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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 Shaw Mines (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 Shaw Mines. 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 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.

Shaw Mines is located in Somerset County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Somerset County: Allegany (MD), Garrett (MD), Bedford, Cambria, Fayette & Westmoreland.

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

  • Somerset County     (The home county of Shaw Mines)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shaw Mines, with the one closest to Shaw Mines listed first.
    • Meyersdale
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • West Meyersdale
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • West Meyersdale is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Meyersdale
    • Summit Mills
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Summit Mills is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit Mills
    • Boynton
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Boynton is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
    • Coal Run
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Coal Run is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Run
    • Glade City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Glade City is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glade City
    • Salisbury
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • West Salisbury
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • West Salisbury is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salisbury
    • Garrett
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Hays Mill
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Hays Mill is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hays Mill
    • Callimont
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Callimont is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callimont
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 38 people
    • Althouse
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Althouse is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Althouse
  • Bedford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shaw Mines, with the one closest to Shaw Mines listed first.
    • Cooks Mills
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Cooks Mills is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
    • Stringtown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Stringtown is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
    • Hyndman
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Kegg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Kegg is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kegg
    • Beans Cove
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Beans Cove is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Cove
    • Schellsburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Manns Choice
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Rainsburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Rainsburg is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rainsburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
    • New Paris
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Charlesville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Charlesville is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlesville
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shaw Mines, with the one closest to Shaw Mines listed first.
    • Seven Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Markleysburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Indian Head
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Indian Head is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Head
    • Ohiopyle
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Champion
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • White
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • White is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
    • Farmington
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Mount Washington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Mount Washington is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Washington
    • Elliottsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Elliottsville is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliottsville
  • Westmoreland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shaw Mines, with the one closest to Shaw Mines listed first.
    • Donegal
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Rector
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Stahlstown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Laughlintown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Laurel Mountain
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Laurel Mountain is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Mountain
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 153 people
      • Laurel Mountain has also been known as:
      • Laurel Mountain Park
  • Allegany County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shaw Mines, with the one closest to Shaw Mines listed first.
    • Frostburg
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Mount Savage
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Zihlman
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Zihlman is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zihlman
    • Barrelville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Barrelville is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrelville
    • Eckhart Mines
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Eckhart Mines is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eckhart Mines
    • Midlothian
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Midlothian is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midlothian
    • Klondike
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Klondike is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klondike
    • Borden Shaft
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Borden Shaft is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borden Shaft
    • Clarysville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Clarysville is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarysville
    • Loarville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Loarville is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loarville
    • Ocean
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Ocean is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocean
    • Woodland
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Woodland is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
  • Garrett County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shaw Mines, with the one closest to Shaw Mines listed first.
    • Grantsville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Avilton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Avilton is located in Garrett County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avilton
    • Bittinger
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Accident
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Friendsville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Bloomington
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Bloomington is located in Garrett County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomington
    • McHenry
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Swanton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Altamont
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Altamont is located in Garrett County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altamont
    • Kitzmiller
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Deer Park
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Hampshire County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shaw Mines, with the one closest to Shaw Mines listed first.
    • Donaldson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Donaldson is located in Hampshire County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donaldson
    • Springfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Mineral County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shaw Mines, with the one closest to Shaw Mines listed first.
    • Carpendale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Carpendale is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpendale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 900 people
    • Ridgeley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Wiley Ford
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Piedmont
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Short Gap
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Short Gap is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Gap
    • Windom ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Windom is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windom
    • Keyser
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Keyser is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyser
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,863 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Keyser <1>
    • Fort Ashby
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Shaw
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Shaw is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw
    • Elk Garden
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Headsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Headsville is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Headsville
    • New Creek
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Preston County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shaw Mines, with the one closest to Shaw Mines listed first.
    • Hazelton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Orr
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Orr is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orr
    • Clifton Mills
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Clifton Mills is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton Mills

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

Cemeteries Near Shaw Mines ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shaw Mines.

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 Shaw Mines - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Union Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Reformed Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Highland Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Garrett Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • St. Pauls Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Zion Reformed Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Zion Reformed Cemetery
    • The Mt. Zion Reformed Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Hays Reformed Cemetery
    • Mt. Zion - Hays Cemetery
    • Mt. Zion United Church of Christ (UCC) Cemetery
  • Merrbach Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Finzel Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Maple Glen Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Blocher Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Emmanuel Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (233 more) ...
    • Grantsville Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • St. Anns Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Lebanon Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)

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, Shaw Mines had railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Meyersdale
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • West Meyersdale
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • West Meyersdale is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Meyersdale
  • Summit Mills
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Summit Mills is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit Mills
  • Boynton
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Boynton is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
  • Salisbury Junction
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Salisbury Junction is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury Junction
  • West Salisbury
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • West Salisbury is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salisbury
  • Sand Patch
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Sand Patch is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Patch
  • Garrett
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Hays Mill
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hays Mill is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hays Mill
  • Pocahontas
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Pocahontas is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocahontas
  • Wittenberg
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Wittenberg is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wittenberg
  • Shober
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Shober is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shober
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Pine Hill
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Pine Hill is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Hill
    • Mineral Spring
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Mineral Spring is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Spring
    • Beachdale
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Beachdale is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beachdale

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

Newspapers Published in Shaw Mines ...

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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shaw Mines.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shaw Mines, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shaw Mines.

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 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 Shaw Mines:

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 Shaw Mines, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Shaw Mines) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.