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 Piney Woods (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 Piney Woods. 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 and 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.
Piney Woods 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 Piney Woods. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Piney Woods:
- Clare County (The home county of Piney Woods)
- The following are listed by their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- Harrison
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Allendale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Allendale is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allendale
- Meredith
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Meredith is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meredith
- Hatton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Hatton is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Lake George
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lake George is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake George
- Dover
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Dover is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Farwell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Clare
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Lake
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Lake is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake
- Former name for Lake:
- Lake Station
- Gladwin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- Butman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Butman is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butman
- Gladwin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Sugar Rapids
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Sugar Rapids is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Rapids
- Beaverton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- White Star
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- White Star is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Star
- Wooden Shoe Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Wooden Shoe Village is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooden Shoe Village
- Highwood
(26 miles [41.8 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 Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- Vernon City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Vernon City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon City
- Loomis
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Loomis is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loomis
- Brinton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Brinton is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinton
- Rosebush
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Weidman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Sherman City ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sherman City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman City
- Beal City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Beal City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal City
- Jordan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Jordan is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Mecosta County
- Barryton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Midland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- Coleman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Alamando
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Alamando is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamando
- Edenville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Edenville is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edenville
- North Bradley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- North Bradley is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bradley
- Missaukee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- Vogel Center
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Vogel Center is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vogel Center
- Merritt
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Falmouth
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- McBain
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Star City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Star City is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
- Lucas
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lucas is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Stoney Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Stoney Corner is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Corner
- Stoney Corner has also been known as:
- Stoney Corners
- Lake City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Moorestown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Moorestown is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moorestown
- Stratford ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Stratford is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stratford
- Cutcheon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cutcheon is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutcheon
- Stittsville ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stittsville is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stittsville
- Jennings
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jennings is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jennings
- Ogemaw County
- Ogemaw Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ogemaw Springs is located in Ogemaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogemaw Springs
- Osceola County
- The following are listed by their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- Gormer ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Gormer is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gormer
- Marion
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Chippewa Station ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Chippewa Station is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippewa Station
- Park Lake
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Park Lake is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Lake
- Avondale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Avondale is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Orient
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Orient is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orient
- Sears
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Highland
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Highland is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Hartwick ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Hartwick is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwick
- Evart
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dighton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Dighton is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dighton
- Roscommon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- Houghton Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Houghton Lake Heights
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Houghton Lake Heights is located in Roscommon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houghton Lake Heights
- Prudenville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Nellsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Nellsville is located in Roscommon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nellsville
- Hillcrest
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Hillcrest is located in Roscommon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest
- Higgins Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Geels
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Geels is located in Roscommon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geels
- Saint Helen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tent City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Tent City is located in Roscommon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tent City
- Roscommon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Piney Woods, see our County-by-County Page for Piney Woods.
Cemeteries Near Piney Woods ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Piney Woods.
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 Piney Woods - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Piney Woods covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- St. Athanasius Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Maple Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Plains Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Frost Twp. Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hillcrest Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- 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]<2> 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 <3>
- Hamilton Cedar Crest Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Wilson Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Summerfield Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ott Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Lincoln Twp. Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hatton Twp. Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Continue List (117 more) ...
- Hamilton Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Garrity Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Arthur Twp. Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 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>
While we didn't find Piney Woods in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Piney Woods.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- Harrison
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Lake George
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lake George is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake George
- Hatton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Hatton is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Meredith
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Meredith is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meredith
- Temple
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Temple is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Temple
- Moddersville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Moddersville is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moddersville
- Dover
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Dover is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Vogel Center
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Vogel Center is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vogel Center
- Farwell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Houghton Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Marion
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Clare
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Gladwin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Butman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Butman is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butman
- Prudenville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Piney Woods. See our List of 1890's Communities around Piney Woods.
Newspapers Published in Piney Woods ...
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 Piney Woods.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Piney Woods, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Piney Woods.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Piney Woods:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Clare County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Gladwin County
- Isabella County
- Mecosta County
- Midland County
- Missaukee County
- Ogemaw 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> | 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- Piney Woods) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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 Piney Woods, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |