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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 Red Oak (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 Red Oak. 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 Red Oak ...

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.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might have occurred.

Another variation: Redoak.

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 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.

Red Oak is located in Oscoda County.

To see how the shape of Michigan's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Oscoda County: Alcona, Alpena, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Otsego & Roscommon.

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

  • Oscoda County     (The home county of Red Oak)
  • Alcona County
  • Crawford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Red Oak, with the one closest to Red Oak listed first.
    • Bucks
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Bucks. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucks
      • Bucks is located in Crawford County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Bucks
      • From Red Oak to Bucks
    • Deerheart Valley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Pere Cheney ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Pere Cheney. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pere Cheney
      • Pere Cheney is located in Crawford County
      • Pere Cheney has also been known as:
      • Center Plains
      • Cheney
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Pere Cheney
      • From Red Oak to Pere Cheney
    • Grayling
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Skyline Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Skyline Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skyline Village
      • Skyline Village is located in Crawford County
    • Frederic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • McIntyre Landing
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Deward ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Deward. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deward
      • Deward is located in Crawford County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Deward
      • From Red Oak to Deward
  • Iosco County
  • Montmorency County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Red Oak, with the one closest to Red Oak listed first.
    • Garland Village
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Garland Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland Village
      • Garland Village is located in Montmorency County
    • Lewiston
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Bigelow
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Bigelow. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigelow
      • Bigelow is located in Montmorency County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Bigelow
      • From Red Oak to Bigelow
    • Vienna Corners
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vienna Corners have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vienna Corners
      • Vienna Corners is located in Montmorency County
    • Big Rock ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Big Rock. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
      • Big Rock is located in Montmorency County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Big Rock
      • From Red Oak to Big Rock
    • Atlanta
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
  • Ogemaw County
  • Otsego County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Red Oak, with the one closest to Red Oak listed first.
    • Lower Chub Landing ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Johannesburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Johannesburg have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johannesburg
      • Johannesburg is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Johannesburg <1>
    • Hetherton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hetherton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hetherton
      • Hetherton is located in Otsego County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Hetherton
      • From Red Oak to Hetherton
    • Waters
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Arbutus Beach
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Pearll City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pearll City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearll City
      • Pearll City is located in Otsego County
    • Sparr
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Gaylord
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Roscommon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Red Oak, with the one closest to Red Oak listed first.
    • Roscommon
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Roscommon have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscommon
      • Roscommon is located in Roscommon County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,044 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roscommon <1>
    • Geels
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Geels. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geels
      • Geels is located in Roscommon County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Geels
      • From Red Oak to Geels
    • Saint Helen
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Higgins Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Higgins Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higgins Lake
      • Higgins Lake is located in Roscommon County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Higgins Lake <1>
    • Hillcrest
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Tent City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tent City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tent City
      • Tent City is located in Roscommon County

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

Cemeteries Near Red Oak ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Red Oak.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Muskrat Lake Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Muskrat Lake Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Muskrat Lake Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Luzerne Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Luzerne Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Luzerne Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Indian Graves
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Indian Graves
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Indian Graves have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Kittle Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Kittle Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Kittle Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Mio Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mio Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mio Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Lovells Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lovells Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lovells Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Rock Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Rock Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Rock Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Mt. Pindus Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Pindus Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. Pindus Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Ball Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ball Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ball Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Rich Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Rich Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Rich Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Comins Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Weaver Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Weaver Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Weaver Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (60 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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Red Oak had a population of 30 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

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

Newspapers Published in Red Oak ...

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 46 newspapers that have been published in the area around Red Oak.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Red Oak, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Red Oak.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Red Oak:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Red Oak. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of Michigan: https://www.michigan.gov/

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 location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>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.
<5>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 Red Oak, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Red Oak) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Red Oak. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 44.7106, Longitude: -84.2925    









 

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In closing, please keep in mind that we can not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information on this website, so use with care. We encourage you to double-check the information that is critical to you.

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025