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 Williamsville (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 Williamsville. 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 and doctors 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.
Williamsville is located in Cass 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 Cass County: Elkhart (IN), Saint Joseph (IN), Berrien, Saint Joseph & Van Buren.
Below are the counties that are near Williamsville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Williamsville:
- Cass County (The home county of Williamsville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Jones
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Vandalia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Vandalia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- Brownsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Brownsville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Corey
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Corey is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corey
- Union
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Penn
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Penn is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn
- Wakelee
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Wakelee is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakelee
- Cassopolis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- La Grange
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- La Grange is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
- Marcellus
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Edwardsburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dowagiac
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pokagon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Pokagon is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pokagon
- Berrien County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Niles
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Berrien Center
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Naomi
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Naomi is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naomi
- Eau Claire
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Hartman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hartman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
- Berrien Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Buchanan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Shanghai Corners
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Shanghai Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai Corners
- Bakertown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Bakertown is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakertown
- Sodus
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Sodus is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sodus
- Dayton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Dayton is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Hinchman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Hinchman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinchman
- Watervliet
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Kalamazoo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Schoolcraft
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Vicksburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Portage
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Oshtemo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Milwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Milwood is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milwood
- Pavillion Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pavillion Center is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavillion Center
- Saint Joseph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Fabius
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fabius is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fabius
- Mottville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mottville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mottville
- Constantine
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- White Pigeon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Three Rivers
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Chamberlain
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Chamberlain is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamberlain
- Oakwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Oakwood is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Bluff Beach
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Bluff Beach is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Beach
- Centreville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Centreville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,400 people
- Klingers
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Klingers is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klingers
- Parkville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Parkville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkville
- Nottawa
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Wasepi
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Wasepi is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasepi
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Decatur
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Lawton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Keeler
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Keeler is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeler
- Mattawan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Paw Paw
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Lawrence
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Almena
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Almena is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almena
- Hartford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Glendale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Glendale is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
- Elkhart County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Simonton Lake
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Simonton Lake is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simonton Lake
- Bristol
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Garden Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Garden Village is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Elkhart
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Middlebury
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dunlap
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Dunlap is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlap
- Jamestown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jamestown is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Goshen
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Southwest
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Southwest is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southwest
- Bainter Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Bainter Town is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainter Town
- Foraker
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Foraker is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foraker
- Wakarusa
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Benton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Benton is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Kosciusko County (IN)
- Milford Junction
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Milford Junction is located in Kosciusko County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford Junction
- LaGrange County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Scott
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Scott is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott
- Shipshewana
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Seyberts
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Seyberts is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seyberts
- Howe
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- LaGrange
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Topeka
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Brighton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Brighton is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton
- Saint Joseph County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Granger
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Osceola
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Osceola is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,486 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Osceola <1>
- Georgetown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Georgetown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Indian Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Indian Village is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- Mishawaka
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Roseland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Roseland is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 635 people
- South Bend
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Gulivoire Park
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gulivoire Park is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulivoire Park
- Nutwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Nutwood is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutwood
- Wyatt
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Williamsville, see our County-by-County Page for Williamsville.
Cemeteries Near Williamsville ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Williamsville.
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 Williamsville - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Williamsville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Merritt Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Chain Lake Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Birch Lake Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lilly Lake Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Calvin Center Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Shavehead Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bethel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Long Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Oakdale Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Poe Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Shaffer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (337 more) ...
- Plum Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Rinehart Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Oakgrove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
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 Williamsville had a population of 75 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Jones
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Vandalia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Vandalia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- Brownsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Brownsville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Union
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Corey
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Corey is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corey
- Penn
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Penn is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn
- Mottville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mottville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mottville
- Fabius
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fabius is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fabius
- Adamsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Adamsville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamsville
- Former name for Adamsville:
- Sage's Mill
- Wakelee
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Wakelee is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakelee
- Cassopolis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Bristol
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Vistula
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Vistula is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vistula
- Constantine
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- La Grange
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- La Grange is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Williamsville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Williamsville.
Newspapers Published in Williamsville ...
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 135 newspapers that have been published in the area around Williamsville.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Williamsville, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Williamsville.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Williamsville:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Cass County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Berrien County
- Kalamazoo County
- Saint Joseph County
- Van Buren County
- Elkhart County
- Kosciusko County
- LaGrange County
- Saint Joseph 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 Williamsville, 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 from Point A (ie- Williamsville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |