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 Shafter (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 Shafter. 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 southeast 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 south.
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 south 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.
Shafter is located in Linn County.
To see how the shape of Missouri's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Linn County: Adair, Chariton, Grundy, Livingston, Macon & Sullivan.
Below are the counties that are near Shafter. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shafter:
- Linn County (The home county of Shafter)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shafter, with the one closest to Shafter listed first.
- Haseville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Haseville is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haseville
- Purdin
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Purdin is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purdin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 176 people
- Browning
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Browning is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browning
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Linneus
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Linneus is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linneus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
- Meadville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Meadville is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 425 people
- Laclede
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Brookfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fountain Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Fountain Grove is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Grove
- Forker
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Forker is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forker
- New Boston
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- New Boston is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
- Bucklin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bucklin is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucklin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 431 people
- Marceline
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Adair County
- Nind ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Nind is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nind
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shafter, with the one closest to Shafter listed first.
- Hale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Hale is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 391 people
- Asper ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Asper is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asper
- Chariton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shafter, with the one closest to Shafter listed first.
- Sumner
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Rothville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rothville is located in Chariton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rothville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Mendon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Mendon is located in Chariton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
- Daviess County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shafter, with the one closest to Shafter listed first.
- Jamesport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Lock Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Lock Springs is located in Daviess County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lock Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shafter, with the one closest to Shafter listed first.
- Laredo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Laredo is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laredo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
- Galt
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dunlap
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Dunlap is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlap
- Trenton
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Hickory Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Hickory Creek is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Creek
- Tindall
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Tindall is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tindall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Spickard
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Brimson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Brimson is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brimson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 59 people
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shafter, with the one closest to Shafter listed first.
- Chula
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Farmersville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Farmersville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmersville
- Wheeling
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Wheeling is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 263 people
- Chillicothe
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bedford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Bedford is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedford
- Avalon
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Avalon is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avalon
- Utica
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Utica is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utica
- Population from the 2020 Census: 250 people
- Dawn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mooresville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mooresville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooresville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shafter, with the one closest to Shafter listed first.
- Hart
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Hart is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hart
- Goldsberry
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Goldsberry is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goldsberry
- Lingo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lingo is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lingo
- Ethel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Mercer County
- Modena
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Modena is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modena
- Sullivan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shafter, with the one closest to Shafter listed first.
- Humphreys
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Humphreys is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humphreys
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Osgood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Osgood is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osgood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Milan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Owasco
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Owasco is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owasco
- Winigan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Winigan is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winigan
- Harris
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Boynton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Boynton is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
- Sticklerville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sticklerville is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sticklerville
- Green City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Green City is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 582 people
- Newtown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Pollock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Pollock is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pollock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 79 people
- Greencastle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shafter, see our County-by-County Page for Shafter.
Cemeteries Near Shafter ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shafter.
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 Shafter - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shafter covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shafter, with the one closest to Shafter listed first.
- Smith Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Haseville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hooker Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Van Horne Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Dry Ridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Calhoun Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Van Home Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Prather Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Parsons Creek Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Purdin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Southerland Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (241 more) ...
- Gooch Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Merryman Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dryden Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
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 Shafter in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Shafter.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Shafter, with the one closest to Shafter listed first.
- Haseville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Haseville is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haseville
- Eversonville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Eversonville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eversonville
- Purdin
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Purdin is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purdin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 176 people
- Browning
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Browning is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browning
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Alpha
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Alpha is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
- Lindley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Lindley is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindley
- Linneus
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Linneus is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linneus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
- Laredo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Laredo is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laredo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
- Niantic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Niantic is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Niantic
- Humphreys
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Humphreys is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humphreys
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Chula
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Galt
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Cora
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cora is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cora
- Leverton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Leverton is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leverton
- Reger
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Reger is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reger
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shafter. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shafter.
Newspapers Published in Shafter ...
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 80 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shafter.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shafter, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shafter.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Shafter:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Linn County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adair County
- Carroll County
- Chariton County
- Daviess County
- Grundy County
- Livingston County
- Macon County
- Mercer County
- Sullivan County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Missouri
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 Shafter, 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 from Point A (ie- Shafter) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |