 Isabella County: Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm & Osceola.
Below are the counties that are near Drew. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Drew:
- Isabella County (The home county of Drew)
- The following are listed by their distance from Drew, with the one closest to Drew listed first.
- Lake Isabella
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Isabella is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Isabella
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,688 people
- Lake Isabella has also been known as:
- Lake Isabella village
- Weidman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Beal City
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Beal City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal City
- Sherman City ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Sherman City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman City
- Brinton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Brinton is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinton
- Blanchard
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Winn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Winn is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winn
- Mount Pleasant
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Rosebush
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Jordan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Jordan is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Crawford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Crawford is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Strickland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Strickland is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickland
- Vernon City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Vernon City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon City
- Clare County
- The following are listed by their distance from Drew, with the one closest to Drew listed first.
- Lake
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Lake is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake
- Former name for Lake:
- Lake Station
- Farwell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Clare
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dover
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dover is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Hatton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hatton is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Lake George
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Lake George is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake George
- Allendale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Allendale is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allendale
- Harrison
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Gladwin County
- Beaverton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Gratiot County
- The following are listed by their distance from Drew, with the one closest to Drew listed first.
- Riverdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Elm Hall
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Elm Hall is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Hall
- Elwell
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Forest Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Forest Hill is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
- Sumner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sumner is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumner
- Alma
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Louis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mecosta County
- The following are listed by their distance from Drew, with the one closest to Drew listed first.
- Remus
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Barryton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Millbrook
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Millbrook is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
- Mecosta
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Halls Corner
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Halls Corner is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Corner
- Canadian Lakes
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Canadian Lakes is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadian Lakes
- Chippewa Lake
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Rodney
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Pogy
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Pogy is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pogy
- Rustford
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Rustford is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustford
- Stanwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Borland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Borland is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borland
- Big Rapids
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Midland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Drew, with the one closest to Drew listed first.
- Coleman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Oil City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Oil City is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
- Alamando
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Alamando is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamando
- North Bradley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- North Bradley is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bradley
- Porter
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Porter is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Redstone
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Redstone is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redstone
- Montcalm County
- The following are listed by their distance from Drew, with the one closest to Drew listed first.
- Wyman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Wyman is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
- Cedar Lake
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Cedar Lake is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lake
- Edmore
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Six Lakes
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Vestaburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Vestaburg is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vestaburg
- Lakeview
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- McBride
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Entrican
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Entrican is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Entrican
- Amble
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Amble is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amble
- Stanton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Langston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Langston is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
- Coral
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Crystal
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Newaygo County
- Hawkins
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Hawkins is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkins
- Osceola County
- The following are listed by their distance from Drew, with the one closest to Drew listed first.
- Orient
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Orient is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orient
- Chippewa Station ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Chippewa Station is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippewa Station
- Sears
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Evart
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gormer ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Gormer is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gormer
- Hersey
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Avondale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Avondale is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Hartwick ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hartwick is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwick
- Reed City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Marion
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Drew, see our County-by-County Page for Drew.
Cemeteries Near Drew ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Drew.
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 Drew - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Drew covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Drew, with the one closest to Drew listed first.
- Forest Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Bennett Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Fairview Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Broomfield Twp. Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Two Rivers Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sherman City Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Strong Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Roberts Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Broomfield #1 Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Conley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (181 more) ...
- Pine River Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Redman Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Odd Fellows Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
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>
While we didn't find Drew in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Drew.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Drew, with the one closest to Drew listed first.
- Horr
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Horr is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horr
- Sherman City ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Sherman City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman City
- Remus
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Brinton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Brinton is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinton
- Millbrook
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Millbrook is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
- Mecosta
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Blanchard
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Mount Pleasant
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Lake
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Lake is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake
- Former name for Lake:
- Lake Station
- Sylvester
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sylvester is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvester
- Wyman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Wyman is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
- Jordan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Jordan is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Farwell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Chippewa Lake
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Chippewa Station ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Chippewa Station is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippewa Station
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Drew. See our List of 1890's Communities around Drew.
Newspapers Published in Drew ...
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 157 newspapers that have been published in the area around Drew.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Drew, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Drew.
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 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 Drew:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Isabella County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clare County
- Gladwin County
- Gratiot County
- Mecosta County
- Midland County
- Montcalm 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> | 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 Drew, 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 from Point A (ie- Drew) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |