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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 Thomas (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 Thomas. 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 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.

Thomas is located in Tuscola 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 Tuscola County: Bay, Genesee, Huron, Lapeer, Saginaw & Sanilac.

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

  • Tuscola County     (The home county of Thomas)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
    • Bay Park
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Bay Park is located in Tuscola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay Park
    • Unionville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Akron
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Colling
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Colling is located in Tuscola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colling
    • Fairgrove
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Gilford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Gilford is located in Tuscola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilford
    • Gagetown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Elmwood
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Elmwood is located in Tuscola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood
    • Caro
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Caro is located in Tuscola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caro
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,993 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Caro <1>
    • Wahjamega
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Wahjamega is located in Tuscola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahjamega
    • Watrousville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Watrousville is located in Tuscola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watrousville
    • Cass City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Denmark Junction
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Denmark Junction is located in Tuscola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark Junction
  • Arenac County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
    • Saganing
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Saganing is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saganing
    • Whites Beach
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Whites Beach is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whites Beach
    • Au Gres
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Pine River
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Pine River is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine River
    • Arenac
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Arenac is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arenac
    • Omer
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Omer is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 288 people
    • Standish
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Harmon City Heights
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Harmon City Heights is located in Arenac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmon City Heights
  • Bay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
    • Essexville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Munger
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Wenona Beach ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Wenona Beach is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona Beach
    • Banks ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Banks is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banks
      • Banks has also been known as:
      • Bangor
      • Bank City
    • Bay City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Brissette Beach
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Brissette Beach is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brissette Beach
    • Wenona ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Wenona is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona
    • West Bay City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • West Bay City is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bay City
      • West Bay City has also been known as:
      • West Bank City
    • Brooks ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Brooks is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooks
    • Salzburg ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Salzburg is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salzburg
    • Kawkawlin
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Linwood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Frankenlust
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Frankenlust is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankenlust
  • Huron County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
    • Sebewaing
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Valley Island
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Valley Island is located in Huron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Island
    • Bach
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Bach is located in Huron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bach
    • Kilmanagh
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Kilmanagh is located in Huron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilmanagh
    • Bay Port
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Owendale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Ora Labora
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Ora Labora is located in Huron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora Labora
      • Ora Labora has also been known as:
      • Ora et Labora
    • Pigeon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Berne
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Berne is located in Huron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berne
    • Elkton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Caseville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Pinnebog
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Pinnebog is located in Huron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinnebog
    • Bad Axe
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Lapeer County
  • Saginaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
    • Reese
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Reese is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reese
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,366 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Reese <1>
    • Blumfield Corners
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Blumfield Corners is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blumfield Corners
    • Melbourne ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Melbourne is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melbourne
    • Crow Island ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Crow Island is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow Island
    • Kochville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Kochville is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kochville
    • Zilwaukee city
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Zilwaukee city is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zilwaukee city
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,517 people
    • Carrollton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Carrollton is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
    • Frankenmuth
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Buena Vista
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Buena Vista is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
    • Saginaw
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Saginaw is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 47,823 people
      • Former names for Saginaw:
      • East Saginaw
      • Saginaw City
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Saginaw <1>
    • Bridgeport
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Sanilac County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
    • Hemans
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Hemans is located in Sanilac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemans
    • Decker
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Decker is located in Sanilac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decker

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

Cemeteries Near Thomas ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Thomas.

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

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

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

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 Thomas in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Thomas.

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

  • Unionville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Sebewaing
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Wisner
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Wisner is located in Tuscola County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wisner
  • Akron
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Quanicassee
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Quanicassee is located in Tuscola County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quanicassee
  • Kilmanagh
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Kilmanagh is located in Huron County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilmanagh
  • Colwood
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Colwood is located in Tuscola County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colwood
  • Fairgrove
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Bay Port
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Gilford
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Gilford is located in Tuscola County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilford
  • Owendale
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
  • Ellington
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Ellington is located in Tuscola County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellington
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Elmwood
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Elmwood is located in Tuscola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood
    • Gagetown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Wenona Beach ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Wenona Beach is located in Bay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona Beach

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

Newspapers Published in Thomas ...

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 62 newspapers that have been published in the area around Thomas.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Thomas, 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 Thomas.

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 either 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 Thomas:

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 Thomas, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Thomas) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.