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 Sheppard (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 Sheppard. 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.
Sheppard is located in Jackson County.
To see how the shape of Wisconsin's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Jackson County: Clark, Eau Claire, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau & Wood.
Below are the counties that are near Sheppard. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sheppard:
- Jackson County (The home county of Sheppard)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheppard, with the one closest to Sheppard listed first.
- Black River Falls
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Black River Falls is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black River Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,454 people
- Millston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Millston is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 162 people
- Hatfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Hatfield is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
- Merrillan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Merrillan is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrillan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 522 people
- Alma Center
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Alma Center is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 491 people
- Melrose
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Melrose is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 476 people
- Hixton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hixton is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hixton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 417 people
- Sechlerville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sechlerville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sechlerville
- Lapham Junction
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Lapham Junction is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapham Junction
- Pray
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pray is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pray
- Taylor
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Taylor is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 473 people
- North Bend
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- North Bend is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bend
- Clark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheppard, with the one closest to Sheppard listed first.
- Humbird
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Humbird is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humbird
- Neillsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Neillsville is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neillsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,375 people
- Globe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Globe is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
- Granton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Granton is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 343 people
- Crawford County
- Lynxville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Lynxville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynxville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 125 people
- Eau Claire County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheppard, with the one closest to Sheppard listed first.
- Fairchild
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Fairchild is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairchild
- Population from the 2020 Census: 607 people
- Hay Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hay Creek is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hay Creek
- Juneau County
- Mather
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Mather is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mather
- La Crosse County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheppard, with the one closest to Sheppard listed first.
- Mindoro
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mindoro is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mindoro
- Rockland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Rockland is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 710 people
- Bangor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Bangor is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,442 people
- West Salem
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- West Salem is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,013 people
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheppard, with the one closest to Sheppard listed first.
- Warrens
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Warrens is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrens
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Angelo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Angelo is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angelo
- Tunnel City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Tunnel City is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnel City
- Sparta
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Sparta is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,800 people
- Tomah
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Tomah is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tomah
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,363 people
- Valley Junction
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Valley Junction is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Junction
- Wyeville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Wyeville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyeville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Oakdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Oakdale is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 290 people
- Shennington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Shennington is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shennington
- Norwalk
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Norwalk is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwalk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 633 people
- Trempealeau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheppard, with the one closest to Sheppard listed first.
- Blair
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Blair is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,330 people
- Pigeon Falls
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Pigeon Falls is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Ettrick
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Ettrick is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ettrick
- Population from the 2020 Census: 511 people
- Coral City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Coral City is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coral City
- Frenchville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Frenchville is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchville
- Whitehall
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Whitehall is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,565 people
- Osseo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Osseo is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osseo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,671 people
- Galesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Galesville is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,602 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sheppard, see our County-by-County Page for Sheppard.
Cemeteries Near Sheppard ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sheppard.
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 Sheppard - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sheppard covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sheppard, with the one closest to Sheppard listed first.
- Riverside Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Olson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- County Farm Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- St. Columkille Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Decorah Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Irving Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Brookside Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Stiehl Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Komensky Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hatfield Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Olson Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Knapp Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (122 more) ...
- Pine Creek Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Cataract Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Colwell Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Sheppard had railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sheppard, with the one closest to Sheppard listed first.
- Black River Falls
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Black River Falls is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black River Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,454 people
- Shamrock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Shamrock is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shamrock
- Irving
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Irving is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Lynxville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Lynxville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynxville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 125 people
- Millston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Millston is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 162 people
- Hatfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Hatfield is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
- Cataract
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Cataract is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cataract
- Waterbury
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Waterbury is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterbury
- Merrillan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Merrillan is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrillan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 522 people
- Melrose
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Melrose is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 476 people
- Alma Center
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Alma Center is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 491 people
- Hixton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hixton is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hixton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 417 people
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Sechlerville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sechlerville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sechlerville
- Lapham Junction
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Lapham Junction is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapham Junction
- Kirby
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Kirby is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirby
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sheppard. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sheppard.
Newspapers Published in Sheppard ...
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 75 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sheppard.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sheppard, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sheppard.
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 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 Sheppard:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Jackson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clark County
- Crawford County
- Eau Claire County
- Juneau County
- La Crosse County
- Monroe County
- Trempealeau County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Wisconsin
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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. |
| <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 Sheppard, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Sheppard) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |