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 Indian Lake (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 Indian Lake. 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 Indian Lake ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Indian Lake: Indian Lk.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Indian Lake. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Indian Lake.
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 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.
Indian Lake is located in Cass 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 Cass County: Elkhart (IN), Saint Joseph (IN), Berrien, Saint Joseph & Van Buren.
Below are the counties that are near Indian Lake. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Indian Lake:
- Cass County (The home county of Indian Lake)
- The following are listed by their distance from Indian Lake, with the one closest to Indian Lake listed first.
- Dowagiac
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Pokagon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Pokagon is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pokagon
- Sumnerville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Sumnerville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumnerville
- La Grange
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- La Grange is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
- Cassopolis
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Penn
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Penn is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn
- Brownsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Brownsville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Edwardsburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Vandalia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Vandalia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- Wakelee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Wakelee is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakelee
- Marcellus
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Jones
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Allegan County
- South Haven Highlands
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Berrien County
- The following are listed by their distance from Indian Lake, with the one closest to Indian Lake listed first.
- Naomi
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Naomi is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naomi
- Berrien Center
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Eau Claire
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Hartman
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Hartman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
- Shanghai Corners
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Shanghai Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai Corners
- Berrien Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sodus
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Sodus is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sodus
- Hinchman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Hinchman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinchman
- Scottdale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Scottdale is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottdale
- Watervliet
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Niles
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Benton Heights
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Benton Heights is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Heights
- Kalamazoo County
- Schoolcraft
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Saint Joseph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Indian Lake, with the one closest to Indian Lake listed first.
- Chamberlain
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Chamberlain is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamberlain
- Fabius
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Fabius is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fabius
- Mottville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mottville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mottville
- Three Rivers
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Constantine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Indian Lake, with the one closest to Indian Lake listed first.
- Keeler
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Keeler is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeler
- Hartford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Decatur
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lawrence
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fish Corners
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Fish Corners is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Corners
- Covert
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Bangor
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Lawton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Paw Paw
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Breedsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Glendale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Glendale is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
- Almena
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Almena is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almena
- Elkhart County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Indian Lake, with the one closest to Indian Lake listed first.
- Simonton Lake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Simonton Lake is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simonton Lake
- Elkhart
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Garden Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Garden Village is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Jamestown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Jamestown is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Bristol
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dunlap
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dunlap is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlap
- LaPorte County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Indian Lake, with the one closest to Indian Lake listed first.
- Hesston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hesston is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesston
- Rolling Prairie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Smith
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Smith is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith
- Saint Joseph County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Indian Lake, with the one closest to Indian Lake listed first.
- Granger
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Georgetown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Georgetown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Roseland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Roseland is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 635 people
- Indian Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Indian Village is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- South Bend
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Mishawaka
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Osceola
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Osceola is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,486 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Osceola <1>
- Zeigler
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Zeigler is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeigler
- New Carlisle
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gulivoire Park
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Gulivoire Park is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulivoire Park
- Crumstown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Crumstown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumstown
- Nutwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Nutwood is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutwood
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Indian Lake, see our County-by-County Page for Indian Lake.
Cemeteries Near Indian Lake ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Indian Lake.
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 Indian Lake - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Indian Lake covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Indian Lake, with the one closest to Indian Lake listed first.
- Gilbert Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Indian Lake Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Ely Graves
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Franklin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Ferry Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Zion Evangelical Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- California Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Cullinane Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Eau Claire Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- South Maple Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Burlington Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sacred Heart of Mary Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (267 more) ...
- Red Mill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Berrien Center Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rodgers Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
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 Indian Lake in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Indian Lake.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Indian Lake, with the one closest to Indian Lake listed first.
- Naomi
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Naomi is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naomi
- Berrien Center
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sister Lakes
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Sister Lakes is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sister Lakes
- Eau Claire
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Dowagiac
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Hartman
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Hartman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
- Pokagon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Pokagon is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pokagon
- Berrien Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fairland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Fairland is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairland
- Spinks Corners
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Spinks Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spinks Corners
- Sodus
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Sodus is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sodus
- La Grange
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- La Grange is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Glenwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Glenwood is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Dailey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dailey is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dailey
- Millburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Millburg is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millburg
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Indian Lake. See our List of 1890's Communities around Indian Lake.
Newspapers Published in Indian Lake ...
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 59 newspapers that have been published in the area around Indian Lake.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Indian Lake, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Indian Lake.
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 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 Indian Lake:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Cass County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegan County
- Berrien County
- Kalamazoo County
- Saint Joseph County
- Van Buren County
- Elkhart County
- LaPorte County
- Saint Joseph 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> | 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 Indian Lake, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Indian Lake) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |