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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 Spinks Corners (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 Spinks Corners. 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 Spinks Corners ...

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 occur.

  • A typical abbreviation for Spinks Corners: Spinks Cors.
  • While the name of this community is Spinks Corners, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Spinks Corners may originally have been Spink's Corners.

    Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Spinks Corners might be written as Spink Corners.

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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.

Spinks Corners is located in Berrien 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 Berrien County: LaPorte (IN), Saint Joseph (IN), Cass & Van Buren.

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

  • Berrien County     (The home county of Spinks Corners)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spinks Corners, with the one closest to Spinks Corners listed first.
    • Twelve Corners
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Twelve Corners is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twelve Corners
    • Shanghai Corners
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Shanghai Corners is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai Corners
    • Naomi
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Naomi is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naomi
    • Sodus
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Sodus is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sodus
    • Benton Heights
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Benton Heights is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Heights
    • Hartman
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Hartman is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
    • Coloma
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Riverside
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Riverside is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
    • Scottdale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Scottdale is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottdale
    • Fair Plain
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Fair Plain is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Plain
    • Mizpah Park
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Mizpah Park is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mizpah Park
    • Eau Claire
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Benton Harbor
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Allegan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spinks Corners, with the one closest to Spinks Corners listed first.
    • South Haven Highlands
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Miami Park
      (25 miles [40.2 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
    • Mount Pleasant
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Mount Pleasant is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
    • Hawkhead
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Hawkhead is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkhead
    • Cedar Bluff
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Cedar Bluff is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
    • Glenn Haven Shores
      (27 miles [43.5 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
    • 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
    • Glenn Shores
      (28 miles [45.1 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
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Spring Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Spring Grove is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Grove
    • Pullman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spinks Corners, with the one closest to Spinks Corners listed first.
    • Dowagiac
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Sumnerville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Sumnerville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumnerville
    • Pokagon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Pokagon is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pokagon
    • La Grange
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • La Grange is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
    • Cassopolis
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Penn
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Penn is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn
    • Brownsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Brownsville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
    • Edwardsburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Wakelee
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Wakelee is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakelee
    • Vandalia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Vandalia is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
    • Marcellus
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Jones
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Saint Joseph County
    • Chamberlain
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Chamberlain is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamberlain
  • Van Buren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spinks Corners, with the one closest to Spinks Corners listed first.
    • Keeler
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Keeler is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeler
    • Fish Corners
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Fish Corners is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Corners
    • Hartford
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Covert
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Lawrence
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Decatur
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Bangor
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Bangor is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,808 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bangor <2>
    • South Haven
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Breedsville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Paw Paw
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Kibbie
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Kibbie is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kibbie
    • Glendale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Glendale is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
    • Bloomingdale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Elkhart County (IN)
    • Simonton Lake
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Simonton Lake is located in Elkhart County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simonton Lake
  • LaPorte County (IN)
    • Hesston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Hesston is located in LaPorte County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesston
  • Saint Joseph County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spinks Corners, with the one closest to Spinks Corners listed first.
    • Georgetown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Georgetown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
    • Granger
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Indian Village
      (26 miles [41.8 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
      (26 miles [41.8 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
    • New Carlisle
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Zeigler
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Zeigler is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeigler
    • South Bend
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • South Bend is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bend
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 101,868 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for South Bend <2>
    • Mishawaka
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Mishawaka is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mishawaka
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 50,312 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mishawaka <2>

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

Cemeteries Near Spinks Corners ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Spinks Corners.

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 Spinks Corners - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Pennyan Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Millburg Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Pearl Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Shanghai Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Byers Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Zion EUB Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Kniebes Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Bethel Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Pauls UCC Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Boyer Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • B'nai Sholom Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (217 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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Spinks Corners had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Millburg
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Millburg is located in Berrien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millburg
  • Sodus
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Sodus is located in Berrien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sodus
  • Naomi
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Naomi is located in Berrien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naomi
  • Twelve Corners
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Twelve Corners is located in Berrien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twelve Corners
  • Hartman
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Hartman is located in Berrien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
  • Sister Lakes
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Sister Lakes is located in Van Buren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sister Lakes
  • Riverside
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Riverside is located in Berrien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
  • Coloma
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Vineland
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Vineland is located in Berrien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineland
  • Eau Claire
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Watervliet
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Benton Harbor
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Hollywood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Hollywood is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
    • Saint Joseph
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Derby
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Derby is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby

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

Newspapers Published in Spinks Corners ...

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 73 newspapers that have been published in the area around Spinks Corners.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Spinks Corners, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Spinks Corners.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Spinks Corners:

Footnotes ...

<1>It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties).
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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 Spinks Corners, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>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 from Point A (ie- Spinks Corners) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.