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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 Flowerfield (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 Flowerfield. 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 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 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.

Flowerfield is located in Saint Joseph 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 Saint Joseph County: Elkhart (IN), LaGrange (IN), Branch, Cass & Kalamazoo.

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

  • Saint Joseph County     (The home county of Flowerfield)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flowerfield, with the one closest to Flowerfield listed first.
    • Chamberlain
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Chamberlain is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamberlain
    • Parkville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Parkville is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkville
    • Three Rivers
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Mendon
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Mendon is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 848 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mendon <1>
    • Fabius
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Fabius is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fabius
    • Centreville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Centreville is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,400 people
    • Wasepi
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Wasepi is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasepi
    • Nottawa
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Leonidas
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Constantine
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Fairfax
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Fairfax is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfax
    • Factoryville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Factoryville is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Factoryville
  • Allegan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flowerfield, with the one closest to Flowerfield listed first.
    • Plainwell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Otsego
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Neeley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Neeley is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neeley
  • Barry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flowerfield, with the one closest to Flowerfield listed first.
    • Doster
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Doster is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doster
    • Hickory Corners
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Berrien County
    • Naomi
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Naomi is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naomi
  • Branch County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flowerfield, with the one closest to Flowerfield listed first.
    • Sherwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Sherwood is located in Branch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 306 people
    • Matteson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Matteson is located in Branch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matteson
    • Union City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Bronson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Batavia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Batavia is located in Branch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batavia
    • Hodunk
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Hodunk is located in Branch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodunk
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flowerfield, with the one closest to Flowerfield listed first.
    • Athens
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • West Leroy
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • West Leroy is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Leroy
    • East Leroy
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • East Leroy is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Leroy
    • Joppa
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Joppa is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa
    • Fort Custer
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Fort Custer is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Custer
      • Former name for Fort Custer:
      • Camp Custer
    • Sonoma
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Sonoma is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
    • Springfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Level Park
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Level Park is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Park
    • Oak Park
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Oak Park is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Park
    • Burlington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Burlington is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 277 people
    • Battle Creek
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Beadle Lake
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Beadle Lake is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beadle Lake
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flowerfield, with the one closest to Flowerfield listed first.
    • Marcellus
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Corey
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Corey is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corey
    • Wakelee
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Wakelee is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakelee
    • Jones
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Penn
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Penn is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn
    • Vandalia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Vandalia is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
    • Brownsville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Brownsville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
    • Cassopolis
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • La Grange
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • La Grange is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
    • Union
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Dowagiac
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Edwardsburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Kalamazoo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flowerfield, with the one closest to Flowerfield listed first.
    • Schoolcraft
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Vicksburg
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Portage
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Milwood
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Milwood is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milwood
    • Oshtemo
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Pavillion Center
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Pavillion Center is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavillion Center
    • Kalamazoo
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Scotts
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Fulton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Fulton is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
    • Westwood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Westwood is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
    • Comstock
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Comstock is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comstock
    • Eastwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Eastwood is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
  • Van Buren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flowerfield, with the one closest to Flowerfield listed first.
    • Lawton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Lawton is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,796 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lawton <1>
    • Mattawan
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Paw Paw
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Almena
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Almena is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almena
    • Decatur
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • North Lake
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • North Lake is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Lake
    • Kendall
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Kendall is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
    • Glendale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Glendale is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
    • Lawrence
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Gobles
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Keeler
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Keeler is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeler
    • Hartford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Elkhart County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flowerfield, with the one closest to Flowerfield listed first.
    • Bristol
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Bristol is located in Elkhart County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,697 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bristol <1>
    • Simonton Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Simonton Lake is located in Elkhart County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simonton Lake
    • Middlebury
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Garden Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Garden Village is located in Elkhart County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
  • LaGrange County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flowerfield, with the one closest to Flowerfield listed first.
    • Scott
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Scott is located in LaGrange County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott
    • Seyberts
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Seyberts is located in LaGrange County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seyberts
    • Howe
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Shipshewana
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Brighton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Brighton is located in LaGrange County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton

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

Cemeteries Near Flowerfield ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Flowerfield.

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

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

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

  • Flowerfield Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Moore Park Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Howardsville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Upper Flatbush Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Center Park Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Mint Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Shaver Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Schoolcraft Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Pleasant Valley Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Flatbush Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Harrison Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Knobhill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (322 more) ...

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 Flowerfield had a population of 145 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Schoolcraft
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Howardsville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Howardsville is located in Saint Joseph County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howardsville
  • Parkville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Parkville is located in Saint Joseph County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkville
  • Vicksburg
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Marcellus
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Three Rivers
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Portage
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Fabius
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Fabius is located in Saint Joseph County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fabius
  • Centreville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Centreville is located in Saint Joseph County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,400 people
  • Mendon
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Mendon is located in Saint Joseph County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendon
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 848 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mendon <1>
  • Lawton
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Lawton is located in Van Buren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawton
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,796 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lawton <1>
  • Wakelee
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Wakelee is located in Cass County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakelee
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Corey
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Corey is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corey
    • Pavilion
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Pavilion is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavilion
    • Mattawan
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Flowerfield ...

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 194 newspapers that have been published in the area around Flowerfield.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Flowerfield, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Flowerfield.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Flowerfield:

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