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 Wheeler (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 Wheeler. 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.
Wheeler is located in 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 Gratiot County: Clinton, Ionia, Isabella, Midland, Montcalm, Saginaw & Shiawassee.
Below are the counties that are near Wheeler. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wheeler:
- Gratiot County (The home county of Wheeler)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- Breckenridge
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- North Wheeler
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- North Wheeler is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Wheeler
- Edgewood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Edgewood is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood
- Saint Louis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Sickles
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Sickles is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sickles
- Ithaca
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Alma
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- North Star
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- North Star is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Star
- North Star has also been known as:
- Northstar
- Forest Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Forest Hill is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
- Ashley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Elwell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Pompeii
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bannister
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Bay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- Fisherville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fisherville is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisherville
- Auburn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Amelith
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Amelith is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amelith
- Willard
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Willard is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willard
- Duel
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Duel is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duel
- Seidlers
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Seidlers is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seidlers
- Frankenlust
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Frankenlust is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankenlust
- Brooks ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Brooks is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooks
- Salzburg ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Salzburg is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salzburg
- Kawkawlin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wenona ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wenona is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona
- West Bay City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- 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
- Bay City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- Eureka
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Eureka is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Elsie
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Maple Rapids
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Maple Rapids is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Rapids
- Population from the 2020 Census: 671 people
- Duplain
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Duplain is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duplain
- Ovid
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Shepardsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Shepardsville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepardsville
- Saint Johns
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Ionia County
- Hubbardston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Isabella County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- Coe
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Coe is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coe
- Shepherd
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Summerton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Summerton is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerton
- Alembic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Alembic is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alembic
- Crawford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Crawford is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Mount Pleasant
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Strickland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Strickland is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickland
- Jordan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jordan is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Winn
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Winn is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winn
- Rosebush
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Loomis
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Loomis is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loomis
- Beal City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Beal City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal City
- Midland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- Redstone
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Redstone is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redstone
- Ryan
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Ryan is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan
- Porter
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Porter is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Oil City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Oil City is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
- Averill
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Averill is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Averill
- Sanford
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Midland
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- North Bradley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- North Bradley is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bradley
- Alamando
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Alamando is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamando
- Coleman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Hope
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Edenville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Edenville is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edenville
- Montcalm County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- Vestaburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Vestaburg is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vestaburg
- Carson City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Crystal
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Lake
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Cedar Lake is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lake
- Butternut
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Butternut is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butternut
- Vickeryville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Vickeryville is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vickeryville
- Edmore
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- McBride
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Wyman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Wyman is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
- Saginaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- Merrill
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Lakefield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lakefield is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakefield
- Iva
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Iva is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iva
- Hemlock
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Nelson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Nelson is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
- Orr
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Orr is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orr
- Brant
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Garfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Garfield is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield
- Dice
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Dice is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dice
- Frost
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Frost is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
- Saint Charles
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Freeland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fenmore
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Fenmore is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenmore
- Shiawassee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- Henderson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Smith Crossing
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Smith Crossing is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Crossing
- Burton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Burton is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton
- Five Points
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Five Points is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wheeler, see our County-by-County Page for Wheeler.
Cemeteries Near Wheeler ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wheeler.
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 Wheeler - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wheeler covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- Wheeler Twp. Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Rose Lawn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Lakefield Twp. Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakefield Twp. Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Lakefield Twp. Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<3> to the south of Merrill.
- The Lakefield Twp. Cemetery has also been known as:
- Lakefield Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #879 <2>
- Jasper Twp. Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Beebe Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lafayette Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hamilton Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Porter Twp. Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bethany Indian Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (225 more) ...
- St. Patrick Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bailey Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Brady Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Wheeler had a population of 210 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wheeler, with the one closest to Wheeler listed first.
- Breckenridge
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Rathbone
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Rathbone is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathbone
- Merrill
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Galloway
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Galloway is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galloway
- Porter
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Porter is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Beebe
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Beebe is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beebe
- Edgewood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Edgewood is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood
- Saint Louis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Sickles
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Sickles is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sickles
- Pleasant Valley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Valley is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
- Alma
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Ithaca
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Nelson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Nelson is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
- Saint Elmo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Saint Elmo is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Elmo
- North Star
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- North Star is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Star
- North Star has also been known as:
- Northstar
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wheeler. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wheeler.
Newspapers Published in Wheeler ...
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 90 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wheeler.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wheeler, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wheeler.
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 helpful 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 Wheeler:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Gratiot County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bay County
- Clinton County
- Ionia County
- Isabella County
- Midland County
- Montcalm County
- Saginaw County
- Shiawassee 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> | 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- Wheeler) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Wheeler, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |