 The Maddens resided near Shiloh , West Virginia , where Naylor found the abused dog in 1989 , so she decided to name the book 's dog Shiloh . Because the Maddens ' post office address is in Friendly , West Virginia , Naylor chose the town as her book 's setting . Trudy and Frank Madden adopted the abused dog Naylor had seen . Trudy Madden said in a 1997 interview that Naylor 's description of Shiloh , West Virginia , was precise . By following the directions in Shiloh and its sequels , the town 's houses , mill , and schoolhouse could be located easily . 
