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 Frankfort (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 Frankfort. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.
Frankfort is located in Benzie 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 Benzie County: Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Manistee & Wexford.
Below are the counties that are near Frankfort. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Frankfort:
- Benzie County (The home county of Frankfort)
- The following are listed by their distance from Frankfort, with the one closest to Frankfort listed first.
- Elberta
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Benzonia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Beulah
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Honor
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Aral ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Aral is located in Benzie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aral
- Aral has also been known as:
- Otter Creek
- Platte River
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Platte River is located in Benzie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Platte River
- Thompsonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wallin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Wallin is located in Benzie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallin
- Bendon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Bendon is located in Benzie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bendon
- Nessen City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Nessen City is located in Benzie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nessen City
- Griner Station
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Griner Station is located in Benzie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griner Station
- Griner Station has also been known as:
- Print
- Lake Ann
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Grand Traverse County
- The following are listed by their distance from Frankfort, with the one closest to Frankfort listed first.
- Interlochen
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Karlin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Karlin is located in Grand Traverse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Karlin
- Pavlovic Corner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Pavlovic Corner is located in Grand Traverse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavlovic Corner
- Grawn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Leelanau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Frankfort, with the one closest to Frankfort listed first.
- Empire
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Jacktown ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Jacktown is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacktown
- Jacktown has also been known as:
- Osborn
- Burdickville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Burdickville is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdickville
- Glen Haven ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Glen Haven is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Haven
- Glen Arbor
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Maple City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Port Oneida ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Port Oneida is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Oneida
- Shalda Corners ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shalda Corners is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shalda Corners
- Solon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Solon is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solon
- Isadore ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Isadore is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isadore
- Bodus
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bodus is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bodus
- Schomberg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Schomberg is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schomberg
- Manistee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Frankfort, with the one closest to Frankfort listed first.
- Arcadia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Malcolm
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Malcolm is located in Manistee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malcolm
- Humphrey
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Humphrey is located in Manistee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humphrey
- Bear Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Henry ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Henry is located in Manistee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henry
- Onekama
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Copemish
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Norwalk
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Norwalk is located in Manistee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwalk
- Onekama Junction
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Onekama Junction is located in Manistee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onekama Junction
- Pomona
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pomona is located in Manistee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pomona
- Chief Lake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Chief Lake is located in Manistee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chief Lake
- Douglas
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Douglas is located in Manistee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas
- Kaleva
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wexford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Frankfort, with the one closest to Frankfort listed first.
- Bagnall
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bagnall is located in Wexford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagnall
- Buckley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Glengary
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Glengary is located in Wexford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glengary
- Mesick
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sherman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sherman is located in Wexford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
- Yuma
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Yuma is located in Wexford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuma
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Frankfort, see our County-by-County Page for Frankfort.
Cemeteries Near Frankfort ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Frankfort.
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 Frankfort - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Frankfort covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Frankfort, with the one closest to Frankfort listed first.
- Crystal Lake Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Lutheran Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Gilmore Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Blaine Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blaine Cemetery
- The Blaine Cemetery has also been known as:
- Blaine Twp. Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #125 <2>
- Benzonia Twp. Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Joyfield Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joyfield Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Joyfield Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<3> to the south of Benzonia.
- The Joyfield Cemetery has also been known as:
- Joyfield Twp. Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #821 <2>
- Champion Hill Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Pilgrim Home Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Homestead Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Conway Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Pleasonton Twp. Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Weldon Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Continue List (78 more) ...
- Platte Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Springdale Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Memorial Park
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Frankfort had a population of 1,175 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Frankfort had a population of 1,289 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Frankfort, with the one closest to Frankfort listed first.
- Benzonia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Edgewater
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Edgewater is located in Benzie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewater
- Arcadia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Weldon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Weldon is located in Benzie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Pleasanton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasanton is located in Manistee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasanton
- Pierport
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Pierport is located in Manistee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierport
- Empire
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bear Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Thompsonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Onekama
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Copemish
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Nessen City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Nessen City is located in Benzie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nessen City
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Bendon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Bendon is located in Benzie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bendon
- Onekama Junction
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Onekama Junction is located in Manistee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onekama Junction
- Pomona
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pomona is located in Manistee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pomona
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Frankfort. See our List of 1890's Communities around Frankfort.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Frankfort ...
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 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around Frankfort.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Frankfort. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Frankfort and those printed in the larger area surrounding Frankfort.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Frankfort.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Frankfort:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Benzie County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Grand Traverse County
- Leelanau County
- Manistee County
- Wexford 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 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Frankfort) 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 Frankfort, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |