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 Freeland (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 Freeland. 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 doctors 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.
Freeland 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 Freeland. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Freeland:
- Saginaw County (The home county of Freeland)
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeland, with the one closest to Freeland listed first.
- Dice
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Dice is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dice
- Frost
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Frost is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
- Shields
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Shields is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
- Iva
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Iva is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iva
- Kochville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Kochville is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kochville
- Paines
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Paines is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paines
- Hemlock
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Zilwaukee city
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Zilwaukee city is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zilwaukee city
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,517 people
- Orr
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Orr is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orr
- Swan Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Swan Creek is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Creek
- Carrollton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Carrollton is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
- Crow Island ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Crow Island is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow Island
- Arenac County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeland, with the one closest to Freeland listed first.
- Saganing
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Saganing is located in Arenac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saganing
- Whites Beach
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Whites Beach is located in Arenac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whites Beach
- Bay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeland, with the one closest to Freeland listed first.
- Fisherville
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Fisherville is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisherville
- Auburn
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Amelith
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Amelith is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amelith
- Frankenlust
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Frankenlust is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankenlust
- Willard
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Willard is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willard
- Brooks ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Brooks is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooks
- Salzburg ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Salzburg is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salzburg
- Seidlers
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Seidlers is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seidlers
- Duel
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Duel is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duel
- Bay City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kawkawlin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wenona ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wenona is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona
- Genesee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeland, with the one closest to Freeland listed first.
- Montrose
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Brent Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Brent Creek is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brent Creek
- Clio
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Farrandville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Farrandville is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farrandville
- Gladwin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeland, with the one closest to Freeland listed first.
- Rhodes
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Rhodes is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes
- Highwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Highwood is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highwood
- Beaverton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gratiot County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeland, with the one closest to Freeland listed first.
- North Wheeler
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- North Wheeler is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Wheeler
- Wheeler
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wheeler is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Breckenridge
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Edgewood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Edgewood is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood
- Sickles
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Sickles is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sickles
- Saint Louis
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- North Star
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- North Star is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Star
- North Star has also been known as:
- Northstar
- Alma
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Forest Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Forest Hill is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
- Ashley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ithaca
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bannister
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Isabella County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeland, with the one closest to Freeland listed first.
- Coe
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Coe is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coe
- Alembic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Alembic is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alembic
- Shepherd
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Summerton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Summerton is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerton
- Midland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeland, with the one closest to Freeland listed first.
- Midland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Ryan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Ryan is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan
- Averill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Averill is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Averill
- Sanford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Porter
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Porter is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Redstone
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Redstone is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redstone
- Hope
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Edenville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Edenville is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edenville
- North Bradley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- North Bradley is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bradley
- Alamando
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Alamando is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamando
- Oil City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Oil City is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
- Coleman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Shiawassee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeland, with the one closest to Freeland listed first.
- New Lothrop
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Henderson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Tuscola County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freeland, with the one closest to Freeland listed first.
- Richville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Denmark Junction
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Denmark Junction is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark Junction
- Gilford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Gilford is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilford
- Tuscola
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bay Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Bay Park is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay Park
- Fairgrove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Vassar
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Akron
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Watrousville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Watrousville is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watrousville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Freeland, see our County-by-County Page for Freeland.
Cemeteries Near Freeland ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Freeland.
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 Freeland - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Freeland covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Freeland, with the one closest to Freeland listed first.
- Jacquith Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Vasold Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Chapel Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Westside Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- St. Matthew Lutheran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Laporte Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lawndale Evangelical Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Arrance Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- McCarty Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Catholic Poor Farm Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Saginaw County Poor Farm Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (205 more) ...
- Saginaw Twp. Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Lutheran Home Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lutheran Home Cemetery
- The Lutheran Home Cemetery has also been known as:
- Daheim / Kirchof Cemetery
- Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #349 <2>
- St. Anthony Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Freeland had a population of 300 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Freeland, with the one closest to Freeland listed first.
- Frost
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Frost is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
- Auburn
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Fisherville
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Fisherville is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisherville
- Frankenlust
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Frankenlust is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankenlust
- Midland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Paines
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Paines is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paines
- Willard
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Willard is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willard
- Swan Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Swan Creek is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Creek
- Carrollton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Carrollton is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
- Zilwaukee city
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Zilwaukee city is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zilwaukee city
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,517 people
- Brooks ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Brooks is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooks
- Saginaw
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Saginaw is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
- Population from the 2020 Census: 47,823 people
- Former names for Saginaw:
- East Saginaw
- Saginaw City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Saginaw <1>
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Crow Island ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Crow Island is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow Island
- Melbourne ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Melbourne is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melbourne
- Salzburg ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Salzburg is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salzburg
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Freeland. See our List of 1890's Communities around Freeland.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Freeland ...
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 165 newspapers that have been published in the area around Freeland.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Freeland. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Freeland and those printed in the larger area surrounding Freeland.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4> of Freeland.
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 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 Freeland:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Saginaw County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Arenac County
- Bay County
- Genesee County
- Gladwin County
- Gratiot County
- Isabella County
- Midland County
- Shiawassee County
- Tuscola 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> | 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 Freeland, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Freeland) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |