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 Sheppard (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 Sheppard. 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.
Sheppard is located in Wilcox County.
To see how the shape of Alabama's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Wilcox County: Butler, Clarke, Dallas, Lowndes, Marengo & Monroe.
Below are the counties that are near Sheppard. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sheppard:
- Wilcox County (The home county of Sheppard)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheppard, with the one closest to Sheppard listed first.
- Coy
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Coy is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coy
- Yellow Bluff
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Yellow Bluff is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Bluff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Asahel
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Asahel is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asahel
- Nellie
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Nellie is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nellie
- Lower Peach Tree
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lower Peach Tree is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Peach Tree
- Rockwest
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Rockwest is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwest
- Pine Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 834 people
- Kimbrough
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kimbrough is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrough
- Anne Manie
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Anne Manie is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anne Manie
- Arlington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Arlington is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
- Camden
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Bethel is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Lamison
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Lamison is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamison
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheppard, with the one closest to Sheppard listed first.
- Nettleboro
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Nettleboro is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettleboro
- Atkeison
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Atkeison is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkeison
- Thomasville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Dickinson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dickinson is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickinson
- Fulton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fulton is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 242 people
- Glover
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Glover is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glover
- Grove Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Whatley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Whatley is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whatley
- Suggsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Suggsville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suggsville
- Zimco
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Zimco is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zimco
- Campbell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Campbell is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell
- Toddtown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Toddtown is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toddtown
- Morvin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Morvin is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morvin
- Conecuh County
- Ramah
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ramah is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramah
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheppard, with the one closest to Sheppard listed first.
- Crumptonia
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Crumptonia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumptonia
- Central Mills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Central Mills is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Mills
- Safford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Carlowville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Carlowville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlowville
- Richmond
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Richmond is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Minter
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Minter is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minter
- Orrville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheppard, with the one closest to Sheppard listed first.
- Vineland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Vineland is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineland
- Ellison ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ellison is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellison
- Flatwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Flatwood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatwood
- Magnolia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Magnolia is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Dixon's Mills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dixon's Mills is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon's Mills
- Consul
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Consul is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Consul
- Moss ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Moss is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss
- Thomaston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Thomaston is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomaston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 383 people
- Sweet Water
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sweet Water is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Water
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Crenshaw ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Crenshaw is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
- Hugo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hugo is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hugo
- Aimwell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Aimwell is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aimwell
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheppard, with the one closest to Sheppard listed first.
- Hybart
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hybart is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hybart
- Vredenburgh
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Vredenburgh is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vredenburgh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
- Franklin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Franklin is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
- Buena Vista
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Buena Vista is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Scratch Ankle
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Scratch Ankle is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scratch Ankle
- Finchburg ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Finchburg is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finchburg
- Lovan ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Lovan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovan
- Natchez
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Natchez is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natchez
- Beatrice
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pineville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pineville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineville
- Tunnel Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Tunnel Springs is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnel Springs
- Former name for Tunnel Springs:
- Kempsville
- Claiborne
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Claiborne is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claiborne
- Peterman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Peterman is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterman
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sheppard, see our County-by-County Page for Sheppard.
Cemeteries Near Sheppard ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sheppard.
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 Sheppard - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sheppard covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sheppard, with the one closest to Sheppard listed first.
- Tait Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Tait Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- New Providence Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Mt. Andrew Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Shamburger Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- McPherson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Shields Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Bethel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Lower Peach Tree Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- McCarty Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Enon Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (259 more) ...
- Magnolia Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Burford Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Tait Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
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 Sheppard in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Sheppard.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sheppard, with the one closest to Sheppard listed first.
- Coy
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Coy is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coy
- Yellow Bluff
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Yellow Bluff is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Bluff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Culpeper
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Culpeper is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culpeper
- Nellie
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Nellie is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nellie
- Lower Peach Tree
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lower Peach Tree is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Peach Tree
- Tinela
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Tinela is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tinela
- Rockwest
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Rockwest is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwest
- Pine Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 834 people
- Kimbrough
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kimbrough is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrough
- Sunny South
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Sunny South is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny South
- Arlington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Arlington is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
- Camden
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Atkeison
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Atkeison is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkeison
- Vineland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Vineland is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineland
- Fatama
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Fatama is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fatama
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sheppard. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sheppard.
Newspapers Published in Sheppard ...
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 34 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sheppard.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sheppard, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sheppard.
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 Sheppard:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Wilcox County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clarke County
- Conecuh County
- Dallas County
- Marengo County
- Monroe County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Alabama
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 Sheppard, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Sheppard) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |