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 Otisville (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 Otisville. 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 hospitals and 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.
Otisville is located in Genesee 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 Genesee County: Lapeer, Livingston, Oakland, Saginaw, Shiawassee & Tuscola.
Below are the counties that are near Otisville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Otisville:
- Genesee County (The home county of Otisville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Otisville, with the one closest to Otisville listed first.
- Russellville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Russellville is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Genesee
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Davison
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Mount Morris
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Beecher
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Beecher is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher
- Clio
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Farrandville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Farrandville is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farrandville
- Burton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Flint
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Atlas
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Atlas is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- Goodrich
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Grand Blanc
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Flushing
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bay County
- Munger
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lapeer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otisville, with the one closest to Otisville listed first.
- Otter Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Columbiaville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Barnes Lake - Millers Lake
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Lapeer
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Five Lakes
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Five Lakes is located in Lapeer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Lakes
- Hadley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Kings Mill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Kings Mill is located in Lapeer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Mill
- North Branch
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Silverwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hunters Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hunters Creek is located in Lapeer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunters Creek
- Lum
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Lum is located in Lapeer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lum
- Metamora
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Attica
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Oakland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otisville, with the one closest to Otisville listed first.
- Newark
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Newark is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Ortonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Oakwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Oakwood is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Thomas
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Thomas is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas
- Five Points
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Five Points is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Groveland Corners
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Groveland Corners is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groveland Corners
- Perry Lake Heights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Perry Lake Heights is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perry Lake Heights
- Austin Corners
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Austin Corners is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin Corners
- Holly
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Oxford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jossman Acres
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Jossman Acres is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jossman Acres
- Davisburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Leonard
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Saginaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otisville, with the one closest to Otisville listed first.
- Birch Run
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Frankenmuth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Taymouth
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Taymouth is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taymouth
- Burt
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Blumfield Corners
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Blumfield Corners is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blumfield Corners
- Reese
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bridgeport
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Layton Corners
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Layton Corners is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Layton Corners
- Buena Vista
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Luce ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Luce is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luce
- Saginaw
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- 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>
- Carrollton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Carrollton is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
- Crow Island ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Crow Island is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow Island
- Sanilac County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otisville, with the one closest to Otisville listed first.
- Marlette
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hemans
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hemans is located in Sanilac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemans
- Valley Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Valley Center is located in Sanilac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Center
- Shiawassee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otisville, with the one closest to Otisville listed first.
- New Lothrop
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Lennon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Juddville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Juddville is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juddville
- Durand
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Vernon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tuscola County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otisville, with the one closest to Otisville listed first.
- Millington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Fostoria
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fostoria is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
- Tuscola
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Juniata
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Juniata is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juniata
- Vassar
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Mayville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Denmark Junction
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Denmark Junction is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark Junction
- Richville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Watrousville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Watrousville is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watrousville
- Wahjamega
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Wahjamega is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahjamega
- Caro
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Gilford
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Gilford is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilford
- Fairgrove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Otisville, see our County-by-County Page for Otisville.
Cemeteries Near Otisville ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Otisville.
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 Otisville - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Otisville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Otisville, with the one closest to Otisville listed first.
- Smith Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Cottage Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Dodge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge Cemetery
- The Dodge Cemetery has also been known as:
- Flint River Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #523 <2>
- Hopkins Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hollenbeck Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Otter Lake Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Thetford Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tanner Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Richfield Union Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- German Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (268 more) ...
- Gunnell Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunnell Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Gunnell Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<3> to the southwest of Millington.
- The Gunnell Cemetery has also been known as:
- Arbela Cemetery
- Arbela Twp. Cemetery
- Gunnel Cemetery
- Gunnells Cemetery
- Gunnels Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1180591 <2>
- Eastwood Colonial Memorial Gardens
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Otisville had a population of 277 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Otisville had a population of 824 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Otisville, with the one closest to Otisville listed first.
- Rogersville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rogersville is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogersville
- Otter Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Genesee
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Columbiaville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Millington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Mount Morris
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Elba
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Elba is located in Lapeer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Fostoria
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fostoria is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
- Pine Run
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Pine Run is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Run
- Belsay
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Belsay is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belsay
- Clio
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Tuscola
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Flint
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lapeer
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Juniata
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Juniata is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juniata
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Otisville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Otisville.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Otisville ...
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 60 newspapers that have been published in the area around Otisville.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Otisville. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Otisville and those printed in the larger area surrounding Otisville.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Otisville.
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 Otisville:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Genesee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bay County
- Lapeer County
- Oakland County
- Saginaw County
- Sanilac County
- Shiawassee County
- Tuscola 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> | 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 from Point A (ie- Otisville) 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 Otisville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |