Edgar County, Illinois Genealogy

 &#160; United States  Illinois Edgar County County Organization County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Edgar County are kept, see the Edgar County Courthouse page. Historical Facts The county received its name from the&#160;John Edgar who was involved in politics&#160;as a Justice of the Peace, Judge and delegate to the Legislature. He was&#160;believed to be the wealthiest man in Illinois.&#160; Boundary Changes 3 January 1823: Edgar County was created from Clark County. Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed.; Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002 , </li></ul> <ul><li>See an interactive map of Edgar County boundary changes</a>. </li></ul> Record Loss Places/Localities <span class="fck_mw_template"> To see a list of places in Edgar County, click on [Show], above. The preceding list of places includes incorporated cities and towns, unincorporated towns and communities, and place names that may have been used in family histories. Some have well-organized records and even have web sites. Some are simply social communities with no official records, but which may be referenced in small-town newspapers. The list is provided to help researchers identify localities within the county. Localities listed in red have no wiki page yet. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names. Records and Resources Biography The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois</a> has a Edgar County edition.&#160; This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Edgar County residents.&#160; See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes. Cemeteries <img src="/learn/wiki/en/images/b/b1/Gotoarrow.png" _fck_mw_filename="Gotoarrow.png" alt="" /> Illinois Cemeteries</a> for more information. <img src="/learn/wiki/en/images/b/b1/Gotoarrow.png" _fck_mw_filename="Gotoarrow.png" alt="" /> Find A Grave</a>, list of cemeteries</a>. Additional information can be found at local level (city, township, etc.) <ul><li>Edgar Co. IL USGenWeb Tombstone Project</a> usually gives the names of the deceased in alphabetical order by last name with birth and death dates plus any remarks. </li><li>USGenWeb, Edgar County, Illinois</a>, Edgar County Cemeteries </li></ul> <ul><li>Illinois Cemeteries</a> by county. </li></ul> Census For information and tips on using and accessing online census records, see Illinois Census</a>. Federal <span class="fck_mw_template"> 1840 Pensioners <ul><li>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. <span class="fck_mw_template"> ; <span class="fck_mw_template"> ; digital version at Google Books</a>. [See Illinois, Edgar County on page 186.] </li></ul> Church Copies of Original records <dl><dd><ul><li>1899 Little Grove Church <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li></ul> </dd></dl> Court Records Ethnic Research African American The following have information concerning African American research. <ul><li>African American Research</a> (US) has more information about the kinds of records </li></ul> <ul><li>Illinois State Archives pamphlet on African American Research</a> describes what records are at the State Archives with an online method for ordering records. </li><li>African-American Resources for Illinois</a> </li></ul> Genealogy History <ul><li>Every Name Index to History of Edgar County, Illinois</a>&#160; Every Name Index compiled by Cathy L. O'Connor, 2012, original text by William E. E. Baron, Jr., 1879, reproduction by Unigraphic, Inc., 1968.&#160; EveryNameIndex.com</a> </li></ul>

<ul><li>Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois</a>&#160;&#160;has a Edgar County edition.&#160; This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Edgar County residents.&#160; See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes. </li></ul> Land and Property Original land records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See <a _fcknotitle="true" href="Illinois Land and Property">Illinois Land and Property</a> for more information about using land records. The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through online sources, the <a href="The Family History Library">Family History Library</a> or the <a href="http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html">Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)</a> located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Edgar County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the <a href="IRAD - Eastern Illinois University">EIU IRAD Wiki page.</a> Copies of Original Records <dl><dd><ul><li>1824-1920 Edgar County (Illinois) Recorder, Deeds, 1824-1920; index to deeds, 1827-1891. <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li><li>1823-1919 Deed Index <a href="http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html">IRAD-EIU</a> </li><li>1823-1894 Deed Record <a href="http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html">IRAD-EIU</a> </li><li>1823-1838 Taxable Lands List <a href="http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html">IRAD-EIU</a> </li></ul> </dd></dl> Abstracts <dl><dd><ul><li>Ogle, George A. Standard atlas of Edgar County, Illinois: including a plat book of the villages, cities and townships of the county; patrons directory (Evansville, Indiana:Unigraphic, 1974.) <span class="fck_mw_template"> ; <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li><li>Compiled and published by the American Atlas Co., Plat book of Edgar County, Illinois (Evansville, Indiana:Unigraphic, 1974.) <span class="fck_mw_template"> ; <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li><li>1987 Edgar County (Illinois) land atlas and plat book, 1987 (Rockford, Illinois:Rockford Map Publishers, c1987.) <span class="fck_mw_template"> ; <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li></ul> </dd></dl> Online Resources <dl><dd><ul><li><a href="http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/data_lan.html">Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales</a> See <a href="Illinois Land and Property#State_Records">Illinois Land and Property</a> for more information about this database. Also available at <a href="http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3780">Ancestry</a> ($) </li><li><a href="http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/irad/township_maps/edgar_map.html">Edgar County Federal Township Plats</a> </li><li>1800s – Present - Use the <a href="http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx">Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land Patent Index</a> to obtain original federal land transfer records, including homestead, military warrants, and cash entry <a href="Land Patent Search">patents</a>. 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. </li><li><a href="http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/edgar/publicland.htm">USGenWeb</a>, Edgar County, Illinois, Public Land Records </li><li><a href="http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/edgar/tax.htm">USGenWeb</a>, Edgar County, Illinois, Tax Records (circa 1878) </li></ul> </dd></dl> Maps <dl><dd><ul><li><a href="http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/irad/township_maps/edgar_map.html">Edgar County Federal Township Plats</a> </li></ul> </dd></dl> Military The <a href="Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois">Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois</a> has an Edgar County edition.&#160; This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Edgar County residents.&#160; See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes. Civil War Civil War service men from Edgar 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 Edgar County. <dl><dd>- <a href="7th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry">7th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry</a>, Company A. </dd><dd>- <a href="12th Regiment, Illinois Infantry">12th Regiment, Illinois Infantry</a>, Company E. </dd><dd>- <a href="12th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861)">12th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861)</a>, Company E. </dd><dd>- <a href="21st Regiment, Illinois Infantry">21st Regiment, Illinois Infantry</a>, Company F. </dd><dd>- <a href="25th Regiment, Illinois Infantry">25th Regiment, Illinois Infantry</a>, Company A. </dd><dd>- <a href="29th Regiment, Illinois Infantry">29th Regiment, Illinois Infantry</a>, Company H. </dd><dd>- <a href="34th Regiment, Illinois Infantry">34th Regiment, Illinois Infantry</a>, Company K. </dd><dd>- <a href="54th Regiment, Illinois Infantry">54th Regiment, Illinois Infantry</a>, Companies F and K. </dd><dd>- <a href="59th Regiment, Illinois Infantry">59th Regiment, Illinois Infantry</a>, Companies B and H. </dd><dd>- <a href="62nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry">62nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry</a>, Company K. </dd><dd>- <a href="64th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (Yates' Sharpshooters)">64th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (Yates’ Sharpshooters)</a>, Company H. </dd><dd>- <a href="66th Regiment, Illinois Infantry">66th Regiment, Illinois Infantry</a>, Company E. </dd><dd>- <a href="70th Regiment, Illinois Infantry">70th Regiment, Illinois Infantry</a>, Company G. </dd><dd>- <a href="79th Regiment, Illinois Infantry">79th Regiment, Illinois Infantry</a>, Companies A, C, D and H. </dd><dd>- <a href="130th Regiment, Illinois Infantry">130th Regiment, Illinois Infantry</a>, Company E. </dd><dd>- <a href="135th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864)">135th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864)</a>, Company C. </dd><dd>- <a href="150th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865)">150th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865)</a>, Company C. </dd></dl> <ul><li>Parkinson, Scott, ''Edgar County Illinois in the Civil War, 1861-1865 (1988). ''(Thesis [M.A.]-- Eastern Illinois University, 1988). View online at <a href="http://www.archive.org/stream/edgarcountyillin00park#page/n7/mode/2up">Internet Archives</a>. (accessed 2 Jun 2010) </li></ul> Naturalization Original naturalization records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See <a href="Illinois Naturalization and Citizenship">Illinois Naturalization Records</a> for more information about using naturalization records. The following copies of original records may be accessed through the <a href="The Family History Library">Family History Library.</a> <dl><dd><ul><li>1872-1908 Illinois County Court (Edgar County), Naturalization records, 1872-1908. <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li></ul> </dd></dl> Newspapers and Obituaries <a href="http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/edgar/edgar.htm">USGenWeb</a>, Edgar County, Illinois Obituaries Probate Records Original estates and wills are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See <a _fcknotitle="true" href="Illinois Probate Records">Illinois Probate Records</a> for more information about using probate records. The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through the <a href="The Family History Library">Family History Library.</a> Indexes <dl><dd><ul><li>1823-1963 A. Joyce Brown, Index to Edgar Co., IL estates and wills, 1823-1963. <span class="fck_mw_template"> ; <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li><li>1823-1963 A. Joyce Brown, Index to miscellaneous probate records, 1823-1963, in Edgar County, Illinois. <span class="fck_mw_template"> ; <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li></ul> </dd></dl> Copies of Original Records <dl><dd><ul><li>1829-1927 Illinois Probate Court (Edgar County), Will records, 1829-1927; index to estates. <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li><li>Edgar County (Illinois) County Clerk, Unprobated wills. <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li></ul> </dd></dl> Abstracts <dl><dd><ul><li>Hammond, Barbara L. Hammond, Echos [i.e. Echoes] from the past, vol. 1&#160;: estate packets [drawers] 1-23, Edgar County, Illinois (Paris, Illinois:Tresearch,c2002) <span class="fck_mw_template"> ; <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li></ul> </dd></dl> Repositories County Courthouse County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Edgar County are kept, see the <a href="Edgar County, Illinois Courthouse">Edgar County Courthouse</a> page. Family History Centers There are over 4500&#160;<a href="Family History Centers">Family History Centers</a>&#160;worldwide which serve as&#160;branch facilities&#160;of the <a href="Family History Library">Family History&#160;Library</a> in Salt Lake City, Utah.&#160;&#160;Volunteers provide research assistance to&#160;help patrons identify their ancestors.&#160;&#160;Microfilm and microfiche may be ordered from the FHL collection at&#160;a nominal cost.&#160;&#160;Locate&#160;your nearest Family History Center<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1313427430247_409"/> at the&#160;<a href="https://www.familysearch.org/locations">FamilySearch</a> website.&#160; Call&#160;ahead to verify operating hours.&#160; All are welcome. The following centers are accessible to residents of Edgar&#160;County, Illinois: <a _fcknotitle="true" href="Champaign Illinois Family History Center">Champaign Illinois Family History Center</a>&#160; 604 W Windsor Rd Champaign, Champaign, Illinois Phone: 217-352-8063 Hours: Thur-Sat 9:30-12:30pm; Thur 7pm-9pm; or by appt <a href="Danville Illinois Family History Center">Danville Illinois Family History Center</a> 1941 N Bowman Ave Danville, Vermilion, Illinois Phone: 217-446-5887 Hours: Sat 9:30am-2pm  <a _fcknotitle="true" href="Terre Haute Indiana Family History Center">Terre Haute Indiana Family History Center</a> 1845 N 6 1/2 St Terre Haute, Vigo, Indiana Phone: 812-234-0269 Hours: Tue 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Closed: Mondays after 6:00 p.m., all major holidays, inclement weather, whenever Vigo schools are on delays or early dismissals. Attention: The Center is also available by appointment. Please note:&#160;Addresses posted are not mailing addresses. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries. Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) The Illinois State Archives administers a system of Illinois Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD)&#160;to manage the archival records of local governments.&#160; Local governments which have transferred records to the regional depositories include counties, townships, municipalities, and school districts. The records of Edgar County come under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) regional depository. <a href="http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/irad/iradhome.html">Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)</a> Booth Library <a href="http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/irad/eiumap.html">Eastern Illinois University (EIU)</a> 600 Lincoln Avenue Charleston, IL 61920 Telephone: (217) 581-6093 Hours: Monday – Friday, except state holidays 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.   Note: The depository is staffed by graduate student interns. Because of class scheduling conflicts, hours may vary somewhat from the published schedule. Researchers are urged to call before planning a visit. Libraries <a href="http://www.lincolntrail.info/cin.html">Chrisman Public Library </a> 108 North Illinois Street, Chrisman, IL 61924-1001 (217) 269-3011 <a href="http://www.comwares.net/ecgl/">Edgar County Genealogy Library</a> 408 N Main St Paris, IL 61944-1549 (217) 463-4209  <a href="http://www.lincolntrail.info/kan.html">Kansas Community Memorial Library</a> 107 N Front St Kansas, IL 61933 (217) 948-5484  <a href="http://www.parispubliclibrary.org/">Paris Carnegie Public Library</a> 207 S. Main St Paris IL 61944 (217) 463-3950 Social Groups Online Societies <a href="http://www.comwares.net/ecgl/">Edgar County Genealogical Society</a> 408 N. Main Street P. O. Box 304 Paris, Illinois 61944-0304 (217) 463-4209 E-mail: <a href="mailto:ecgl@comwares.net">ecgl@comwares.net</a> Hours: 9 a.m. - 4p.m. Wed, Thur, Fri 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. 1st Sat of each month Closed Holidays  Publication: Edgar County Genealogical Society Quarterly Taxation Vital Records See <a _fcknotitle="true" href="Illinois Vital Records">Illinois Vital Records</a> for more information about Vital records in Illinois. Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the <a href="http://www.edgarcounty-il.gov/CountyClerk/default.aspx">Edgar County Clerk</a> while those recorded after 1916 are kept by the <a href="http://www.idph.state.il.us/vitalrecords/index.htm">Illinois Department of Public Health</a> 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 records may be accessed through online databases, the <a href="The Family History Library">Family History Library</a> and the <a href="http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html">Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)</a> located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Edgar County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the <a href="IRAD - Eastern Illinois University">EIU IRAD Wiki page.