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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 Gitchel (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 Gitchel. 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 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.

Gitchel is located in Ottawa 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 Ottawa County: Allegan, Kent & Muskegon.

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

  • Ottawa County     (The home county of Gitchel)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gitchel, with the one closest to Gitchel listed first.
    • Forest Grove
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Forest Grove is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove
    • Jamestown
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Jamestown is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
    • Forest Grove Station
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Forest Grove Station is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove Station
    • Drenthe
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Drenthe is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drenthe
    • Hudsonville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Jenison
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • South Blendon
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • South Blendon is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Blendon
    • Zeeland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Bauer
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Bauer is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
    • Noordeloos
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Noordeloos is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noordeloos
    • Waverly
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Waverly is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
    • Holland
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Allegan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gitchel, with the one closest to Gitchel listed first.
    • New Salem
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • New Salem is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
    • Burnips
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Burnips is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnips
      • Former name for Burnips:
      • Burnip's Corners
    • Diamond Springs
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Diamond Springs is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Springs
    • Dorr
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Moline
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Moline is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
    • Hilliards
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Hilliards is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
    • Fillmore
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Fillmore is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
    • Hopkins
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Hamilton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • South Monterey
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • South Monterey is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Monterey
    • Wayland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Boyd
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Boyd is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyd
  • Barry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gitchel, with the one closest to Gitchel listed first.
    • Middleville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Irving
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Irving is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
    • Freeport
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Doster
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Doster is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doster
    • Prairieville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Prairieville is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
    • Cloverdale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Cloverdale is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
    • Hastings
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Delton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Ionia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gitchel, with the one closest to Gitchel listed first.
    • Elmdale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Elmdale is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmdale
    • Campbell Corners
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Campbell Corners is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Corners
    • Clarksville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Kalamazoo County
    • Alamo
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Alamo is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamo
  • Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gitchel, with the one closest to Gitchel listed first.
    • North Dorr
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • North Dorr is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Dorr
    • Byron Center
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Carlisle
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Carlisle is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
    • Corinth
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Corinth is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
    • Cutlerville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Grandville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Burlingame
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Burlingame is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
    • Beverly
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Beverly is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
    • Burlingame Heights
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Burlingame Heights is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame Heights
    • Clyde Park
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Clyde Park is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde Park
    • Wyoming
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Galewood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Galewood is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galewood
  • Muskegon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gitchel, with the one closest to Gitchel listed first.
    • Ravenna
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Fruitport
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Sullivan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Sullivan is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
    • Slocum
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Slocum is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slocum
  • Van Buren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gitchel, with the one closest to Gitchel listed first.
    • Bloomingdale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Grand Junction
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Gobles
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Kendall
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Kendall is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
    • Lacota
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Lacota is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacota
    • Kibbie
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Kibbie is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kibbie

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

Cemeteries Near Gitchel ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gitchel.

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 Gitchel - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Star Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Burnips Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Salem Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Jamestown Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Forest Grove Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Mary's Catholic Church of New Salem Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Zutphen Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • North Dorr Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Winegar Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Winegar Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • St. Sebastian's Catholic Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • East Drenthe Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (266 more) ...
    • Overisel Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Hanley Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Shackhuddle 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 in 1895, Gitchel had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Forest Grove
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Forest Grove is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove
  • Jamestown
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Jamestown is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
  • New Salem
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • New Salem is located in Allegan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
  • Zutphen
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Zutphen is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zutphen
  • Oakland
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Oakland is located in Allegan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
  • North Dorr
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • North Dorr is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Dorr
  • Vriesland
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Vriesland is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vriesland
  • Drenthe
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Drenthe is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drenthe
  • Hudsonville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Byron Center
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Diamond Springs
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Diamond Springs is located in Allegan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Springs
  • Dorr
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Ross
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Ross is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
    • Beaverdam
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Beaverdam is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaverdam
    • Carlisle
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Carlisle is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle

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

Newspapers Published in Gitchel ...

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 181 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gitchel.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gitchel, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Gitchel.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Gitchel:

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 Gitchel, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Gitchel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.