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 Phelps (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 Phelps. 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 doctors 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.
Phelps is located in Clare 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 Clare County: Gladwin, Isabella, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee & Roscommon.
Below are the counties that are near Phelps. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Phelps:
- Clare County (The home county of Phelps)
- The following are listed by their distance from Phelps, with the one closest to Phelps listed first.
- Lake George
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Lake George is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake George
- Hatton
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Hatton is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Lake is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake
- Former name for Lake:
- Lake Station
- Farwell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dover
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Dover is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Allendale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Allendale is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allendale
- Harrison
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Clare
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Meredith
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Meredith is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meredith
- Gladwin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Phelps, with the one closest to Phelps listed first.
- Beaverton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Gladwin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Butman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Butman is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butman
- White Star
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- White Star is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Star
- Wooden Shoe Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Wooden Shoe Village is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooden Shoe Village
- Sugar Rapids
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Rapids is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Rapids
- Highwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Highwood is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highwood
- Isabella County
- The following are listed by their distance from Phelps, with the one closest to Phelps listed first.
- Vernon City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Vernon City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon City
- Brinton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Brinton is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinton
- Weidman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Loomis
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Loomis is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loomis
- Sherman City ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sherman City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman City
- Beal City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Beal City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal City
- Rosebush
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Isabella
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Lake Isabella is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Isabella
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,688 people
- Lake Isabella has also been known as:
- Lake Isabella village
- Jordan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jordan is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Mount Pleasant
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Alembic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Alembic is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alembic
- Crawford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Crawford is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Mecosta County
- The following are listed by their distance from Phelps, with the one closest to Phelps listed first.
- Barryton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Chippewa Lake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pogy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Pogy is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pogy
- Remus
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Mecosta
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Millbrook
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Millbrook is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
- Rodney
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Canadian Lakes
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Canadian Lakes is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadian Lakes
- Halls Corner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Halls Corner is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Corner
- Paris
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Midland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Phelps, with the one closest to Phelps listed first.
- Coleman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Alamando
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Alamando is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamando
- North Bradley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- North Bradley is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bradley
- Oil City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Oil City is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
- Edenville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Edenville is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edenville
- Hope
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Missaukee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Phelps, with the one closest to Phelps listed first.
- Vogel Center
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Vogel Center is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vogel Center
- Falmouth
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- McBain
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Stoney Corner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Stoney Corner is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Corner
- Stoney Corner has also been known as:
- Stoney Corners
- Lucas
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lucas is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Merritt
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Osceola County
- The following are listed by their distance from Phelps, with the one closest to Phelps listed first.
- Chippewa Station ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Chippewa Station is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippewa Station
- Orient
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Orient is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orient
- Gormer ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gormer is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gormer
- Sears
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Avondale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Avondale is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Evart
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Marion
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hartwick ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hartwick is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwick
- Park Lake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Park Lake is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Lake
- Highland
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Highland is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Dighton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Dighton is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dighton
- Hersey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Roscommon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Phelps, with the one closest to Phelps listed first.
- Houghton Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Houghton Lake Heights
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Houghton Lake Heights is located in Roscommon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houghton Lake Heights
- Nellsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Nellsville is located in Roscommon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nellsville
- Prudenville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Phelps, see our County-by-County Page for Phelps.
Cemeteries Near Phelps ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Phelps.
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 Phelps - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Phelps covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Phelps, with the one closest to Phelps listed first.
- Old Township Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Lincoln Twp. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Freeman Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Garfield Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Garfield Twp. Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield Twp. Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Garfield Twp. Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northwest of Lake.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #303374 <2>
- Hatton Twp. Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Surrey Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hillcrest Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Hillcrest Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<3> to the west of Harrison.
- The Hillcrest Cemetery has also been known as:
- Greenwood Cemetery
- Greenwood Twp. Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #642 <2>
- Fernwood Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- North Brinton Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wood Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Continue List (161 more) ...
- Maple Grove Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- St. Athanasius Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Gilmore Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 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>
While we didn't find Phelps in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Phelps.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Phelps, with the one closest to Phelps listed first.
- Lake George
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Lake George is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake George
- Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Lake is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake
- Former name for Lake:
- Lake Station
- Hatton
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Hatton is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Farwell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dover
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Dover is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Chippewa Station ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Chippewa Station is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippewa Station
- Harrison
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Temple
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Temple is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Temple
- Brinton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Brinton is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinton
- Clare
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sears
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Sherman City ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sherman City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman City
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Loomis
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Loomis is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loomis
- Avondale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Avondale is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Evart
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Phelps. See our List of 1890's Communities around Phelps.
Newspapers Published in Phelps ...
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 86 newspapers that have been published in the area around Phelps.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Phelps, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Phelps.
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 Phelps:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Clare County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Gladwin County
- Isabella County
- Mecosta County
- Midland County
- Missaukee County
- Osceola County
- Roscommon 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 from Point A (ie- Phelps) 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 Phelps, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |