Monroe County, Illinois Genealogy

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

Monroe County Organization
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Monroe County are kept, see the Monroe County Courthouse page.

Historical Facts
Monroe County is named for James Monroe who was the fifth president of the United States.

Parent County

 * 1816--Monroe County was created 6 January 1816 from Randolph and St. Clair Counties. County seat:  Waterloo

Description
The county was named for James Monroe, who had just served as United States Secretary of War and who was elected President later that same year. The county seat is Waterloo and the county was organized on 1816. The County is located in the Southwest area of the state.

Neighboring Counties

 * Jefferson County, Missouri
 * Randolph
 * Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri
 * St. Louis County, Missouri
 * St. Clair

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Illinois county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Illinois County Boundary Maps" (1790-1869) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Records Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Biography

 * All of the Monroe County, Illinois family biographies from The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois (1894) published by Biographical Publishing Co. are available free online at My Genealogy Hound.

Cemeteries
The following web sites have additional information on Monroe county cemeteries.


 * ePodunk by Epodunk.com has a list of cemeteries.

Census
For tips on accessing census records online, see Illinois Census.

1840 Pensioners

 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. Washington, D.C., 1841. ; ; digital version at Google Books. [See Illinois, Monroe County on page 187.]

Church Records
Copies of Original records


 * 1806–1959 Bethel Baptist Church history and minutes


 * 1856–1896 St. Johannis Gemeine church- has baptisms marriages and deaths [in German]


 * 1875–1972 Yankeetown Presbyterian Church records of baptisms, marriages, and deaths.


 * 1877–1948 Salem Evangelical Church

Catholic
FamilySearch has made parish records from seven Belleville Diocese Catholic churches in Monroe County available online (free registration is required). The records include first communions, confirmations, marriages, and deaths:


 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * Church Records of Immaculate Conception and St Francis Parish for the townships of Madonnaville and Harrisonville, Monroe County, Illinois can be found through the digital project of the Illinois Diocese of Belleville Catholic Parish Recordsonline.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * Church records of St. mary of Seven Dolors (Sorrows) Parish for Valmeyer, Monroe County, Illinois can be found through the digital project of the Illinois Diocese of Belleville Catholic Parish Recordsonline.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * ,Baptism, Confirmations, First Communion, Marriages, browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * ,Deaths, browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.

Evangelical

 * Buecher, Robert. Salem Evangelical Church, Bluff Precinct, Monroe County, IL Marriage Index, 1877-1930, courtesy: ILGenWeb

Additional Resources
Additional resources for Monroe County church records may be found in the. Histories of area churches may be found in the. Online microfilm are indicated by the camera icon in the catalog entry. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Court Records
Original court records are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Court Records for more information about using court records.

The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through online sources, the Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Monroe County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

General Abstracts


 * 1877–1963 Vaseska, Pat. Common law book: 1877–1963. Columbia, Illinois: P. Vaseska, c2006. Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1816 Flynn, Janet M. Minutes of the organization of Monroe County, Illinois, January 6, 1816. Columbia, Illinois: Monroe County Geneal. Society, [1997]. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Abstracts from the Chancery Court


 * 1816–1863 Veath, Phyllis K. Monroe County Illinois chancery: section A. Evansville, Illinois: P.K. Veath, [200-?] - 2005.Evansville, Illinois: P.K. Veath, [200-?] - 2005. Other libraries (WorldCat) 
 * 1817–1870 Veath, Phyllis K. Monroe County, Illinois chancery records: section A. Evansville, Illinois: P.K. Veath, [200-?].
 * 1835–1963 Flynn, Janet M. and Pat Vaseska. Monroe County chancery records. [S.l.]: J.M. Flynn, c2005-2006. Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * Flynn, Janet and Pat Vaseska. Chancery Cases Surname Index (Book 1, 1835-1905), courtesy: ILGenWeb
 * Veath, Phyllis. Chancery Index 1852-1859, Section A Box 70, courtesy: ILGenWeb
 * Flynn, Janet and Pat Vaseska. Chancery Court Records A73 &amp; A75-A80 Book #2, courtesy: ILGenWeb
 * Flynn, Janet and Pat Vaseska. Chancery Court Records A81 - A89 Book #3, courtesy: ILGenWeb
 * Flynn, Janet and Pat Vaseska. Chancery Court Records A-90 to B3 Book #4, courtesy: ILGenWeb
 * Flynn, Janet and Pat Vaseska. Chancery Court Records Drawers B-4 thru B-15 Book #5, courtesy: ILGenWeb
 * Flynn, Janet and Pat Vaseska. Chancery Court Records Drawers B-16 thru B-31 Book #6, courtesy: ILGenWeb
 * Flynn, Janet and Pat Vaseska. Chancery Court Records Drawers B-32 thru B-47 Book #7, courtesy: ILGenWeb

