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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 Elmer (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 Elmer. 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 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.

Elmer 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 Elmer. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Elmer:

  • Sanilac County     (The home county of Elmer)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elmer, with the one closest to Elmer listed first.
    • Snover
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Sandusky
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Juhl
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • 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.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juhl
      • Juhl is located in Sanilac County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Juhl
      • From Elmer to Juhl
    • Decker
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Berkshire ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 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.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkshire
      • Berkshire is located in Sanilac County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Berkshire
      • From Elmer to Berkshire
    • Watertown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Cash
      (8 miles [12.9 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.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cash
      • Cash is located in Sanilac County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Cash
      • From Elmer to Cash
    • Hemans
      (8 miles [12.9 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.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemans
      • Hemans is located in Sanilac County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Hemans
      • From Elmer to Hemans
    • Marlette
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Argyle
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • McGregor
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • 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.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGregor
      • McGregor is located in Sanilac County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to McGregor
      • From Elmer to McGregor
    • Deckerville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • 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 <1>
  • Huron County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elmer, with the one closest to Elmer listed first.
    • Ubly
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Ruth
      (22 miles [35.4 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 <1>
    • White Rock
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Bad Axe
      (26 miles [41.8 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 <1>
    • Helena
      (27 miles [43.5 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.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
      • Helena is located in Huron County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Helena
      • From Elmer to Helena
    • Owendale
      (27 miles [43.5 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 <1>
    • Bach
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Rapson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Elkton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Lapeer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elmer, with the one closest to Elmer listed first.
    • Brown City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Clifford
      (14 miles [22.5 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
    • Burnside
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • 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.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
      • Burnside is located in Lapeer County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Burnside
      • From Elmer to Burnside
    • Silverwood
      (17 miles [27.4 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 <1>
    • North Branch
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Kings Mill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Lum
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Barnes Lake - Millers Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Imlay City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Attica
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • 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 <1>
    • Columbiaville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Otter Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 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 <1>
  • Saint Clair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elmer, with the one closest to Elmer listed first.
    • Yale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Brockway
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • 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.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brockway
      • Brockway is located in Saint Clair County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Brockway
      • From Elmer to Brockway
    • Jeddo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jeddo have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeddo
      • Jeddo is located in Saint Clair County
    • Avoca
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Blaine
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Capac
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • North Lakeport
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Emmett
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Atkins
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Atkins. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
      • Atkins is located in Saint Clair County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Atkins
      • From Elmer to Atkins
    • Lakeport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Ruby
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Tuscola County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elmer, with the one closest to Elmer listed first.
    • Kingston
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Wilmot
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Deford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Cass City
      (17 miles [27.4 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 <1>
    • Elmwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Mayville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Gagetown
      (22 miles [35.4 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 <1>
    • Caro
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Fostoria
      (25 miles [40.2 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
    • Wahjamega
      (26 miles [41.8 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.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahjamega
      • Wahjamega is located in Tuscola County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Wahjamega
      • From Elmer to Wahjamega
    • Colling
      (27 miles [43.5 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.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colling
      • Colling is located in Tuscola County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Colling
      • From Elmer to Colling
    • Juniata
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Elmer ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Elmer.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Elmer, with the one closest to Elmer 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Elmer had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Juhl
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • 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.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juhl
    • Juhl is located in Sanilac County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Juhl
    • From Elmer to Juhl
  • Berkshire ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 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.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkshire
    • Berkshire is located in Sanilac County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Berkshire
    • From Elmer to Berkshire
  • Cash
    (8 miles [12.9 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.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cash
    • Cash is located in Sanilac County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Cash
    • From Elmer to Cash
  • Marlette
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Shabbona
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • 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
  • Argyle
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Deckerville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • 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 <1>
  • Peck
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Carsonville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Kingston
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Wickware
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • 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
  • Wilmot
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Clifford
      (14 miles [22.5 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
    • Brown City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Freidberger
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • 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

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

Newspapers Published in Elmer ...

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 64 newspapers that have been published in the area around Elmer.

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

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Elmer:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Elmer. 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>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>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.
<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 '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- Elmer) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Elmer. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 43.4188, Longitude: -82.9287    
<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 Elmer, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025