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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 Sidnaw (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 Sidnaw. 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.

Sidnaw is located in Houghton 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 Houghton County: Baraga, Iron, Keweenaw, Ontonagon & Ashland (WI).

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

  • Houghton County     (The home county of Sidnaw)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sidnaw, with the one closest to Sidnaw listed first.
    • Kenton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Nisula
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Hazel
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hazel. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazel
      • Hazel is located in Houghton County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Hazel
      • From Sidnaw to Hazel
    • Elo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Lake Roland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
  • Baraga County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sidnaw, with the one closest to Sidnaw listed first.
    • Watton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Watton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watton
      • Watton is located in Baraga County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Watton <3>
    • Covington
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Covington have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covington
      • Covington is located in Baraga County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Covington <3>
    • Alberta
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Nestoria
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Pelkie
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Baraga
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • L'Anse
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for L'Anse. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for L'Anse
      • L'Anse is located in Baraga County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,825 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for L'Anse <3>
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to L'Anse
      • From Sidnaw to L'Anse
    • Bear Town
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bear Town have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Town
      • Bear Town is located in Baraga County
    • Keweenaw Bay
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Pequaming
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Gogebic County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sidnaw, with the one closest to Sidnaw listed first.
    • Fuller
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Fuller. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
      • Fuller is located in Gogebic County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Fuller
      • From Sidnaw to Fuller
    • Watersmeet
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Katakitckon Indian Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Katakitckon Indian Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Katakitckon Indian Village
      • Katakitckon Indian Village is located in Gogebic County
  • Iron County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sidnaw, with the one closest to Sidnaw listed first.
    • Atkinson ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Atkinson. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkinson
      • Atkinson is located in Iron County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Atkinson
      • From Sidnaw to Atkinson
    • Gibbs City ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Gibbs City. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbs City
      • Gibbs City is located in Iron County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Gibbs City
      • From Sidnaw to Gibbs City
    • Amasa
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Mineral Hills
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mineral Hills have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Hills
      • Mineral Hills is located in Iron County
    • Iron River
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Iron River have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron River
      • Iron River is located in Iron County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,827 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Iron River <3>
    • Bates Junction
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Chicagon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Chicagon. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicagon
      • Chicagon is located in Iron County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Chicagon
      • From Sidnaw to Chicagon
    • Stambaugh
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stambaugh have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stambaugh
      • Stambaugh is located in Iron County
    • Caspian
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Marquette County
    • Michigamme
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Michigamme have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Michigamme
      • Michigamme is located in Marquette County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Michigamme <3>
  • Ontonagon County

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

Cemeteries Near Sidnaw ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sidnaw.

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 Sidnaw covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • Sidnaw Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sidnaw Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sidnaw Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Kitchie Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Kitchie Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Kitchie Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Kitchie Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Kitchie Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Kitchie Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Covington Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Covington Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Covington Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Kenton Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Kenton Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Kenton Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Covington Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Covington Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Covington Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Trout Creek Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Agate Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Agate Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Agate Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Alston Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Alston Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Alston Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Henrys Cemetery
    (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
  • Rousseau Cemetery
    (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Rousseau Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Rousseau Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Pelkie Cemetery
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pelkie Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pelkie Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (34 more) ...
    • Paynesville Cemetery
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Paynesville Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Paynesville Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Interior Cemetery
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Interior Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Interior Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Herman Cemetery
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Herman Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Herman Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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 Sidnaw had a population of 87 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Kenton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Vermilac
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vermilac have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermilac
    • Vermilac is located in Baraga County
  • Trout Creek
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Pori
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pori have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pori
    • Pori is located in Houghton County
  • Atkinson ‑ Historic
    (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Atkinson. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkinson
    • Atkinson is located in Iron County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Atkinson
    • From Sidnaw to Atkinson
  • Paynesville
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
  • Tamarack
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tamarack have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tamarack
    • Tamarack is located in Gogebic County
    • Tamarack has also been known as:
    • Tamarack Lake
  • Elmwood
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Elmwood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood
    • Elmwood is located in Iron County
  • Nestoria
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
  • L'Anse
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for L'Anse. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for L'Anse
    • L'Anse is located in Baraga County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,825 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for L'Anse <3>
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to L'Anse
    • From Sidnaw to L'Anse
  • Baraga
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Amasa
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (12 more) ...
    • Bruce Crossing
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Beechwood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Beechwood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood
      • Beechwood is located in Iron County
    • Robbins
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Robbins have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robbins
      • Robbins is located in Ontonagon County

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Sidnaw ...

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 24 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sidnaw.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Sidnaw. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Sidnaw and those printed in the larger area surrounding Sidnaw.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<6> of Sidnaw.

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 helpful 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 Sidnaw:

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

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

Footnotes ...

<1>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.
<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>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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 Sidnaw, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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 from Point A (ie- Sidnaw) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Sidnaw. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 46.5066, Longitude: -88.7079    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025