RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Michigan >> Gratiot County >> Elm Hall >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Elm Hall (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 Elm Hall. 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.

Elm Hall is located in Gratiot 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 Gratiot County: Clinton, Ionia, Isabella, Midland, Montcalm, Saginaw & Shiawassee.

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

  • Gratiot County     (The home county of Elm Hall)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elm Hall, with the one closest to Elm Hall listed first.
    • Riverdale
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Elwell
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Sumner
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Sumner is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumner
    • Forest Hill
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Forest Hill is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
    • Alma
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Alma is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,807 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alma <1>
    • Saint Louis
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Ithaca
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Middleton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Perrinton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Perrinton is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perrinton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 391 people
    • North Star
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • North Star is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Star
      • North Star has also been known as:
      • Northstar
    • Pompeii
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Breckenridge
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Sickles
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Sickles is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sickles
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elm Hall, with the one closest to Elm Hall listed first.
    • Maple Rapids
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Maple Rapids is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Rapids
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 671 people
    • Eureka
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Eureka is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
    • Fowler
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Saint Johns
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Duplain
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Duplain is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duplain
    • Elsie
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Westphalia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Ionia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elm Hall, with the one closest to Elm Hall listed first.
    • Hubbardston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Palo
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Palo is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo
    • Matherton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Matherton is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matherton
    • Shiloh
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Shiloh is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
    • Woods Corners
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Woods Corners is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Corners
    • Muir
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Pewamo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Orleans
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Orleans is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
    • Lyons
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Belding
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Ionia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • South Ionia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • South Ionia is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ionia
    • Smyrna
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Isabella County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elm Hall, with the one closest to Elm Hall listed first.
    • Strickland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Strickland is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickland
    • Summerton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Summerton is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerton
    • Crawford
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Crawford is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
    • Winn
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Winn is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winn
    • Coe
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Coe is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coe
    • Shepherd
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Mount Pleasant
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Blanchard
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Alembic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Alembic is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alembic
    • Jordan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Jordan is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
    • Lake Isabella
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • 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
    • Beal City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Beal City is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal City
    • Rosebush
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
  • Mecosta County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elm Hall, with the one closest to Elm Hall listed first.
    • Millbrook
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Millbrook is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
    • Halls Corner
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Halls Corner is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Corner
    • Remus
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Mecosta
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Canadian Lakes
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Canadian Lakes is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadian Lakes
    • Rustford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Rustford is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustford
    • Barryton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Midland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elm Hall, with the one closest to Elm Hall listed first.
    • Redstone
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Redstone is located in Midland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redstone
    • Oil City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Oil City is located in Midland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
    • Porter
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Porter is located in Midland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
    • Ryan
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Ryan is located in Midland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan
    • Alamando
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Alamando is located in Midland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamando
    • Coleman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • North Bradley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • North Bradley is located in Midland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bradley
  • Montcalm County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elm Hall, with the one closest to Elm Hall listed first.
    • Vestaburg
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Vestaburg is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vestaburg
    • Cedar Lake
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Cedar Lake is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lake
    • Crystal
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Edmore
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • McBride
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Wyman
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Wyman is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
    • Carson City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Butternut
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Butternut is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butternut
    • Vickeryville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Vickeryville is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vickeryville
    • Stanton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Sheridan
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Sidney
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Entrican
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Entrican is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Entrican
  • Saginaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elm Hall, with the one closest to Elm Hall listed first.
    • Lakefield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Lakefield is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakefield
    • Merrill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Fenmore
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Fenmore is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenmore
    • Iva
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Iva is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iva
    • Hemlock
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Nelson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Nelson is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson

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

Cemeteries Near Elm Hall ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Elm Hall.

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 Elm Hall - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Elm Hall Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Riverdale Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Ferris Center Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Sumner Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Sibley Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Richland Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Klees Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Pritchard Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Spencer Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Chapel Gardens Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Seville Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Roosa Farm Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (215 more) ...
    • Wright Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Irishtown Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Cedar Lake Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Elm Hall had a population of 320 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Riverdale
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Sumner
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Sumner is located in Gratiot County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumner
  • Cedar Lake
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Cedar Lake is located in Montcalm County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lake
  • Strickland
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Strickland is located in Isabella County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickland
  • Crystal
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • New Haven Center
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • New Haven Center is located in Gratiot County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Haven Center
  • Forest Hill
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Forest Hill is located in Gratiot County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
  • Summerton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Summerton is located in Isabella County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerton
  • Alma
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Alma is located in Gratiot County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,807 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alma <1>
  • Sethton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Sethton is located in Gratiot County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sethton
  • Newark
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Newark is located in Gratiot County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
  • Edmore
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • McBride
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Saint Louis
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Crawford
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Crawford is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford

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

Newspapers Published in Elm Hall ...

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 217 newspapers that have been published in the area around Elm Hall.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Elm Hall, 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 Elm Hall.

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 Elm Hall:

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 Elm Hall, 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- Elm Hall) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.