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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 Edwards (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 Edwards. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Edwards is located in Ogemaw 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 Ogemaw County: Alcona, Arenac, Crawford, Gladwin, Iosco, Oscoda & Roscommon.

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

  • Ogemaw County     (The home county of Edwards)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Edwards, with the one closest to Edwards listed first.
    • Greenwood
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Greenwood is located in Ogemaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
    • West Branch
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Ogemaw Springs
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Ogemaw Springs is located in Ogemaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogemaw Springs
    • Skidway Lake
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Campbells Corners
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Campbells Corners is located in Ogemaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbells Corners
    • Prescott
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Fayettes Corner ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Fayettes Corner is located in Ogemaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayettes Corner
    • Rose City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Damon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Damon is located in Ogemaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damon
    • Lupton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • South Branch
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Arenac County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Edwards, with the one closest to Edwards listed first.
    • Melita
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Melita is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melita
    • Sterling
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Maple Ridge
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Maple Ridge is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Ridge
    • Standish
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Omer
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Omer is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 288 people
    • Turner
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Turner is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turner
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
    • Twining
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Twining is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twining
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
    • Arenac
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Arenac is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arenac
    • Pine River
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Pine River is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine River
    • Saganing
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Saganing is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saganing
    • Whites Beach
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Whites Beach is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whites Beach
    • Au Gres
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Bay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Edwards, with the one closest to Edwards listed first.
    • Bentley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Bentley is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
    • Mount Forest
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Mount Forest is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Forest
    • Nine Mile
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Nine Mile is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nine Mile
    • Woodville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Woodville is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
    • Pinconning
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Clare County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Edwards, with the one closest to Edwards listed first.
    • Meredith
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Meredith is located in Clare County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meredith
    • Allendale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Allendale is located in Clare County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allendale
    • Harrison
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Crawford County
    • Deerheart Valley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Deerheart Valley is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerheart Valley
  • Gladwin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Edwards, with the one closest to Edwards listed first.
    • Sugar Rapids
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Sugar Rapids is located in Gladwin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Rapids
    • Butman
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Butman is located in Gladwin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butman
    • White Star
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • White Star is located in Gladwin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Star
    • Wooden Shoe Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Wooden Shoe Village is located in Gladwin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooden Shoe Village
    • Highwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Highwood is located in Gladwin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highwood
    • Gladwin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Rhodes
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Rhodes is located in Gladwin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes
    • Beaverton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
  • Iosco County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Edwards, with the one closest to Edwards listed first.
    • Whittemore
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Long Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Hale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • National City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • White Rock ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • White Rock is located in Iosco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
  • Midland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Edwards, with the one closest to Edwards listed first.
    • Edenville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Edenville is located in Midland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edenville
    • Hope
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Oscoda County
  • Roscommon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Edwards, with the one closest to Edwards listed first.
    • Saint Helen
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Geels
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Geels is located in Roscommon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geels
    • Prudenville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Houghton Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Roscommon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Houghton Lake Heights
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Houghton Lake Heights is located in Roscommon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houghton Lake Heights
    • Nellsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Nellsville is located in Roscommon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nellsville

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

Cemeteries Near Edwards ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Edwards.

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

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

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

  • Edwards Twp. Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Bourret Twp. Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Joseph's Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Brookside Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Alger Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Ogemaw Springs Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Butman Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Campbells Corners Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Nolan Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • McClure Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Second Lutheran Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Mills Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (102 more) ...
    • Beaver Lake Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • St. Josephs Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Maple Valley Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 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.<3>

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

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

  • Greenwood
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Greenwood is located in Ogemaw County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
  • West Branch
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Alger
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Ogemaw Springs
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Ogemaw Springs is located in Ogemaw County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogemaw Springs
  • Butman
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Butman is located in Gladwin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butman
  • Campbells Corners
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Campbells Corners is located in Ogemaw County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbells Corners
  • McClure
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • McClure is located in Gladwin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClure
  • Melita
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Melita is located in Arenac County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melita
  • Selkirk
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Selkirk is located in Ogemaw County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selkirk
  • Saint Helen
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Sterling
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Maple Ridge
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Maple Ridge is located in Arenac County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Ridge
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Prescott
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Meredith
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Meredith is located in Clare County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meredith
    • Gladwin
      (17 miles [27.4 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 Edwards. See our List of 1890's Communities around Edwards.

Newspapers Published in Edwards ...

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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around Edwards.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Edwards, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Edwards.

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 Edwards:

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 Edwards, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Edwards) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.