</a> Births Copies of Original Records <dl><dd><ul><li>1857-1899 Birth Certificates, Delayed - <a href="http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html">IRAD-EIU</a>; <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li><li>1877-1908 Birth Record - <a href="http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html">IRAD-EIU</a> </li><li>1877-1908 Birth Record Index – <a href="http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html">IRAD-EIU</a> </li><li>1877-1908 Edgar County (Illinois) County Clerk, Birth records. <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li></ul> </dd></dl> Marriages Copies of Original Records <dl><dd><ul><li>1823-1904 Edgar County (Illinois) County Clerk, Marriage records. <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li><li>1823-1903 Marriage Record, Licenses Issued <a href="http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html">IRAD-EIU</a> </li><li>1823-1904 Marriage Record <a href="http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html">IRAD-EIU</a> </li><li>1823-1851 Marriage records in Edgar County, Illinois. <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li><li>1855–1855 Marriage Licenses <a href="http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html">IRAD-EIU</a> </li><li>1878-1903 Marriage Record Index <a href="http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html">IRAD-EIU</a> </li></ul> </dd></dl> Abstracts <dl><dd><ul><li>1823-1914 Cary, Linda Perkinson Edgar County, Illinois marriages (Paris, Illinois:Edgar County Genealogical Society, 1988-1998.) <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li><li>1870-1874 Stephens, Edythe Edgar County, Illinois, marriages January 1870 thru March 1874 (Salt Lake City, Utah:Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1978.) <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li><li>1823-1866 Selby, Robert E. and Phyllis J. Selby Edgar County, Illinois marriage records, 1823-1866 (Kokomo, Indiana:Selby Publishing and Printing, c1981.) <span class="fck_mw_template"> ; <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li><li>1874-1877 Powell, Waunita, Arthur A. Hand, and A. Joyce Brown Edgar County, Illinois marriages, April 1874-1877 (Paris, Illinois:Edgar County Illinois Genealogical Society, 1986.) <span class="fck_mw_template"> ; <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li><li>Sargent, Samuel S. Genealogies of families of Coles County, Illinois, and miscellaneous cemetery, marriage, and probate records (Salt Lake City, Utah:Genealogical Society of Utah, 1948.) Includes miscellaneous marriage records. <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li><li>Wheeler, Gertrude Genealogical records of Illinois, marriage record, cemetery records, probate court records, will, and family histories&#160;: from Edgar, Peoria, Tazewell, and Vermilion Counties (Salt Lake City, Utah:Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1973.) <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li></ul> </dd></dl> Online Resources <dl><dd><ul><li>1763-1900 <a href="http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/marriage.html">Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900</a> </li><li>1790–1860 <a href="http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7851&amp;cj=1&amp;o_xid=0001546952&amp;o_lid=0001546952">Illinois Marriage index </a>found at Ancestry.com ($) </li></ul> </dd></dl> Deaths Copies of Original Records <dl><dd><ul><li>1877–1901 Death Record <a href="http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html">IRAD-EIU</a> </li><li>1877–1915 Death Record Index <a href="http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html">IRAD-EIU</a> </li><li>1877-1915 Edgar County (Illinois) County Clerk, Death records. <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li></ul> </dd></dl> Abstracts <dl><dd><ul><li>1877-1925 Shutt, Philip L. Edgar Co., Illinois deaths and some burials (Paris, Illinois:Edgar County Genealogy Library, 19--.) <span class="fck_mw_template"> ; <span class="fck_mw_template"> </li></ul> </dd></dl> Online Resources <dl><dd><ul><li>1916-1950 <a href="http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/idphdeathindex.html">Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950</a> </li><li>Pre-1916 <a href="http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/death.html">Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916</a> </li><li>1850–1885 <a href="http://search.ancestry.com/Browse/list.aspx?dbid=8756&amp;cj=1&amp;path=Illinois.&amp;o_xid=0001546952&amp;o_lid=0001546952">U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885</a> found at Ancestry.com ($) </li></ul> </dd></dl> Web Sites Databases pertinent to Edgar County <ul><li><a href="http://apps.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html">Local Governmental Records Database</a> IRAD </li><li><a href="http://apps.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/niilgsrch.html">Name Index to Illinois Local Governments</a> IRAD </li><li><a href="http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/edgar/edgar.htm">USGenWeb Project</a>, Edgar&#160;County, Illinois (ILGenWeb) </li><li><a href="http://www.linkpendium.com/genealogy/USA/IL/Edgar/">Edgar County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History</a> (Linkpendium) </li></ul> References <span class="fck_mw_template"> <span class="fck_mw_template">

<a _fcknotitle="true" href="Category:Edgar_County,_Illinois">Edgar_County,_Illinois</a>