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 Fordney (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 Fordney. 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 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.
Fordney is located in Saginaw 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 Saginaw County: Bay, Clinton, Genesee, Gratiot, Midland, Shiawassee & Tuscola.
Below are the counties that are near Fordney. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Fordney:
- Saginaw County (The home county of Fordney)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordney, with the one closest to Fordney listed first.
- Brant
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Lakefield
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lakefield is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakefield
- Nelson
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Nelson is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
- Fenmore
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Fenmore is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenmore
- Saint Charles
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Merrill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Chapin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Chapin is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
- Hemlock
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Garfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Garfield is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield
- Orr
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Orr is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orr
- Chesaning
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oakley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Iva
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Iva is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iva
- Bay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordney, with the one closest to Fordney listed first.
- Amelith
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Amelith is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amelith
- Fisherville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Fisherville is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisherville
- Auburn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Frankenlust
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Frankenlust is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankenlust
- Brooks ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Brooks is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooks
- Salzburg ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Salzburg is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salzburg
- Willard
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Willard is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willard
- Seidlers
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Seidlers is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seidlers
- Bay City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wenona ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wenona is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona
- West Bay City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- West Bay City is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bay City
- West Bay City has also been known as:
- West Bank City
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordney, with the one closest to Fordney listed first.
- Elsie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Eureka
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Eureka is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Duplain
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Duplain is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duplain
- Ovid
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Shepardsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Shepardsville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepardsville
- Maple Rapids
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Maple Rapids is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Rapids
- Population from the 2020 Census: 671 people
- Saint Johns
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Price
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Price is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Price
- Fowler
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Genesee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordney, with the one closest to Fordney listed first.
- Montrose
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Brent Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Brent Creek is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brent Creek
- Flushing
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Clio
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Farrandville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Farrandville is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farrandville
- Gratiot County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordney, with the one closest to Fordney listed first.
- Edgewood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Edgewood is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood
- Sickles
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Sickles is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sickles
- Ashley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wheeler
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wheeler is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Bannister
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Star
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- North Star is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Star
- North Star has also been known as:
- Northstar
- Breckenridge
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- North Wheeler
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- North Wheeler is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Wheeler
- Ithaca
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Pompeii
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Louis
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Alma
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Perrinton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Perrinton is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perrinton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 391 people
- Ionia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordney, with the one closest to Fordney listed first.
- Hubbardston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Matherton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Matherton is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matherton
- Isabella County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordney, with the one closest to Fordney listed first.
- Coe
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Coe is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coe
- Summerton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Summerton is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerton
- Shepherd
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Alembic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Alembic is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alembic
- Crawford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Crawford is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Strickland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Strickland is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickland
- Midland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordney, with the one closest to Fordney listed first.
- Ryan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Ryan is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan
- Redstone
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Redstone is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redstone
- Porter
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Porter is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Midland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Averill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Averill is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Averill
- Sanford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Oil City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Oil City is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
- Montcalm County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordney, with the one closest to Fordney listed first.
- Carson City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Crystal
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Shiawassee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordney, with the one closest to Fordney listed first.
- Henderson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Smith Crossing
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Smith Crossing is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Crossing
- Burton
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Burton is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton
- Five Points
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Five Points is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Owosso
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- New Lothrop
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Juddville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Juddville is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juddville
- Middletown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Middletown is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Corunna
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Laingsburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Lennon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Newburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Newburg is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Vernon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Fordney, see our County-by-County Page for Fordney.
Cemeteries Near Fordney ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fordney.
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 Fordney - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Fordney covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Fordney, with the one closest to Fordney listed first.
- Marion Twp. Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- St. Theresa Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- St. John Lutheran Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Brant Twp. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Lafayette Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lakefield Twp. Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakefield Twp. Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Lakefield Twp. Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<3> to the south of Merrill.
- The Lakefield Twp. Cemetery has also been known as:
- Lakefield Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #879 <2>
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Griffus Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fremont Twp. Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hamilton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Chapin Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- St. John's Lutheran Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Continue List (245 more) ...
- Riverside Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- St. Mary's Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Ridge Road Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Fordney in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Fordney.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Fordney, with the one closest to Fordney listed first.
- Brant
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Nelson
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Nelson is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
- Galloway
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Galloway is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galloway
- Edgewood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Edgewood is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood
- Rathbone
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rathbone is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathbone
- Sickles
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Sickles is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sickles
- Saint Charles
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Chapin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Chapin is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
- Groveton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Groveton is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groveton
- Merrill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Ashley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Garfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Garfield is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Bannister
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oakley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Chesaning
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Fordney. See our List of 1890's Communities around Fordney.
Newspapers Published in Fordney ...
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 120 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fordney.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Fordney, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Fordney.
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 Fordney:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Saginaw County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bay County
- Clinton County
- Genesee County
- Gratiot County
- Ionia County
- Isabella County
- Midland County
- Montcalm County
- Shiawassee 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> | 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Fordney) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Fordney, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |