RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Michigan >> Van Buren County >> Mentha >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Mentha (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 Mentha. 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 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.

Mentha is located in Van Buren 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 Van Buren County: Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo & Saint Joseph.

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

  • Van Buren County     (The home county of Mentha)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mentha, with the one closest to Mentha listed first.
    • North Lake
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • North Lake is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Lake
    • Kendall
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Kendall is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
    • Gobles
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Almena
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Almena is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almena
    • Mattawan
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Glendale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Glendale is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
    • Paw Paw
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lawton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Lawton is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,796 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lawton <1>
    • Bloomingdale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Breedsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Grand Junction
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Lawrence
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Bangor
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Bangor is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,808 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bangor <1>
  • Allegan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mentha, with the one closest to Mentha listed first.
    • Otsego
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Plainwell
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Allegan
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Watson
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Watson is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
    • Martin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Neeley
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Neeley is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neeley
    • Hooper
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Hooper is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooper
    • South Monterey
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • South Monterey is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Monterey
    • Shelbyville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Hopkins
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Pullman
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Bradley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Bradley is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
    • Leisure
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Leisure is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure
      • Leisure has also been known as:
      • East Casco
  • Barry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mentha, with the one closest to Mentha listed first.
    • Doster
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Doster is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doster
    • Prairieville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Prairieville is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
    • Hickory Corners
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Delton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Cloverdale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Cloverdale is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
    • Banfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Banfield is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banfield
    • Cedar Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Cedar Creek is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
    • Dowling
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Dowling is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowling
    • Irving
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Irving is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
    • Middleville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Berrien County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mentha, with the one closest to Mentha listed first.
    • Watervliet
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Paw Paw Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Paw Paw Lake is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paw Paw Lake
    • Coloma
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mentha, with the one closest to Mentha listed first.
    • Fort Custer
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Fort Custer is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Custer
      • Former name for Fort Custer:
      • Camp Custer
    • Level Park
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Level Park is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Park
    • Oak Park
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Oak Park is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Park
    • West Leroy
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • West Leroy is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Leroy
    • Bedford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Springfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Sonoma
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Sonoma is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
    • Battle Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mentha, with the one closest to Mentha listed first.
    • Marcellus
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Wakelee
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Wakelee is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakelee
    • Penn
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Penn is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn
    • Dowagiac
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Kalamazoo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mentha, with the one closest to Mentha listed first.
    • Alamo
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Alamo is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamo
    • Oshtemo
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Westwood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Westwood is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
    • Parchment
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Kalamazoo
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • East Cooper
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • East Cooper is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cooper
    • Eastwood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Eastwood is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
    • Milwood
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Milwood is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milwood
    • Comstock
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Comstock is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comstock
    • Portage
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Richland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Galesburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Highland Park
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Highland Park is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
  • Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mentha, with the one closest to Mentha listed first.
    • North Dorr
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • North Dorr is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Dorr
    • Corinth
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Corinth is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
  • Ottawa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mentha, with the one closest to Mentha listed first.
    • Drenthe
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Drenthe is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drenthe
    • Forest Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Forest Grove is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove
  • Saint Joseph County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mentha, with the one closest to Mentha listed first.
    • Chamberlain
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Chamberlain is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamberlain
    • Parkville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Parkville is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkville
    • Three Rivers
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Mendon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Mendon is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 848 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mendon <1>
    • Fabius
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Fabius is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fabius

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

Cemeteries Near Mentha ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mentha.

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

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

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

  • Kendall Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Alamo Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Earl Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Pine Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Liberty Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • West Oshtemo Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Robinson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Trowbridge Methodist Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Almena Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Green Bower Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park North
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (286 more) ...

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

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

  • Kendall
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Kendall is located in Van Buren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
  • Alamo
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Alamo is located in Kalamazoo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamo
  • Pine Grove
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Pine Grove is located in Van Buren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove
  • Gobles
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Almena
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Almena is located in Van Buren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almena
  • Oshtemo
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Cooper
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Cooper is located in Kalamazoo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
  • Plainwell
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Otsego
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Mattawan
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Glendale
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Glendale is located in Van Buren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
  • Kalamazoo
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Paw Paw
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • East Cooper
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • East Cooper is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cooper
    • Berlamont
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Berlamont is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlamont

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

Newspapers Published in Mentha ...

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 195 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mentha.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Mentha, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Mentha.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Mentha:

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 Mentha, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Mentha) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.