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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 Geels (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 Geels. 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 doctors 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.

Geels is located in Roscommon County.

To see how the shape of Michigan's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Roscommon County: Clare, Crawford, Gladwin, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Ogemaw & Oscoda.

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

  • Roscommon County     (The home county of Geels)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Geels, with the one closest to Geels listed first.
    • Saint Helen
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Roscommon
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Roscommon have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscommon
      • Roscommon is located in Roscommon County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,044 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roscommon <1>
    • Prudenville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Prudenville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prudenville
      • Prudenville is located in Roscommon County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Prudenville <1>
    • Hillcrest
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Houghton Lake Heights
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Houghton Lake Heights have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houghton Lake Heights
      • Houghton Lake Heights is located in Roscommon County
    • Houghton Lake
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Houghton Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houghton Lake
      • Houghton Lake is located in Roscommon County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Houghton Lake <1>
    • Higgins Lake
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Higgins Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higgins Lake
      • Higgins Lake is located in Roscommon County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Higgins Lake <1>
    • Nellsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Tent City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tent City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tent City
      • Tent City is located in Roscommon County
  • Clare County
  • Crawford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Geels, with the one closest to Geels listed first.
    • Deerheart Valley
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Pere Cheney ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Pere Cheney. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pere Cheney
      • Pere Cheney is located in Crawford County
      • Pere Cheney has also been known as:
      • Center Plains
      • Cheney
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Pere Cheney
      • From Geels to Pere Cheney
    • Skyline Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Skyline Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skyline Village
      • Skyline Village is located in Crawford County
    • Grayling
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Bucks
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Bucks. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucks
      • Bucks is located in Crawford County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Bucks
      • From Geels to Bucks
    • McIntyre Landing
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Frederic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Gladwin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Geels, with the one closest to Geels listed first.
    • Butman
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Butman. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butman
      • Butman is located in Gladwin County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Butman
      • From Geels to Butman
    • Sugar Rapids
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Gladwin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Iosco County
  • Kalkaska County
    • Fletcher
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Fletcher. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fletcher
      • Fletcher is located in Kalkaska County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Fletcher
      • From Geels to Fletcher
  • Missaukee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Geels, with the one closest to Geels listed first.
    • Stratford ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Stratford. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stratford
      • Stratford is located in Missaukee County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Stratford
      • From Geels to Stratford
    • Merritt
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Moorestown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Star City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Star City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
      • Star City is located in Missaukee County
    • Stittsville ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Stittsville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stittsville
      • Stittsville is located in Missaukee County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Stittsville
      • From Geels to Stittsville
  • Ogemaw County
  • Oscoda County

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

Cemeteries Near Geels ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Geels.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Lakeview Park Indian Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lakeview Park Indian Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lakeview Park Indian Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Richfield Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Richfield Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Richfield Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Higgins Twp. Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Higgins Twp. Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Higgins Twp. Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Beaver Lake Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Beaver Lake Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Beaver Lake Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Pioneer Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pioneer Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pioneer Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Ball Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ball Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ball Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Gerrish Twp. Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Gerrish Twp. Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Gerrish Twp. Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Markey Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Markey Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Markey Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Maple Valley Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Maple Valley Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Maple Valley Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Fisk Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Fisk Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Fisk Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Mt. Pindus Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Pindus Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. Pindus Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (72 more) ...
    • Rock Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Rock Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Rock Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Ogemaw Springs Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ogemaw Springs Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ogemaw Springs Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Damon Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Damon Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Damon Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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 Geels in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Geels.

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

  • Saint Helen
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Roscommon
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Roscommon have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscommon
    • Roscommon is located in Roscommon County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,044 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roscommon <1>
  • Prudenville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Prudenville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prudenville
    • Prudenville is located in Roscommon County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Prudenville <1>
  • Ogemaw Springs
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Damon
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Pere Cheney ‑ Historic
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Pere Cheney. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pere Cheney
    • Pere Cheney is located in Crawford County
    • Pere Cheney has also been known as:
    • Center Plains
    • Cheney
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Pere Cheney
    • From Geels to Pere Cheney
  • Houghton Lake
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Houghton Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houghton Lake
    • Houghton Lake is located in Roscommon County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Houghton Lake <1>
  • West Branch
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Luzerne
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Campbells Corners
    (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
  • Butman
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Butman. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butman
    • Butman is located in Gladwin County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Butman
    • From Geels to Butman
  • Grayling
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Meredith
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Selkirk
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Selkirk have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selkirk
      • Selkirk is located in Ogemaw County
    • Red Oak
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Geels ...

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 37 newspapers that have been published in the area around Geels.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Geels, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Geels.

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 Geels:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Geels. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Roscommon County: www.roscommoncounty.net/

The official website for State of Michigan: https://www.michigan.gov/

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 location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<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 Geels, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>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 from Point A (ie- Geels) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Geels. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 44.4219, Longitude: -84.4833       In this case, the coordinates for Geels have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025