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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 Rodney (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 Rodney. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.

Rodney is located in Mecosta 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 Mecosta County: Clare, Isabella, Lake, Montcalm, Newaygo & Osceola.

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

  • Mecosta County     (The home county of Rodney)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rodney, with the one closest to Rodney listed first.
    • Chippewa Lake
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Canadian Lakes
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Canadian Lakes is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadian Lakes
    • Mecosta
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Big Rapids
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Pogy
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Pogy is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pogy
    • Stanwood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Barryton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Halls Corner
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Halls Corner is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Corner
    • Remus
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Borland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Borland is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borland
    • Paris
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Rustford
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Rustford is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustford
  • Clare County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rodney, with the one closest to Rodney listed first.
    • Lake
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake is located in Clare County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake
      • Former name for Lake:
      • Lake Station
    • Farwell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake George
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake George is located in Clare County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake George
    • Clare
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Hatton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Hatton is located in Clare County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
  • Isabella County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rodney, with the one closest to Rodney listed first.
    • Sherman City ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Sherman City is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman City
    • Lake Isabella
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • 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
    • Blanchard
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Weidman
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Brinton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Brinton is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinton
    • Beal City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Beal City is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal City
    • Winn
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Winn is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winn
    • Strickland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Strickland is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickland
    • Crawford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Crawford is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
    • Mount Pleasant
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Rosebush
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Vernon City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Vernon City is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon City
  • Kent County
    • Sand Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Lake County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rodney, with the one closest to Rodney listed first.
    • Chase
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Nirvana
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Nirvana is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nirvana
    • Idlewild
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Idlewild is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewild
    • Marlborough
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Marlborough is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlborough
    • Baldwin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Luther
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Montcalm County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rodney, with the one closest to Rodney listed first.
    • Amble
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Amble is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amble
    • Lakeview
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Six Lakes
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Howard City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Wyman
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Wyman is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
    • Coral
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Entrican
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Entrican is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Entrican
    • Edmore
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Trufant
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Langston
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Langston is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
    • Pierson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Cedar Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Cedar Lake is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lake
  • Newaygo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rodney, with the one closest to Rodney listed first.
    • Hawkins
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Hawkins is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkins
    • Riverview
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Riverview is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
    • Croton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Croton is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
    • White Cloud
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Brohman
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Brohman is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brohman
      • Former names for Brohman:
      • Dingman
      • Otia
    • Ramona
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Ramona is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramona
    • Lilley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Lilley is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilley
    • Woodland Park
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Woodland Park is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Park
    • Bitely
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Newaygo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Wooster
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Wooster is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooster
    • Aetna
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Aetna is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aetna
  • Osceola County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rodney, with the one closest to Rodney listed first.
    • Hersey
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Orient
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Orient is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orient
    • Evart
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Evart is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evart
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,886 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Evart <1>
    • Reed City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Chippewa Station ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Chippewa Station is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippewa Station
    • Sears
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Ashton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Ashton is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
    • Avondale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Avondale is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
    • Dewing's ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Dewing's is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewing's
    • Hartwick ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Hartwick is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwick
    • Gormer ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Gormer is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gormer
    • Le Roy
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Rodney ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rodney.

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 Rodney - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Rodney Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Martiny Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Kirschner Farm Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Chippewa Twp. Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Hope Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Chippewa Lake Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Pine Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Olin Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Stanwood Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Indian Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • South Grant Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Morgan Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (185 more) ...
    • Grant Center #2 Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Grant Center #1 Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Dye Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)

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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Rodney had a population of 199 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Chippewa Lake
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Mecosta
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Big Rapids
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Stanwood
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Altona
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Altona is located in Mecosta County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altona
  • Sylvester
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Sylvester is located in Mecosta County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvester
  • Borland
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Borland is located in Mecosta County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borland
  • Remus
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Rustford
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Rustford is located in Mecosta County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustford
  • Paris
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Morley
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Hersey
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Sherman City ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Sherman City is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman City
    • Millbrook
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Millbrook is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
    • Horr
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Horr is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horr

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

Newspapers Published in Rodney ...

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 121 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rodney.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rodney, 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 Rodney.

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 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 Rodney:

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>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 Rodney, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Rodney) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.