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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 Turk Lake (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 Turk Lake. 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 Turk Lake ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Turk Lake: Turk Lk.

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 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.

Turk Lake is located in Montcalm 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 Montcalm County: Clinton, Gratiot, Ionia, Isabella, Kent, Mecosta & Newaygo.

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

  • Montcalm County     (The home county of Turk Lake)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Turk Lake, with the one closest to Turk Lake listed first.
    • Gowen
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Langston
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Langston is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
    • Trufant
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Sidney
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Greenville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Eureka Place
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Eureka Place is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Place
    • Entrican
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Entrican is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Entrican
    • Stanton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Coral
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Amsden
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Amsden is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amsden
    • Sheridan
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Lakeview
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Clinton County
    • Maple Rapids
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Maple Rapids is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Rapids
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 671 people
  • Gratiot County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Turk Lake, with the one closest to Turk Lake listed first.
    • Elm Hall
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Elm Hall is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Hall
    • Riverdale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Sumner
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Sumner is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumner
    • Elwell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Middleton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Perrinton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Perrinton is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perrinton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 391 people
    • Forest Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Forest Hill is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
  • Ionia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Turk Lake, with the one closest to Turk Lake listed first.
    • Belding
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Smyrna
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Shiloh
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Shiloh is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
    • Orleans
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Orleans is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
    • Woods Corners
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Woods Corners is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Corners
    • Palo
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Palo is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo
    • Ionia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • South Ionia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • South Ionia is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ionia
    • Saranac
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Hubbardston
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Muir
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Lyons
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Isabella County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Turk Lake, with the one closest to Turk Lake listed first.
    • Blanchard
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Winn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Winn is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winn
    • Strickland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Strickland is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickland
    • Lake Isabella
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • 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
    • Crawford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Crawford is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
    • Summerton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Summerton is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerton
  • Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Turk Lake, with the one closest to Turk Lake listed first.
    • Harvard
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Harvard is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard
    • Sheffield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Sheffield is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
    • Sand Lake
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Grattan
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Grattan is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grattan
    • Cedar Springs
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Edgerton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Edgerton is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton
    • Parnell
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Parnell is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
    • Cannonsburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Rockford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Belmont
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Lowell
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Northview
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Northview is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northview
  • Mecosta County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Turk Lake, with the one closest to Turk Lake listed first.
    • Rustford
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Rustford is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustford
    • Morley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Halls Corner
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Halls Corner is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Corner
    • Borland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Borland is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borland
    • Canadian Lakes
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Canadian Lakes is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadian Lakes
    • Millbrook
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Millbrook is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
    • Remus
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Stanwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Mecosta
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Rodney
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Muskegon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Turk Lake, with the one closest to Turk Lake listed first.
    • Bailey
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Canada Corners
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Canada Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Corners
  • Newaygo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Turk Lake, with the one closest to Turk Lake listed first.
    • Croton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Croton is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
    • Riverview
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Riverview is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
    • Sun
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Sun is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun
    • Ashland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Ashland is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
    • Grant
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Newaygo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Ottawa County
    • Wright
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Wright is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright

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

Cemeteries Near Turk Lake ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Turk Lake.

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 Turk Lake - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Monroe Roads Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Perch Lake Bible Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Little Denmark Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • East Montcalm Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Langston Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Wolverton Plains Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Charles Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • South Sidney Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • North Sidney Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • West Washington Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Sidney Twp. Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (259 more) ...
    • Trufant Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Eureka Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Forest Home Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)

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.<2>

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

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

  • Gowen
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Langston
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Langston is located in Montcalm County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
  • Trufant
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Greenville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Sidney
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Entrican
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Entrican is located in Montcalm County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Entrican
  • Harvard
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Harvard is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard
  • Amsden
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Amsden is located in Montcalm County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amsden
  • Stanton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Coral
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Sheridan
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Westville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Westville is located in Montcalm County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westville
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Evans
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Evans is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
    • Lakeview
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Belding
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Turk Lake ...

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 148 newspapers that have been published in the area around Turk Lake.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Turk Lake, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Turk Lake.

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 Turk Lake:

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>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 Turk Lake, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Turk Lake) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.