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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Paragon. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Paragon to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Paragon, please Contact Us.

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 Paragon (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 Paragon. 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 Parishes/Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring parishes/counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northeast corner of their home parish. During their lives, most doctors were in the next parish to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the parish to the north.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring parishes/counties instead of the parish in which they lived:  their home parish contained property and probate records; the parish to the east contained birth and death records; the parish to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring parishes/counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Although our information shows that the community of Paragon is historic, it would have been located within present day De Soto Parish.

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

The following parishes adjoin and form the boundaries of De Soto Parish: Caddo, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, Panola (TX) & Shelby (TX).

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

  • De Soto Parish     (The home parish of Paragon)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Paragon, with the one closest to Paragon listed first.
    • Stanley
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Stanley is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Logansport
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Longstreet
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Screamerville ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Screamerville is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Screamerville
    • Grand Cane
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • South Mansfield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • South Mansfield is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Mansfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
    • Keachi
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Keachi is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keachi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
    • Mansfield
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Oxford
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Oxford is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
    • Gloster
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Pelican
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Stonewall
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
  • Caddo Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Paragon, with the one closest to Paragon listed first.
    • Spring Ridge
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Spring Ridge is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Ridge
    • Keithville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Bethany
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • South Towne Heights
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • South Towne Heights is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Towne Heights
  • Red River Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Paragon, with the one closest to Paragon listed first.
    • Abington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Abington is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abington
    • Westdale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Westdale is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westdale
    • Harmon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Sabine Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Paragon, with the one closest to Paragon listed first.
    • Converse
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Noble
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Hamlin ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Hamlin is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
    • Pleasant Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Zwolle
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Bayou Scie
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Bayou Scie is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Scie
    • Belmont
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Panola County (TX)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Paragon, with the one closest to Paragon listed first.
    • Woods
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Woods is located in Panola County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods
    • Midyett
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Midyett is located in Panola County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midyett
    • Gary City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Carthage
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • De Berry
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Murvaul
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Murvaul is located in Panola County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murvaul
    • Panola
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Buncome
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Buncome is located in Panola County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buncome
  • Shelby County (TX)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Paragon, with the one closest to Paragon listed first.
    • Haslam
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Haslam is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haslam
    • Joaquin
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Campti
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Campti is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campti
    • Huxley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Huxley is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huxley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
    • Shelbyville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Africa ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Africa is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Africa
    • Center
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Center is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,043 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Center <2>
    • Tenaha
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Tenaha is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenaha
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,134 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tenaha <2>
    • Choice
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Choice is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choice
    • Short
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Short is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
    • Arcadia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Arcadia is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
    • Timpson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Timpson is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timpson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,130 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Timpson <2>

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

Cemeteries Near Paragon ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Paragon.

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

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

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

  • Spanish Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Price Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Johnson Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Ashton Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Prude Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Ashton Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Cook Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Price Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Barber Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Shady Grove Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (170 more) ...
    • Ebenezer Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Friendship Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Union Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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.

While we didn't find Paragon in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Paragon.

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

  • Logansport
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Cook ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Cook is located in De Soto Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook
  • Joaquin
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Longstreet
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Lula
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Lula is located in De Soto Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lula
  • Grand Cane
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Mansfield
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Keachi
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Keachi is located in De Soto Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keachi
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
  • Shelbyville
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Oxford
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Oxford is located in De Soto Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
  • Gloster
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
  • Deadwood
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Deadwood is located in Panola County (TX)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deadwood
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Center
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Center is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,043 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Center <2>
    • Tenaha
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Tenaha is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenaha
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,134 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tenaha <2>
    • Woods
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Woods is located in Panola County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods

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

Newspapers Published in Paragon ...

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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Paragon.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Paragon, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Paragon.

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 Paragon:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Paragon, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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- Paragon) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.