Clark County, Illinois Genealogy

Guide to Clark County, Illinois ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
Clark County was named for George Rogers Clark, who was a Colonel of the Virginia militia that captured the Northwest Territory from the British during the Revolutionary War. The county is located in the east-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Clark County Courthouse 501 Archer Ave Marshall, IL 62441 Phone: 217-826-2811 Clark County Courthouse County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Clark County are kept, see the Clark County Courthouse page.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

Biographies
The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Clark County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Clark County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

Census Records
 Federal

 1840 Pensioners
 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. Washington, D.C., 1841. ; . Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Illinois, Clark County on page 186.

Church Records
 List of Churches and Church Parishes Church records can give birth, death and marriage information as well as indictate family relationships. See Illinois state wiki article Church Records for more ideas about how to use church records in your research.
 * The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Clark County edition. Internet Archive. Free Digital Copy. Local church history is found in the church history chapter beginning on page 670. For additional available copies, see the Wiki article Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois.
 * Gertrude S. Wheeler. Illinois, Clark County Genealogical Records: Bible, Cemetery, Church, Family. Manuscript with film. Other Libraries (WordCat)
 * Zschau, Ellen Rowe. A Collection of Histories of theCchurches of Clark County, Illinois. Marshall, Ill. : Clark County Genealogical Society, 1978.Other Libraries (WorldCat)
 * Clark County Church Directory courtesty of Genealogy Trails

 Methodist
 * Dolson Chapel Methodist Church Courtesy of USGenWeb. Church history, lists some members.
 * Plymouth Methodist Church Courtesy of Rootsweb. Church history, lists some members.
 * 1883 Report of Melrose Sunday School Convention. Courtesy of Rootsweb. Member lists

 Methodist Episcopal
 * Wesley Chapel Courtesy of Illinois GenWeb. Church history, lists some members.

 Presbyterian
 * Baliff Church Courtesy of Illinois GenWeb. Church history, lists some pastors.

 United Brethren
 * Histories of Former E.U.B. and United Methodist Churches, Rural Areas, Casey, Illinois. Manuscript. 1978. Other Libraries (WorldCat)

FamilySearch Places

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
 African Americans
 * African American Research (US) has more information about the kinds of records
 * Illinois African-American Resource Guide by the Illinois State Archives describes what records are at the State Archives with an online method for ordering records.
 * African-American Resources for Illinois

Land and Property Records
Illinois Land and Property for more information. Online Land Indexes and Records 1818-present The original land and property records for Clark County are held by the Clark. The following copies are available:
 * 1818-1890 at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1821-1930 at FamilySearch Catalog
 * Garver, Mazie M. Extract of Land Grant Record for Clark County, Illinois. Typescript
 * 1796-1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry ($)
 * 1800s – Present Use the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land Patent Index to obtain original federal land transfer records, including homestead, military warrants, and cash entry patents. These records help a researcher establish location and lead to National Archives’ records which may include genealogical information. Earlier land transfer records are at the National Archives.
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)
 * Clark County Federal Township Plats
 * Clark County Land Deed Records

Local Histories
The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Clark County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Clark County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
 * 1892, 1947 Clark County Platbook. Courtesy of Rootsweb.
 * Clark County Federal Township Plats
 * Rockford Map Publishers. Land Atlas &amp; Plat Book, Clark County, Illinois, 1979. Rockford, Illinois: Rockford Map Publishers, 1967. Other Libraries (WorldCat)
 * Family Search Places


 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
 Civil War Regiments. Civil War service men from Clark County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Clark County.
 * - 10th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies G and H
 * - 21st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H
 * - 30th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F
 * - 62nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C
 * - 70th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G
 * - 79th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies F and I
 * - 123rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies E, F, and G
 * - 130th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K
 * - 152nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865), Company G

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1856-1991 Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 at Ancestry - index and images ($)

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

Obituaries

 * Selected Clark County Obituaries at IL GenWeb
 * Wabash Valley Obituary Index. Sponsored by the Vigo County Indiana Library.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1772-1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1819-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1840-1976 Probate, Will, Guardian, Conservator and Chancery Records.
 * 1841-1847 Garver, Mazie M. Probate Record Journal, Vol. 3, 1841 to 1847. Marshall, Illinois: Clark County Genealogical Society (Illinois), 1975. Online at:, also at Other Libraries (WorldCat)
 * See Illinois Probate Records for more information.

Birth

 * 1877–present The original Clark County birth records 1877- present are housed in the office of the County Clerk.
 * 1877-1906 Birth Record - IRAD-EIU Search for Clark County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1877-1913 Birth Record Index – IRAD-EIU Search for Clark County records.

Marriage

 * 1819–present The original Clark County marriage records 1819-present are housed in the office of the County Clerk.
 * 1819-1899 Marriage Record - IRAD-EIU Search for Clark County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1810-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1819-1838 Early Marriages, Book 1. Courtesy of Genealogy Trails.
 * 1819-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 (1848-June 1899 for Clark County)
 * 1819-1850  Early Marriage Index. Courtesy of Rootsweb. Alphabetical by groom.
 * 1819-1850  Illinois Marriages Ancestry ($)
 * 1851-1900 Illinois Marriages Ancestry ($)

Death

 * 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1800's Clark County Deaths reported in newspapers. Courtesy of Illinois GenWeb.
 * 1800's Clark County Deaths Extracted from "The Herald".Courtesy of Illinois GenWeb.
 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1877–present The original Clark County death records 1877-present are housed in the office of the County Clerk.
 * 1877-1911 Death Record - IRAD-EIU Search for Clark County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1877-1911 Death Record Index - IRAD-EIU Search for Clark County records.
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHertitage($) (Dec 1877-Jan 1911 for Clark County)
 * 1916-1950 Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916-1950 (1916-1950 for Clark County)
 * 1916-1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * 1951-1971 Illinois Death Certificates, 1951–1971 at Illinois State Archives - index

Archives
Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) The Illinois State Archives administers a system of Illinois Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD) to manage the archival records of local governments. Local governments which have transferred records to the regional depositories include counties, townships, municipalities, and school districts. The records of Clark County come under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) regional depository. Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) Booth Library 600 Lincoln Avenue Charleston, IL 61920 Phone: 217-581-6093

The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Clark County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Clark County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

FamilySearch Centers

 * Mattoon Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Terre Haute Indiana FamilySearch Center
 * Marshall Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Sullivan County Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Vigo County Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
'''Casey Twp. Library''' 307 E Main Casey, IL 62420 Phone: 217–932–2105 Website Clark County Genealogical Library 521 Locust Street, Marshall, IL 62441 Phone: 217–826-2864 The Clark County Genealogical Library will close this summer (2023). Its holdings will be transferred to the Marshall Public Library (see below). The holdings include extensive newspaper records, most of the extracts have been indexed; an incredible selection of family histories, the majority of which are also indexed; information on cemeteries of the county and listings of burials up to around 1972, and census indexes. Marshall Public Library 612 Archer Avenue Marshall, IL 62441 Phone: 217–826–2535 Website This library holds microfilm of all local newspapers since the Civil War. Martinsville Public Library District 120 E. Cumberland St. Martinsville, IL 62442 Phone: 217–382–4113 Facebook West Union District Library 209 W. Union Street West Union, IL 62477 Phone: 217–279–3556 Facebook

Societies
Clark County Genealogical Society 521 Locust St. Marshall, IL 62441 Phone: 217-826-2864 Facebook Website Clark County Historical Society 402 S 4th Street Marshall, IL 62441 Phone: 217-382-4502 Facebook Website

Websites

 * Clark County IL Genealogy
 * USGenWeb Clark County, IL
 * Clark County, IL Linkpendium
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.