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 Otter 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 Otter 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 Otter 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 Otter Lake: Otter Lk.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Otter Lake. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Otter 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 and doctors 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.
Otter Lake is primarily located in Lapeer County. A portion of Otter Lake extends into 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 Lapeer County: Genesee, Macomb, Oakland, Saint Clair, Sanilac & Tuscola.
Below are the counties that are near Otter Lake. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Otter Lake:
- Lapeer County (The home county of Otter Lake)
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter Lake, with the one closest to Otter Lake listed first.
- Columbiaville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Barnes Lake - Millers Lake
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Five Lakes
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Five Lakes is located in Lapeer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Lakes
- North Branch
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Silverwood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lapeer
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Kings Mill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Kings Mill is located in Lapeer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Mill
- Clifford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Clifford is located in Lapeer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 323 people
- 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
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lum is located in Lapeer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lum
- Hadley
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Attica
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bay County
- Munger
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Genesee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter Lake, with the one closest to Otter Lake listed first.
- Otisville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Russellville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Russellville is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Genesee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Davison
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Mount Morris
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Farrandville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Farrandville is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farrandville
- Beecher
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Beecher is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher
- Clio
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Burton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Flint
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Atlas
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Atlas is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- Goodrich
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Oakland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter Lake, with the one closest to Otter Lake listed first.
- Oakwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Oakwood is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Ortonville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Thomas
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Thomas is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas
- Newark
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Newark is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Perry Lake Heights
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Perry Lake Heights is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perry Lake Heights
- Groveland Corners
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Groveland Corners is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groveland Corners
- Five Points
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Five Points is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Oxford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Leonard
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Austin Corners
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Austin Corners is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin Corners
- Holly
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Saginaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter Lake, with the one closest to Otter Lake listed first.
- Frankenmuth
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Birch Run
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Blumfield Corners
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Blumfield Corners is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blumfield Corners
- Reese
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Taymouth
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Taymouth is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taymouth
- Burt
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Bridgeport
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Layton Corners
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Layton Corners is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Layton Corners
- 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
- Saginaw
(28 miles [45.1 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>
- Luce ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Luce is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luce
- Saint Clair County
- Capac
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sanilac County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter Lake, with the one closest to Otter Lake listed first.
- Marlette
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hemans
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hemans is located in Sanilac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemans
- Decker
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Decker is located in Sanilac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decker
- Juhl
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Juhl is located in Sanilac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juhl
- Valley Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Valley Center is located in Sanilac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Center
- Snover
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Snover is located in Sanilac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snover
- Melvin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Melvin is located in Sanilac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 166 people
- Elmer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Elmer is located in Sanilac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmer
- Shiawassee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter Lake, with the one closest to Otter Lake listed first.
- New Lothrop
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Lennon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Juddville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Juddville is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juddville
- Tuscola County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter Lake, with the one closest to Otter Lake listed first.
- Fostoria
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Fostoria is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
- Millington
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Juniata
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Juniata is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juniata
- Mayville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tuscola
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Vassar
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wahjamega
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Wahjamega is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahjamega
- Watrousville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Watrousville is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watrousville
- Denmark Junction
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Denmark Junction is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark Junction
- Richville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Caro
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Kingston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Otter Lake, see our County-by-County Page for Otter Lake.
Cemeteries Near Otter Lake ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Otter 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 Otter Lake - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Otter Lake covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Otter Lake, with the one closest to Otter Lake listed first.
- Otter Lake Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Hollenbeck Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Smith Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hopkins Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- West Deerfield Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Watertown Twp. Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Millington Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cottage Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dodge Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- 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>
- German Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Pineview Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineview Cemetery
- The Pineview Cemetery has also been known as:
- Pineview Mennonite Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2239654 <2>
- Continue List (248 more) ...
- Gunnell Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- 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>
- Thetford Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Millville Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
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 Otter Lake had a population of 243 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Otter Lake had a population of 377 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Otter Lake, with the one closest to Otter Lake listed first.
- Otisville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Columbiaville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fostoria
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Fostoria is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
- Millington
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Rogersville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rogersville is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogersville
- Juniata
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Juniata is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juniata
- Genesee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mayville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Elba
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Elba is located in Lapeer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Five Lakes
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Five Lakes is located in Lapeer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Lakes
- Vassar
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Tuscola
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Pine Run
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Pine Run is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Run
- Mount Morris
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lapeer
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Otter Lake. See our List of 1890's Communities around Otter Lake.
Newspapers Published in Otter 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 53 newspapers that have been published in the area around Otter Lake.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Otter Lake, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Otter 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 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 Otter Lake:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Lapeer County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bay County
- Genesee County
- Oakland County
- Saginaw County
- Saint Clair 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 '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- Otter Lake) 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 Otter Lake, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |