RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Illinois >> Morgan County >> Shady Acres >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Shady Acres (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 Shady Acres. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Shady Acres is located in Morgan County.

To see how the shape of Illinois' counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Morgan County: Brown, Cass, Greene, Macoupin, Pike, Sangamon & Scott.

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

  • Morgan County     (The home county of Shady Acres)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shady Acres, with the one closest to Shady Acres listed first.
    • Meredosia
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Morgan City ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Morgan City is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
    • Concord
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Chapin
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Lynnville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Lynnville is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 113 people
    • Arcadia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Arcadia is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
    • Literberry
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Jacksonville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • South Jacksonville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • South Jacksonville is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jacksonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,075 people
    • Arnold
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Arnold is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
    • Woodson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Murrayville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Pisgah
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Pisgah is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
  • Adams County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shady Acres, with the one closest to Shady Acres listed first.
    • Kellerville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Kellerville is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerville
    • Beverly
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Beverly is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
    • Clayton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Blacks
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Blacks is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blacks
    • Liberty
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Camp Point
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Golden
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Brown County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shady Acres, with the one closest to Shady Acres listed first.
    • Versailles
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Cooperstown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Cooperstown is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperstown
    • Gilbirds
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Gilbirds is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbirds
    • Hersman
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Hersman is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersman
    • Ripley
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Ripley is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
    • Mount Sterling
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Mound Station
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Mound Station is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Station
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Timewell
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shady Acres, with the one closest to Shady Acres listed first.
    • Arenzville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Hagener
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Hagener is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagener
    • Beardstown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Bluff Springs
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Oak Grove
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Oak Grove is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Jules
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Jules is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
    • Virginia
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Old Princeton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Old Princeton is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Princeton
    • Burlingame
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Burlingame is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
    • Philadelphia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Philadelphia is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Chandlerville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Gurney ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Gurney is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
    • Sylvan ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Sylvan is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
  • Fulton County
    • Astoria
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shady Acres, with the one closest to Shady Acres listed first.
    • Patterson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Wilmington
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Wilmington is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
    • Roodhouse
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Hillview
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • White Hall
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shady Acres, with the one closest to Shady Acres listed first.
    • Snicarte
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Snicarte is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snicarte
    • White City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • White City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
  • McDonough County
    • Doddsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Doddsville is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doddsville
  • Pike County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shady Acres, with the one closest to Shady Acres listed first.
    • Chambersburg
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Perry
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Valley City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Valley City is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
    • Griggsville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Florence
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Florence is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 36 people
    • Detroit
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Detroit is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Detroit
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
    • New Salem
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • New Salem is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 131 people
    • Milton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Baylis
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Bedford
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Pittsfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Time
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Time is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Time
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
    • Hadley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Hadley is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hadley
  • Schuyler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shady Acres, with the one closest to Shady Acres listed first.
    • Frederick
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Rushville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Browning
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Bader
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Bader is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
    • Camden
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Wayland
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Wayland is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
    • Littleton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Bluff City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Huntsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shady Acres, with the one closest to Shady Acres listed first.
    • Bluffs
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Naples
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Exeter
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Exeter is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
    • Oxville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Oxville is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxville
    • Winchester
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Alsey
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Glasgow
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Glasgow is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
    • Manchester
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Shady Acres ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shady Acres.

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 Shady Acres - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Oakland Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Kiel Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Augustine Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • New Salem Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Hodges Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Weeks Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Vandeventer Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Nergenah Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Charles Schlickers Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Sibert Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (566 more) ...
    • Graham Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Bush Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Arnold Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)

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 Shady Acres in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Shady Acres.

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

  • Meredosia
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Chambersburg
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Bluffs
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Versailles
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Naples
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Cooperstown
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Cooperstown is located in Brown County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperstown
  • Morgan City ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Morgan City is located in Morgan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
  • Bethel
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Bethel is located in Morgan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
  • Oxville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Oxville is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxville
  • Exeter
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Exeter is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
  • Chapin
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Concord
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Arenzville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Gilbirds
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Gilbirds is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbirds
    • Hagener
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Hagener is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagener

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

Newspapers Published in Shady Acres ...

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 91 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shady Acres.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shady Acres, 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 Shady Acres.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Shady Acres:

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 Shady Acres, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Shady Acres) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.