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 Sister Lakes (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 Sister Lakes. 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 Sister Lakes ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Sister Lakes: Sister Lks.
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 southwest 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 south.
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 south 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.
Sister Lakes is located in Van Buren 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 Van Buren County: Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo & Saint Joseph.
Below are the counties that are near Sister Lakes. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sister Lakes:
- Van Buren County (The home county of Sister Lakes)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sister Lakes, with the one closest to Sister Lakes listed first.
- Keeler
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Keeler is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeler
- Hartford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Decatur
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Lawrence
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fish Corners
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Fish Corners is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Corners
- Covert
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Bangor
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Paw Paw
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Lawton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Breedsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Glendale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Glendale is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
- Bloomingdale
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Almena
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Almena is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almena
- Allegan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sister Lakes, with the one closest to Sister Lakes listed first.
- Mount Pleasant
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- South Haven Highlands
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Hawkhead
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Hawkhead is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkhead
- Leisure
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Leisure is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure
- Leisure has also been known as:
- East Casco
- Miami Park
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Miami Park is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miami Park
- Miami Park has also been known as:
- Miami Park Beach
- Miomi Park Beach
- Cedar Bluff
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- Pullman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Glenn Haven Shores
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Glenn Haven Shores is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenn Haven Shores
- Glenn Haven Shores has also been known as:
- Hollywood
- Glenn Shores
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Glenn Shores is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenn Shores
- Glenn Shores has also been known as:
- Glenn Stores
- Glenn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Spring Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Spring Grove is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Grove
- Berrien County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sister Lakes, with the one closest to Sister Lakes listed first.
- Naomi
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Naomi is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naomi
- Hartman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hartman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
- Shanghai Corners
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Shanghai Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai Corners
- Watervliet
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Berrien Center
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Eau Claire
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sodus
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Sodus is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sodus
- Coloma
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Paw Paw Lake
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Paw Paw Lake is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paw Paw Lake
- Twelve Corners
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Twelve Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twelve Corners
- Berrien Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Benton Heights
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Benton Heights is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Heights
- Riverside
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Riverside is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sister Lakes, with the one closest to Sister Lakes listed first.
- Dowagiac
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pokagon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Pokagon is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pokagon
- Sumnerville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Sumnerville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumnerville
- La Grange
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- La Grange is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
- Cassopolis
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Penn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Penn is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn
- Wakelee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Wakelee is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakelee
- Brownsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Brownsville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Vandalia
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Vandalia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- Edwardsburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Marcellus
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Jones
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Corey
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Corey is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corey
- Kalamazoo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sister Lakes, with the one closest to Sister Lakes listed first.
- Schoolcraft
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Oshtemo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Joseph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sister Lakes, with the one closest to Sister Lakes listed first.
- Chamberlain
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Chamberlain is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamberlain
- Fabius
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fabius is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fabius
- Mottville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mottville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mottville
- Three Rivers
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Elkhart County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sister Lakes, with the one closest to Sister Lakes listed first.
- Simonton Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Simonton Lake is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simonton Lake
- Elkhart
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Garden Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Garden Village is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Saint Joseph County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sister Lakes, with the one closest to Sister Lakes listed first.
- Granger
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Georgetown
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Georgetown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Indian Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Indian Village is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- Roseland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Roseland is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 635 people
- South Bend
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Mishawaka
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Osceola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Osceola is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,486 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Osceola <1>
- Zeigler
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Zeigler is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeigler
- New Carlisle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sister Lakes, see our County-by-County Page for Sister Lakes.
Cemeteries Near Sister Lakes ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sister Lakes.
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 Sister Lakes - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sister Lakes covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sister Lakes, with the one closest to Sister Lakes listed first.
- Cullinane Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Zion Evangelical Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ely Graves
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sacred Heart of Mary Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Keeler Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gilbert Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Indian Lake Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Red Mill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Byers Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pennyan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ferry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- California Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (250 more) ...
- North Wayne Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- St. Pauls UCC Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Zion EUB Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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 Sister Lakes had a population of 48 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sister Lakes, with the one closest to Sister Lakes listed first.
- Naomi
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Naomi is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naomi
- Spinks Corners
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Spinks Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spinks Corners
- Hartman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hartman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
- Dowagiac
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sodus
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Sodus is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sodus
- Eau Claire
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Berrien Center
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Watervliet
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Glenwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Glenwood is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Millburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Millburg is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millburg
- Hartford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Coloma
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Twelve Corners
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Twelve Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twelve Corners
- Berrien Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pokagon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Pokagon is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pokagon
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sister Lakes. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sister Lakes.
Newspapers Published in Sister Lakes ...
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 74 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sister Lakes.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sister Lakes, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sister Lakes.
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 Sister Lakes:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Van Buren County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegan County
- Berrien County
- Cass County
- Kalamazoo County
- Saint Joseph County
- Elkhart County
- Saint Joseph 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> | 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 Sister Lakes, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Sister Lakes) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |