RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Texas >> Shelby County >> Duff >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Duff (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 Duff. 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/Parishes ...

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

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and 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/parishes 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/parishes, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

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

Duff is located in Shelby County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Shelby County: De Soto (LA), Sabine (LA), Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Sabine & San Augustine.

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

  • Shelby County     (The home county of Duff)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Duff, with the one closest to Duff listed first.
    • Choice
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Choice is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choice
    • Short
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Short is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
    • Africa ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Africa is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Africa
    • Shelbyville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Center
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Campti
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Campti is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campti
    • Arcadia
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Arcadia is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
    • Huxley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Huxley is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huxley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
    • Tenaha
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Haslam
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Haslam is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haslam
    • Joaquin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Timpson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
  • Angelina County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Duff, with the one closest to Duff listed first.
    • Ewing
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Ewing is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewing
    • Thomas Crossing
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Thomas Crossing is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Crossing
    • Ora
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Ora is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora
  • Nacogdoches County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Duff, with the one closest to Duff listed first.
    • Attoyac
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Attoyac is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attoyac
    • Chireno
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Martinsville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Swift
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Swift is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swift
    • Garrison
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Whispering Pines
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Whispering Pines is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whispering Pines
    • Fitze
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Fitze is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitze
    • Etoile
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Woden
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Appleby
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Appleby is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 444 people
  • Panola County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Duff, with the one closest to Duff listed first.
    • Woods
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Woods is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods
    • Gary City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Rusk County
    • Caledonia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Caledonia is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
  • Sabine County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Duff, with the one closest to Duff listed first.
    • Geneva
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Rosevine
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Rosevine is located in Sabine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosevine
    • Bronson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Milam
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Hemphill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Pineland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • San Augustine County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Duff, with the one closest to Duff listed first.
    • San Augustine
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Denning
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Denning is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denning
    • Maxey Town
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Maxey Town is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxey Town
    • Rebecca
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Rebecca is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rebecca
    • Broaddus
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • White City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • White City is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
    • Zana ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Zana is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zana
  • De Soto Parish (LA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Duff, with the one closest to Duff listed first.
    • Logansport
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Stanley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Stanley is located in De Soto Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
  • Sabine Parish (LA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Duff, with the one closest to Duff listed first.
    • Converse
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Noble
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Noble is located in Sabine Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noble
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Noble <1>
    • Zwolle
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Zwolle is located in Sabine Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zwolle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,927 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Zwolle <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Duff ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Duff.

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

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

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

  • Whitton Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Neuville Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Neuvine Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Borders Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Holt Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • McCadley Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Greer Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Old Buckner Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Adams Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Creech Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Sinclair Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Hamilton Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (246 more) ...
    • Clay Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Center Ridge Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Nicholson Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)

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.<4>

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

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

  • Ironosa
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Ironosa is located in San Augustine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironosa
  • Short
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Short is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
  • San Augustine
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Patroon
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Patroon is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patroon
  • Shelbyville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Denning
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Denning is located in San Augustine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denning
  • Center
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Sexton
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Sexton is located in Sabine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexton
  • Macune
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Macune is located in San Augustine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macune
  • Chireno
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Geneva
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Martinsville
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • East Hamilton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • East Hamilton is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hamilton
    • Huber
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Huber is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huber
    • Swift
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Swift is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swift

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

Newspapers Published in Duff ...

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 42 newspapers that have been published in the area around Duff.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Duff, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Duff.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Duff:

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>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Duff) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<4>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 Duff, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.