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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 Three Oaks (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 Three Oaks. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Three Oaks 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 Three Oaks. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Three Oaks:

  • Berrien County     (The home county of Three Oaks)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Three Oaks, with the one closest to Three Oaks listed first.
    • Avery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Avery is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
    • Lakeside
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Lakeside is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
    • Union Pier
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Galien
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Galien is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galien
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 527 people
    • Harbert
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Hazelhurst
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Hazelhurst is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelhurst
    • Shorewood - Tower Hills - Harbert
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Sawyer
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • New Troy
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • New Buffalo
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Glendora
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Glendora is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendora
    • Dayton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Dayton is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
    • Grand Beach
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Grand Beach is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Beach
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Three Oaks, with the one closest to Three Oaks listed first.
    • Sumnerville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Sumnerville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumnerville
    • Pokagon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Pokagon is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pokagon
    • Edwardsburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Dowagiac
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • LaPorte County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Three Oaks, with the one closest to Three Oaks listed first.
    • Hesston
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Hesston is located in LaPorte County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesston
    • Smith
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Smith is located in LaPorte County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith
    • Rolling Prairie
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Michiana Shores
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Long Beach
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • La Porte
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • La Porte is located in LaPorte County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Porte
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 21,449 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for La Porte <1>
    • Trail Creek
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Trail Creek is located in LaPorte County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trail Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,985 people
    • Waterford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Waterford is located in LaPorte County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
    • Pottawattamie Park
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Pottawattamie Park is located in LaPorte County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottawattamie Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 221 people
    • Michigan City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Stillwell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Stillwell is located in LaPorte County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stillwell
    • Door Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Door Village is located in LaPorte County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Door Village
    • Holmesville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Holmesville is located in LaPorte County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmesville
  • Marshall County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Three Oaks, with the one closest to Three Oaks listed first.
    • La Paz
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • La Paz is located in Marshall County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Paz
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 549 people
    • Tyner
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Tyner is located in Marshall County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyner
    • Harris
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Harris is located in Marshall County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
  • Porter County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Three Oaks, with the one closest to Three Oaks listed first.
    • Town-of-Pines
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Town-of-Pines is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Town-of-Pines
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 688 people
    • Beverly Shores
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Chesterton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Porter
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Porter is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,840 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Porter <1>
    • Suman
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Suman is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suman
    • Tratebas Mill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Tratebas Mill is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tratebas Mill
    • Dune Acres
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Dune Acres is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dune Acres
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 182 people
    • Babcock
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Babcock is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babcock
    • Burns Harbor
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Saint Joseph County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Three Oaks, with the one closest to Three Oaks listed first.
    • New Carlisle
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Zeigler
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Zeigler is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeigler
    • Crumstown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Crumstown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumstown
    • Roseland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Roseland is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 635 people
    • Georgetown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Georgetown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
    • Indian Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Indian Village is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
    • North Liberty
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • South Bend
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • 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 <1>
    • Gulivoire Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Gulivoire Park is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulivoire Park
    • Nutwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Nutwood is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutwood
    • Walkerton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Walkerton is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkerton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,250 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Walkerton <1>
    • Mishawaka
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • 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 <1>
    • Lakeville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Lakeville is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 799 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lakeville <1>
  • Starke County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Three Oaks, with the one closest to Three Oaks listed first.
    • Koontz Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Koontz Lake is located in Starke County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koontz Lake
    • Hamlet
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Hamlet is located in Starke County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 754 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hamlet <1>
    • Grovertown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Grovertown is located in Starke County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grovertown

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

Cemeteries Near Three Oaks ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Three Oaks.

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 Three Oaks - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Forest Lawn Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Shedd Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Basswood Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Heckman Memorial Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Foster Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Lakeside Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Swem Grave
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Germinder & Ward Graves
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Shippeeburg Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Teeter Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • St. Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (172 more) ...
    • Galien Twp. Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • New Troy Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Pine Grove Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)

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 Three Oaks had a population of 885 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Three Oaks had a population of 1,540 people.

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

  • Avery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Avery is located in Berrien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
  • Hesston
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Hesston is located in LaPorte County (IN)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesston
  • Lakeside
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Lakeside is located in Berrien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
  • Union Pier
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Galien
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Galien is located in Berrien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galien
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 527 people
  • Harbert
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • New Troy
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Sawyer
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • New Buffalo
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Rolling Prairie
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • New Carlisle
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Glendora
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Glendora is located in Berrien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendora
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Terre Coupee
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Terre Coupee is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Coupee
    • Dayton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Dayton is located in Berrien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
    • Bridgman
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Three Oaks ...

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 106 newspapers that have been published in the area around Three Oaks.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Three Oaks. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Three Oaks and those printed in the larger area surrounding Three Oaks.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4> of Three Oaks.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Three Oaks:

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 Three Oaks, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Three Oaks) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.