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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 Fountain Point (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 Fountain Point. 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.

Name Variations for Fountain Point ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Fountain Point: Fountain Pt.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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.

Fountain Point is located in Leelanau 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 Leelanau County: Benzie & Grand Traverse.

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

  • Leelanau County     (The home county of Fountain Point)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fountain Point, with the one closest to Fountain Point listed first.
    • Lake Leelanau
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Suttons Bay
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Leland
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Schomberg
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Schomberg is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schomberg
    • Manseau ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Manseau is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manseau
    • Bodus
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Bodus is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bodus
    • Peshawbestown
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Peshawbestown is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peshawbestown
    • Bingham
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Bingham is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingham
    • Isadore ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Isadore is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isadore
    • Omena
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Shalda Corners ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Shalda Corners is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shalda Corners
    • Hatchs
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Hatchs is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatchs
    • Cedar
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Antrim County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fountain Point, with the one closest to Fountain Point listed first.
    • Elk Rapids
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Kewadin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Eastport
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Alden
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Clam Lake ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Clam Lake is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Lake
    • Central Lake
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Bellaire
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Ellsworth
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Finkton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Finkton is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finkton
  • Benzie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fountain Point, with the one closest to Fountain Point listed first.
    • Lake Ann
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Aral ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Aral is located in Benzie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aral
      • Aral has also been known as:
      • Otter Creek
    • Bendon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Bendon is located in Benzie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bendon
    • Platte River
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Platte River is located in Benzie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Platte River
    • Honor
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Wallin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Wallin is located in Benzie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallin
    • Beulah
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Charlevoix County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fountain Point, with the one closest to Fountain Point listed first.
    • Norwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Norwood is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
    • East Jordan
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Grand Traverse County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fountain Point, with the one closest to Fountain Point listed first.
    • Old Mission
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Mapleton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Mapleton is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleton
    • Traverse City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Acme
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Angel
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Angel is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angel
      • Angel has also been known as:
      • Angel Station
      • Angell Station
    • Williamsburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Grawn
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Mabel
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Mabel is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabel
    • Interlochen
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Devils Elbow
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Devils Elbow is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devils Elbow
    • Tunk ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Tunk is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunk
    • Mayfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Mayfield is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
    • Karlin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Karlin is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Karlin
  • Kalkaska County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fountain Point, with the one closest to Fountain Point listed first.
    • Torch River
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Torch River is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torch River
    • Rapid City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Barker Creek
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Barker Creek is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barker Creek
    • Westwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Westwood is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
    • Kalkaska
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • South Boardman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Fountain Point ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fountain Point.

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 Fountain Point - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Norwegian Lutheran Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • St. Michael Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Sutton Twp. Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Maple Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • East Leland Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Swedish Mission Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Leland Catholic Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Kilwy Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Grindstuen Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Beechwood Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (111 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>

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

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

  • Suttons Bay
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Keswick
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Keswick is located in Leelanau County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keswick
  • Leland
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Bingham
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Bingham is located in Leelanau County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingham
  • Omena
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Maple City
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Mapleton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Mapleton is located in Grand Traverse County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleton
  • Old Mission
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Solon
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Solon is located in Leelanau County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solon
  • Northport
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Port Oneida ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Port Oneida is located in Leelanau County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Oneida
  • Glen Arbor
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Burdickville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Burdickville is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdickville
    • Traverse City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Cedar Run
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Cedar Run is located in Benzie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Run

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

Newspapers Published in Fountain Point ...

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 69 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fountain Point.

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

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 Fountain Point:

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 Fountain Point, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Fountain Point) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.