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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 Springfield (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 Springfield. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.

Springfield is located in Calhoun 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 Calhoun County: Barry, Branch, Eaton, Hillsdale, Jackson, Kalamazoo & Saint Joseph.

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

  • Calhoun County     (The home county of Springfield)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Springfield, with the one closest to Springfield listed first.
    • Battle Creek
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Oak Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Oak Park is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Park
    • Level Park
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Level Park is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Park
    • Brownlee Park
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Brownlee Park is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownlee Park
    • Verona Park
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Verona Park is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verona Park
    • Bedford
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Fort Custer
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Fort Custer is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Custer
      • Former name for Fort Custer:
      • Camp Custer
    • Beadle Lake
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Beadle Lake is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beadle Lake
    • Sonoma
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Sonoma is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
    • Pennfield
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Pennfield is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennfield
    • West Leroy
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • West Leroy is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Leroy
    • Ceresco
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Ceresco is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceresco
  • Allegan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Springfield, with the one closest to Springfield listed first.
    • Hooper
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Hooper is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooper
    • Neeley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Neeley is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neeley
    • Plainwell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Martin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Otsego
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Shelbyville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Watson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Watson is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
    • Bradley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Bradley is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
  • Barry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Springfield, with the one closest to Springfield listed first.
    • Banfield
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Banfield is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banfield
    • Hickory Corners
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Dowling
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Dowling is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowling
    • Cedar Creek
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Cedar Creek is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
    • Delton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Maple Grove
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Maple Grove is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
    • Cloverdale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Cloverdale is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
    • Prairieville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Prairieville is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
    • Doster
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Doster is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doster
    • Morgan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Morgan is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
    • Nashville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Hastings
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
  • Branch County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Springfield, with the one closest to Springfield listed first.
    • Union City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Sherwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Sherwood is located in Branch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 306 people
    • Girard
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Girard is located in Branch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girard
    • Hodunk
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Hodunk is located in Branch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodunk
    • Matteson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Matteson is located in Branch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matteson
    • Batavia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Batavia is located in Branch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batavia
    • Coldwater
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Trailtree Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Trailtree Village is located in Branch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trailtree Village
  • Eaton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Springfield, with the one closest to Springfield listed first.
    • Bellevue
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Ainger
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Ainger is located in Eaton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ainger
    • Olivet
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Carlisle
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Carlisle is located in Eaton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
    • Vermontville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Chester
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Chester is located in Eaton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chester
    • Charlotte
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Gresham
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Gresham is located in Eaton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
    • Stalls Corner
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Stalls Corner is located in Eaton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stalls Corner
    • Charlesworth
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Charlesworth is located in Eaton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlesworth
    • Little Venice
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Little Venice is located in Eaton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Venice
  • Jackson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Springfield, with the one closest to Springfield listed first.
    • Devereaux
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Devereaux is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devereaux
    • Springport
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Kalamazoo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Springfield, with the one closest to Springfield listed first.
    • Augusta
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Climax
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Climax is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Climax
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
    • South Gull Lake
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • South Gull Lake is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gull Lake
    • Galesburg
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Yorkville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Yorkville is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
    • Highland Park
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Highland Park is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
    • Richland
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Scotts
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Comstock
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Comstock is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comstock
    • Fulton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Fulton is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
    • Pavillion Center
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Pavillion Center is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavillion Center
    • East Cooper
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • East Cooper is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cooper
  • Saint Joseph County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Springfield, with the one closest to Springfield listed first.
    • Factoryville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Factoryville is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Factoryville
    • Leonidas
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Mendon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Mendon is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 848 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mendon <1>
    • Colon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Colon is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,155 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Colon <1>
    • Fairfax
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Fairfax is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfax
    • Parkville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Parkville is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkville
    • Wasepi
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Wasepi is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasepi
    • Nottawa
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Findley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Findley is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Findley
  • Van Buren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Springfield, with the one closest to Springfield listed first.
    • Mattawan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Kendall
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Kendall is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
    • North Lake
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • North Lake is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Lake
    • Almena
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Almena is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almena

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

Cemeteries Near Springfield ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Springfield.

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

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

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

  • Covey Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Reese Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Sunset Gardens Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Memorial Park Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Youngs Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Haskell Home Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Holiday Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Bedford Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Bedford Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Mt. Olive Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Oak Hill Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located outside and to the south of Battle Creek.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1260 <2>
  • Mt. Olivet Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (296 more) ...
    • Beckley Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Dubois Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Bedford Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)

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.<3>

While we didn't find Springfield in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Springfield.

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

  • Battle Creek
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Bedford
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Sonoma
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Sonoma is located in Calhoun County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
  • Climax
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Climax is located in Kalamazoo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Climax
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
  • West Leroy
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • West Leroy is located in Calhoun County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Leroy
  • Galesburg
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Joppa
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Joppa is located in Calhoun County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa
  • Ceresco
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Ceresco is located in Calhoun County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceresco
  • Yorkville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Yorkville is located in Kalamazoo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
  • Banfield
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Banfield is located in Barry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banfield
  • Pine Creek
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Pine Creek is located in Calhoun County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Creek
  • East Leroy
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • East Leroy is located in Calhoun County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Leroy
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Hickory Corners
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Assyria
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Assyria is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Assyria
    • Lacey
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Lacey is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey

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

Newspapers Published in Springfield ...

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 195 newspapers that have been published in the area around Springfield.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Springfield, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Springfield.

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 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 Springfield:

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 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.
<3>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 Springfield, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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- Springfield) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.