Abstracts from the Justice Court


 * Ritter, Vernon. Justice Court Records (Justice of the Peace) Monroe County, Illinois, courtesy: ILGenWeb

African American
The following have information concerning African American research.


 * African American Research (US) has more information about the kinds of records
 * Illinois State Archives pamphlet on African American Research describes records at the State Archives with an online method for ordering records.
 * African-American Resources for Illinois
 * http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17133.html

Local Histories

 * Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the Counties: Together with Biographies and Portraits of All the Presidents of the United States, and the Governors of the State of Illinois. Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1894. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Internet Archive. For additional access, see WeRelate.

Land and Property
Original land records are held in the office of the County Recorder. See Illinois Land and Property for more information about using land records.

The following abtracts and copies of original records may be accessed through online sources, the Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Monroe County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

Online Resources


 * Beginning 1820 Land Patent Search See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database.
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
 * 1796–1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry.com ($)
 * Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)
 * Monroe County Federal Township Plats

Abstracts


 * 1816–1840 Veath, Phyllis K. Monroe Co., Illinois deed index: books A,B,C,D 1816–1840. Evansville, Illinois : P.K. Veath, 2001. Other libraries (WorldCat)


 * 1848–1872 Miles, Stephen W., Pat Vseska, Elma Baumann, and Janet M. Flynn. S.W. Miles journal and land lease records.

Copies of original records are available


 * 1807–1838 Supreme Court docket and minutes
 * 1816–1900 Grantor and Grantee index
 * 1816–1963 Deed index IRAD (SIU)
 * 1816–1900 Deeds
 * 1816–1963 Deed record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1854–1870 Swampland record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1910–1917 Stallion registration record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1986 Rockford Map Publishers. Land atlas and plat book, Monroe County, Illinois, 1986. Rockford, Illinois: Rockford Map Publishers, c1986. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Maps

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
 * Township Map of 1870 Monroe County, Illinois with numerous small settlements. (My Genealogy Hound)

Civil War
Civil War service men from Monroe County served in various regiments. Men often joined a regiment or a company (within a regiment)that originated in their county. Listed below are the military units that were formed in or had many men from Monroe County.


 * - 22nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.
 * - 130th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.
 * - 155th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.

Naturalization
Online Records


 * 1800-1998 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Private Papers
Bertille Brand Klein kept a diary or "news book" of her daily life in Hecker, Illinois from January 1930 (age 15 1/2) until December 1939 (age 25). She mentions many local family names with some birth and death dates. Her granddaughter Angie Kelly is digitizing this valuable resource. Visit Tillie's Tales to read this interesting journal (work in progress).

Probate Records
Online Probate Records
 * 1772 - 1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1819 - 1988 at FamilySearch.org — images

Original estates and wills are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Probate Records for more information about using probate records.

The following copies of original records may be accessed through the Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Monroe County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

Abstracts


 * 1816–1851 Veath, Phyllis K. Monroe County, Illinois will books. Evansville, Illinois : P.K. Veath, [1999?]. Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1852–1857 Veath, Phyllis K. Monroe Co., Illinois: administrators, bonds and guardianships, 1852-1857. Evansville, Illinois : P.K. Veath, 2002. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Copies of original records


 * 1819–1887 Probate Case Files IRAD (SIU)
 * 1820–1885 Estate files
 * 1845–1885 Index to estates
 * 1845–1894 Probate Record Index IRAD (SIU)

County Courthouse
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Monroe County are kept, see the Monroe County Courthouse page.

Family History Center
There are many Family History Centers in or near Monroe County, please check here for one close to you. For more information on Family History Centers and how they can assist you in your research, check out this page.


 * O’Fallon Illinois Family History Center 255 Fairwood Hills Rd. O’Fallon,, IL Phone: 618-632-0210


 * Alton Illinois Family History Center 6500 Humbert Rd Godfrey, IL Phone: 618-446-4352


 * St. Louis Missouri Family History Center 10445 W. Clayton Rd. Frontenac, Missouri 63131 Phone: 314-993-2328

Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)
IRAD is a system of Illinois Regional Archives Depositories managed by the Illinois State Archives, housing the archival records of local Illinois counties, townships, municipalities and school districts. The seven Regional Depositories are housed on state university campuses scattered throughout Illinois. Southern Illinois University houses the records for Monroe County.

Public Libraries
Columbia Public Library 106 North Metter Avenue Columbia, IL 62236 (618) 281-4237

Hecker Public Library 151 West Monroe Hecker, IL 62248 (618) 473-3022

Morrison-Talbott Library 215 Park Street Waterloo, IL 62298 (618)939-6232 Has genealogical resources

Valmeyer Public Library District 300 S. Cedar Bluff Drive Valmeyer, IL 62295 (618) 935-2626

Social Groups Online
Rootsweb message boardfor Monroe county has many information threads about families that resided in that county. There is a search engine that allows you to search by surname and topic. You can also post inquiries into ancestors that lived there.

Societies
Monroe County Genealogical Society PO Box 381 Columbia, IL 62236 Website

Vital Records
See Illinois Vital Records for more information about Vital records in Illinois. See also How to order Illinois Vital Records or order electronically online.

Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the Monroe County Clerk while those recorded after 1916 are kept by the Illinois Department of Public Health. with a copy to the County Clerk. Original marriage records are usually kept by the County Clerk from the establishment of the county to the present. Original divorce records are generally in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk.

The following abstracts and copies of original vital records may be accessed through online databases, the Family History Library and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Monroe County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

General

 * Las Vegas Family History Center. Index, marriage, birth and death records for the surname of Heller thru Henfling, Monroe County, Illinois. Las Vegas, Nevada: Las Vegas Family History Center, 1986.
 * Buecher, Robert. Salem Evangelical Church, Bluff Precinct, Monroe County, Illinois: baptism index, 1877–1932; confirmation index, 1878–1926; marriage index, 1877–1930, death index, 1877–1948. St. Louis, Missouri: R. Buecher, [2005?]. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Birth
Abstracts


 * Vaseska, Pat. Monroe County, Illinois birth index. Columbia, Illinois: P. Vaseska, c1997. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Copies of Original Records


 * 1868–1915 Birth Records
 * 1868–1915 Birth CertificatesIRAD (SIU)
 * 1877–1915 Birth record IRAD (SIU)

Marriage
Online Resources


 * 1587-1959 - Illinois, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
 * 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1810-1934 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1877–1930 Marriage index for Salem Evangelical Churchfound on ilgenweb.net

Abstracts


 * 1816–1877 Hotz, Roberta Sparwasser. Monroe County, Illinois, marriage records, 1816–1977. Thomson, Illinois: Heritage House, c1976. Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1816–1820 Veath, Phyllis K. Monroe County, Illinois 1820 census and 1816–1820 marriages. Evansville, Illinois: P.K. Veath, 1999. Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1816–1830 Veath, Phyllis K. Monroe Co., Illinois marriages 1816-1830. Evansville, Illinois: P.K. Veath, 1999. Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1878–1920 Vaseska, Pat. Monroe County, Illinois marriage index:1878–1920. Columbia, Illinois: P. Vaseska, c2001. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Copies of Original Records


 * 1816–1877, 1817–1866 Index
 * 1816–1877 Marriage Record Index IRAD (SIU)
 * 1816–1915 Marriage records
 * 1816–1916 Marriage records IRAD (SIU)

Deaths:
Online Resources
 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1850-1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885found at Ancestry.com ($)
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916
 * 1877-1948 Death Index for Salem Evangelical Churchfound on ilgenweb.net
 * 1884-1953 Death Index for Zoar United Church of Christfound on ilgenweb.net
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950

Abstracts


 * 1806-1879 Vaseka, Pat. Monroe County, Illinois, death index, 1806 to 1879. Columbia, Illinois : P. Vaseska, 1999. Other libraries (WorldCat) 

Copies of Original Records


 * 1877-1915 Death recordsIRAD (SIU)
 * 1878-1915 Death records

Websites

 * Monroe County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Monroe County IL Genealogy
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Monroe County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Monroe County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)