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 Summerton (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 Summerton. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and 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.
Summerton is primarily located in Isabella County. A portion of Summerton extends into Gratiot 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 Isabella County: Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm & Osceola.
Below are the counties that are near Summerton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Summerton:
- Isabella County (The home county of Summerton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Summerton, with the one closest to Summerton listed first.
- Coe
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Coe is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coe
- Shepherd
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Crawford
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Crawford is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Strickland
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Strickland is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickland
- Alembic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Alembic is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alembic
- Mount Pleasant
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Winn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Winn is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winn
- Jordan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Jordan is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Rosebush
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Beal City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Beal City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal City
- Lake Isabella
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- 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
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Clare County
- The following are listed by their distance from Summerton, with the one closest to Summerton listed first.
- Clare
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Farwell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Dover
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Dover is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lake is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake
- Former name for Lake:
- Lake Station
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Summerton, with the one closest to Summerton listed first.
- Maple Rapids
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Maple Rapids is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Rapids
- Population from the 2020 Census: 671 people
- Eureka
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Eureka is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Gratiot County
- The following are listed by their distance from Summerton, with the one closest to Summerton listed first.
- Forest Hill
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Forest Hill is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
- Elwell
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Alma
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Louis
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Riverdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Elm Hall
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Elm Hall is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Hall
- Sumner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Sumner is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumner
- Breckenridge
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Ithaca
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- North Wheeler
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- North Wheeler is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Wheeler
- Wheeler
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Wheeler is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- North Star
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- North Star is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Star
- North Star has also been known as:
- Northstar
- Ionia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Summerton, with the one closest to Summerton listed first.
- Hubbardston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Palo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Palo is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo
- Matherton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Matherton is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matherton
- Shiloh
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Shiloh is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Mecosta County
- The following are listed by their distance from Summerton, with the one closest to Summerton listed first.
- Millbrook
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Millbrook is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
- Remus
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Halls Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Halls Corner is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Corner
- Mecosta
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Barryton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Canadian Lakes
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Canadian Lakes is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadian Lakes
- Midland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Summerton, with the one closest to Summerton listed first.
- Redstone
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Redstone is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redstone
- Oil City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Oil City is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
- Porter
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Porter is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Ryan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Ryan is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan
- Alamando
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Alamando is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamando
- North Bradley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- North Bradley is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bradley
- Coleman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Sanford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Averill
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Averill is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Averill
- Midland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Edenville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Edenville is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edenville
- Hope
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Montcalm County
- The following are listed by their distance from Summerton, with the one closest to Summerton listed first.
- Vestaburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Vestaburg is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vestaburg
- Cedar Lake
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Cedar Lake is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lake
- Wyman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Wyman is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
- Edmore
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Crystal
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- McBride
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Carson City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Butternut
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Butternut is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butternut
- Stanton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Six Lakes
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Vickeryville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Vickeryville is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vickeryville
- Entrican
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Entrican is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Entrican
- Saginaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Summerton, with the one closest to Summerton listed first.
- Merrill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Lakefield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Lakefield is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakefield
- Iva
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Iva is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iva
- Hemlock
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Nelson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Nelson is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
- Fenmore
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fenmore is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenmore
- Orr
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Orr is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orr
- Brant
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dice
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Dice is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dice
- Freeland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Frost
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Frost is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
- Garfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Garfield is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Summerton, see our County-by-County Page for Summerton.
Cemeteries Near Summerton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Summerton.
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 Summerton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Summerton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Summerton, with the one closest to Summerton listed first.
- Brady Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Irishtown Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Seville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Wright Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Salt River Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- St. Vincent de Paul Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Brown Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Chapel Gardens Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Coe Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Lincoln Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Sibley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pritchard Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (198 more) ...
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bethany Indian Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Green 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Summerton had a population of 17 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Summerton, with the one closest to Summerton listed first.
- Forest Hill
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Forest Hill is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
- Shepherd
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Crawford
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Crawford is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Strickland
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Strickland is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickland
- Alma
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Riverdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Louis
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Valley is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
- Elm Hall
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Elm Hall is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Hall
- Mount Pleasant
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Alembic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Alembic is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alembic
- Sumner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Sumner is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumner
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Beebe
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Beebe is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beebe
- Jordan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Jordan is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Cedar Lake
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Cedar Lake is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lake
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Summerton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Summerton.
Newspapers Published in Summerton ...
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 168 newspapers that have been published in the area around Summerton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Summerton, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Summerton.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Summerton:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Isabella County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clare County
- Clinton County
- Gratiot County
- Ionia County
- Mecosta County
- Midland County
- Montcalm County
- Saginaw 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> | 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 Summerton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Summerton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |