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 Kessington (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 Kessington. 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.
Kessington 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 Kessington. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Kessington:
- Cass County (The home county of Kessington)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kessington, with the one closest to Kessington listed first.
- Union
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Brownsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Brownsville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Vandalia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Vandalia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- Edwardsburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Jones
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cassopolis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Penn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Penn is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn
- Corey
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Corey is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corey
- Wakelee
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Wakelee is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakelee
- La Grange
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- La Grange is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
- Marcellus
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Dowagiac
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Berrien County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kessington, with the one closest to Kessington listed first.
- Niles
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Berrien Center
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Buchanan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Berrien Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Eau Claire
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bakertown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Bakertown is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakertown
- Naomi
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Naomi is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naomi
- Hartman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hartman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
- Dayton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Dayton is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Shanghai Corners
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Shanghai Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai Corners
- Hinchman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hinchman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinchman
- Hills Corners
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Hills Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills Corners
- Kalamazoo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kessington, with the one closest to Kessington listed first.
- Schoolcraft
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Vicksburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Joseph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kessington, with the one closest to Kessington listed first.
- Mottville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mottville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mottville
- Constantine
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Fabius
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fabius is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fabius
- White Pigeon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Oakwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Oakwood is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Three Rivers
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bluff Beach
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Bluff Beach is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Beach
- Klingers
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Klingers is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klingers
- Chamberlain
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Chamberlain is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamberlain
- Centreville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Centreville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,400 people
- Sturgis
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Parkville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Parkville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkville
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kessington, with the one closest to Kessington listed first.
- Decatur
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Lawton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Keeler
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Keeler is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeler
- Mattawan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Paw Paw
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Elkhart County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kessington, with the one closest to Kessington listed first.
- Simonton Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Simonton Lake is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simonton Lake
- Garden Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Garden Village is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Bristol
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Elkhart
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dunlap
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Dunlap is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlap
- Jamestown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jamestown is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Middlebury
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Goshen
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Southwest
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Southwest is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southwest
- Wakarusa
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Bainter Town
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bainter Town is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainter Town
- Foraker
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Foraker is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foraker
- Kosciusko County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kessington, with the one closest to Kessington listed first.
- Milford Junction
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Milford Junction is located in Kosciusko County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford Junction
- Milford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Milford is located in Kosciusko County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,551 people
- Syracuse
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Wawasee Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Wawasee Village is located in Kosciusko County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wawasee Village
- Leesburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- LaGrange County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kessington, with the one closest to Kessington listed first.
- Scott
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Scott is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott
- Shipshewana
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Seyberts
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Seyberts is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seyberts
- Howe
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Topeka
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- LaGrange
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Valentine
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Valentine is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valentine
- Brighton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Brighton is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton
- Plato
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Plato is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plato
- Marshall County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kessington, with the one closest to Kessington listed first.
- Bremen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- La Paz
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- La Paz is located in Marshall County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Paz
- Population from the 2020 Census: 549 people
- Noble County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kessington, with the one closest to Kessington listed first.
- Ligonier
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cosperville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cosperville is located in Noble County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cosperville
- Cromwell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wawaka
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Joseph County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kessington, with the one closest to Kessington listed first.
- Granger
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Osceola
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- 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>
- Mishawaka
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Georgetown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Georgetown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Indian Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Indian Village is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- Roseland
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Roseland is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 635 people
- South Bend
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Gulivoire Park
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gulivoire Park is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulivoire Park
- Wyatt
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Nutwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Nutwood is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutwood
- Lakeville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Crumstown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Crumstown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumstown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Kessington, see our County-by-County Page for Kessington.
Cemeteries Near Kessington ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Kessington.
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 Kessington - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Kessington covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Kessington, with the one closest to Kessington listed first.
- Kessington Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Paradise Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Plum Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Rinehart Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Five Points Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Proctor Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Trout Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Shaffer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Calvin Center Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Cathcart Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- St. John of the Cross Episcopal Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (314 more) ...
- Bethel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Oakgrove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Long Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
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>
While we didn't find Kessington in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Kessington.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Kessington, with the one closest to Kessington listed first.
- Union
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Bristol
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Adamsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Adamsville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamsville
- Former name for Adamsville:
- Sage's Mill
- Williamsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Williamsville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsville
- Elkhart
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Brownsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Brownsville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Mottville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mottville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mottville
- Vistula
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Vistula is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vistula
- Vandalia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Vandalia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- Edwardsburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Cassopolis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Jones
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Corey
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Corey is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corey
- Granger
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Penn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Penn is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Kessington. See our List of 1890's Communities around Kessington.
Newspapers Published in Kessington ...
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 128 newspapers that have been published in the area around Kessington.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Kessington, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Kessington.
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 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 Kessington:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Cass County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Berrien County
- Kalamazoo County
- Saint Joseph County
- Van Buren County
- Elkhart County
- Kosciusko County
- LaGrange County
- Marshall County
- Noble 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> | 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 Kessington, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Kessington) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |