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 Shinn (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 Shinn. 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 hospitals 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.
Shinn is located in Pike 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 Pike County: Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Greene, Morgan, Scott, Marion (MO), Pike (MO) & Ralls (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Shinn. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shinn:
- Pike County (The home county of Shinn)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shinn, with the one closest to Shinn listed first.
- Kinderhook
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hull
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- New Canton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- New Canton is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Canton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
- Spencer
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Spencer is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
- Barry
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- El Dara
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Hadley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Hadley is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hadley
- Shepherd
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Shepherd is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepherd
- Rockport
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Baylis
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Atlas
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Atlas is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- Summer Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Summer Hill is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summer Hill
- Pike
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pike is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pike
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shinn, with the one closest to Shinn listed first.
- Plainville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Fall Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Fall Creek is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Creek
- Payson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Beverly
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Beverly is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
- Adams
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Adams is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Liberty
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Marblehead
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Marblehead is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marblehead
- Burton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Burton is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton
- Columbus
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Columbus is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
- Kellerville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Kellerville is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerville
- Quincy
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ewbanks
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Ewbanks is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewbanks
- Fowler
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Brown County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shinn, with the one closest to Shinn listed first.
- Mound Station
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mound Station is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Timewell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hersman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hersman is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersman
- Gilbirds
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Gilbirds is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbirds
- Mount Sterling
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Versailles
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Calhoun County
- Belleview
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Belleview is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
- Scott County
- Naples
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Audrain County (MO)
- Vandalia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lewis County (MO)
- Maywood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Maywood is located in Lewis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
- Marion County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shinn, with the one closest to Shinn listed first.
- Cave City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Cave City is located in Marion County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave City
- Hannibal
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Oakwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Oakwood is located in Marion County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Helton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Helton is located in Marion County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
- Dodge City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dodge City is located in Marion County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Palmyra
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Taylor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Monroe County (MO)
- Monroe City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Pike County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shinn, with the one closest to Shinn listed first.
- Ashburn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Ashburn is located in Pike County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashburn
- Population from the 2010 Census: 52 people
- Frankford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Louisiana
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Tarrants
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Tarrants is located in Pike County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarrants
- Population from the 2010 Census: 22 people
- Bowling Green
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Curryville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Curryville is located in Pike County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curryville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
- Calumet
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Calumet is located in Pike County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calumet
- Clarksville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cyrene
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Cyrene is located in Pike County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cyrene
- New Harmony
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- New Harmony is located in Pike County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Harmony
- Ashley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Ashley is located in Pike County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley
- Ralls County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shinn, with the one closest to Shinn listed first.
- Saverton
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Saverton is located in Ralls County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saverton
- New London
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rensselaer
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Rensselaer is located in Ralls County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rensselaer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- Center
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Madisonville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Madisonville is located in Ralls County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonville
- The Landing
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- The Landing is located in Ralls County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Landing
- Shaver Ford ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Shaver Ford is located in Ralls County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaver Ford
- Greenlawn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Greenlawn is located in Ralls County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlawn
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shinn, see our County-by-County Page for Shinn.
Cemeteries Near Shinn ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shinn.
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 Shinn - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shinn covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shinn, with the one closest to Shinn listed first.
- Gard Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Kinderhook Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Long Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Akers Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Shearer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- House Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Morey Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Journey Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Hull Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Centenary Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jolly Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Brewster - Ross Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (403 more) ...
- Stoney Point Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Blair Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Park Lawn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Shinn had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Shinn, with the one closest to Shinn listed first.
- Kinderhook
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hull
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- New Canton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- New Canton is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Canton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
- Saverton
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Saverton is located in Ralls County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saverton
- Busch
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Busch is located in Pike County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busch
- Barry
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Seehorn
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Seehorn is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seehorn
- Plainville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Aladdin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Aladdin is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aladdin
- Salt River
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Salt River is located in Ralls County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salt River
- Ashburn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Ashburn is located in Pike County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashburn
- Population from the 2010 Census: 52 people
- Richfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Richfield is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richfield
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Payson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- El Dara
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Hadley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Hadley is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hadley
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shinn. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shinn.
Newspapers Published in Shinn ...
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 119 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shinn.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shinn, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shinn.
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 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 Shinn:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Pike County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Brown County
- Calhoun County
- Scott County
- Audrain County
- Lewis County
- Marion County
- Monroe County
- Pike County
- Ralls County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Illinois
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 Shinn, 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 from Point A (ie- Shinn) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |