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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 Shields (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 Shields. 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 doctors and 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.

Shields is located in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Franklin, Hamilton, Marion, Perry, Washington & Wayne.

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

  • Jefferson County     (The home county of Shields)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shields, with the one closest to Shields listed first.
    • Pigeon ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
    • Bluford
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Markham City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Markham City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham City
    • Texico
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Marlow
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Marlow is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
    • Idlewood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
    • Summersville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Summersville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summersville
    • Dix
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Dix is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dix
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dix <1>
    • Opdyke
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Mount Vernon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Belle Rive
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Jefferson City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Jefferson City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
    • Marcoe
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Marcoe is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcoe
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shields, with the one closest to Shields listed first.
    • Xenia
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Kenner
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Flora
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Louisville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Camp Travis
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Camp Travis is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Travis
    • Clay City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Iola
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Sailor Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shields, with the one closest to Shields listed first.
    • Centralia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Hoffman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shields, with the one closest to Shields listed first.
    • Farina
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • La Clede
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • La Clede is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
    • Saint Peter
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Saint Paul
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shields, with the one closest to Shields listed first.
    • Frisco
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Frisco is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
    • Taylor Hill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
    • Ewing
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Whittington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shields, with the one closest to Shields listed first.
    • Dahlgren
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Belle Prairie City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
    • Lovilla
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
    • Piopolis
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
    • Bungay
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Bungay is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bungay
    • Jefferson City ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
    • Diamond City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Diamond City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
    • McLeansboro
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Flint
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Flint is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
    • Macedonia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shields, with the one closest to Shields listed first.
    • Hickory Hill
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
    • Union Town
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Union Town is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Town
    • Kell
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Iuka
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Cartter
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
    • Bannister
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Omega
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Salem
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Walnut Hill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Alma
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Odin
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Odin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,004 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Odin <1>
    • Kinmundy
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Central City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Central City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shields, with the one closest to Shields listed first.
    • Wynoose
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Wynoose is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
    • Noble
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shields, with the one closest to Shields listed first.
    • Baldwin Heights
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
    • Wamac
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Wamac is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wamac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
    • Irvington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Richview
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Ashley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Radom
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Radom is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radom
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Radom <1>
    • Hoyleton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shields, with the one closest to Shields listed first.
    • Keenes
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Johnsonville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Wayne City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Sims
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Cisne
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Rinard
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Geff
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Jeffersonville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
    • Boyleston
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
    • Enterprise
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Enterprise is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Fairfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Barnhill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Mount Erie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
  • White County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shields, with the one closest to Shields listed first.
    • Mill Shoals
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Springerton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Burnt Prairie
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Shields ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shields.

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 Shields - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • McConnaughhay Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Lowery Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Wells Chapel Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Greenwalt Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Garrison Temple Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Bradford Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Hickory Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Falley Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Dobbs Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Jacob Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Fields Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (437 more) ...
    • Crask Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Ten Post Oak Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Christian Home Baptist Church Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)

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

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

  • Hickory Hill
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
  • Orchardville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Orchardville is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchardville
  • Pigeon ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
  • Divide
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Divide is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Divide
  • Bluford
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Keenes
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Foxville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Foxville is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foxville
  • Wayne City
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Johnsonville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Marlow
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Marlow is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
  • Iuka
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Idlewood
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Sims
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Xenia
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Dix
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Dix is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dix
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dix <1>

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

Newspapers Published in Shields ...

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 81 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shields.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shields, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shields.

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 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 Shields:

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 Shields, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Shields) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.