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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 North Williams (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 North Williams. 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 North Williams ...

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 North Williams: N. Williams

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.

North Williams is located in Bay 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 Bay County: Arenac, Gladwin, Midland, Saginaw & Tuscola.

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

  • Bay County     (The home county of North Williams)
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Williams, with the one closest to North Williams listed first.
    • Seidlers
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Seidlers is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seidlers
    • Willard
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Willard is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willard
    • Auburn
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Fisherville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Fisherville is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisherville
    • Duel
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Duel is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duel
    • Kawkawlin
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Brissette Beach
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Brissette Beach is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brissette Beach
    • Amelith
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Amelith is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amelith
    • Wenona ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Wenona is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona
    • Linwood
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Frankenlust
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Frankenlust is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankenlust
    • Salzburg ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Salzburg is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salzburg
  • Arenac County
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Williams, with the one closest to North Williams listed first.
    • Saganing
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Saganing is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saganing
    • Whites Beach
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Whites Beach is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whites Beach
    • Standish
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Pine River
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Pine River is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine River
    • Sterling
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Arenac
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Arenac is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arenac
    • Omer
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Omer is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 288 people
  • Gladwin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Williams, with the one closest to North Williams listed first.
    • Rhodes
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Rhodes is located in Gladwin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes
    • Highwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Highwood is located in Gladwin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highwood
    • Beaverton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Wooden Shoe Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Wooden Shoe Village is located in Gladwin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooden Shoe Village
    • White Star
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • White Star is located in Gladwin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Star
    • Gladwin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Gratiot County
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Williams, with the one closest to North Williams listed first.
    • North Wheeler
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • North Wheeler is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Wheeler
    • Wheeler
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Wheeler is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
    • Breckenridge
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Edgewood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Edgewood is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood
    • Saint Louis
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Sickles
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Sickles is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sickles
  • Isabella County
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Williams, with the one closest to North Williams listed first.
    • Alembic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Alembic is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alembic
    • Coe
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Coe is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coe
    • Loomis
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Loomis is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loomis
  • Midland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Williams, with the one closest to North Williams listed first.
    • Midland
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Averill
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Averill is located in Midland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Averill
    • Sanford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Hope
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Edenville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Edenville is located in Midland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edenville
    • Ryan
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Ryan is located in Midland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan
    • Porter
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Porter is located in Midland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
    • North Bradley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • North Bradley is located in Midland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bradley
    • Redstone
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Redstone is located in Midland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redstone
    • Alamando
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Alamando is located in Midland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamando
    • Oil City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Oil City is located in Midland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
    • Coleman
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
  • Saginaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Williams, with the one closest to North Williams listed first.
    • Freeland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Kochville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Kochville is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kochville
    • Dice
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Dice is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dice
    • Frost
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Frost is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
    • Melbourne ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Melbourne is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melbourne
    • Carrollton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Carrollton is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
    • Crow Island ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Crow Island is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow Island
    • Zilwaukee city
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Zilwaukee city is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zilwaukee city
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,517 people
    • Shields
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Shields is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
    • Iva
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Iva is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iva
    • Paines
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Paines is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paines
    • Saginaw
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Saginaw is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 47,823 people
      • Former names for Saginaw:
      • East Saginaw
      • Saginaw City
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Saginaw <1>
  • Tuscola County
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Williams, with the one closest to North Williams listed first.
    • Bay Park
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Bay Park is located in Tuscola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay Park
    • Gilford
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Gilford is located in Tuscola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilford
    • Richville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Denmark Junction
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Denmark Junction is located in Tuscola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark Junction
    • Fairgrove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Akron
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Tuscola
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near North Williams ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of North Williams.

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 North Williams - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Pine Grove Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Anthony Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Beaver Twp. Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Lutheran Home Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lutheran Home Cemetery
    • The Lutheran Home Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Daheim / Kirchof Cemetery
    • Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #349 <2>
  • Apostolic Christian Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • St. Valentine's Catholic Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Arrance Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Pine Grove Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Westside Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Fremont Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary Cemetery
    • The Calvary Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Calvary / Kawkawlin Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #217 <2>
  • Continue List   (182 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.<4>

While we didn't find North Williams in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of North Williams.

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

  • Fisherville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Fisherville is located in Bay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisherville
  • Auburn
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Willard
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Willard is located in Bay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willard
  • Midland
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Kawkawlin
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Freeland
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Frankenlust
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Frankenlust is located in Bay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankenlust
  • Salzburg ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Salzburg is located in Bay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salzburg
  • Linwood
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Brooks ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Brooks is located in Bay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooks
  • Bay City
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Banks ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Banks is located in Bay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banks
    • Banks has also been known as:
    • Bangor
    • Bank City
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Wenona Beach ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Wenona Beach is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona Beach
    • Frost
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Frost is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
    • Melbourne ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Melbourne is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melbourne

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

Newspapers Published in North Williams ...

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 61 newspapers that have been published in the area around North Williams.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of North Williams, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for North Williams.

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 professional and volunteer 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 North Williams:

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>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- North Williams) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 North Williams, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.