Iroquois County, Illinois Genealogy

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

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

Historical Facts


Name taken from the former Iroquois Confederacy of the Six Nations which included the Mohawk, Oneida, Seneca, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Tuscarora.

Parent County
1833--Iroquois County was created 26 February 1833, from Vermilion County. County seat: Watseka

Description
The county was named for the Iroquois people (a confederacy of six tribes - the Mohawk, Oneida, Seneca, Onondaga, Cayuga and Tuscarora.) The county seat is Watseka and the county was organized on 26 February 1833. The County is located in the East-Central part of the state.

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.


 * 1826-1833 Vermillion


 * 1823-1826 Edgar


 * 1819-1823 Clark


 * 1816-1819 Crawford


 * 1815-1816 Edwards


 * 1812-1815 Madison


 * 1801-1812 St. Clair


 * 1795-1801 Knox, Northwest Territory

Record Loss
1866 Fire burned the courthouse on 16 October; some records were lost or damaged. Marriages before October 1866 from the Iroquois Journal and records of the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church may be found at Illinois Statewide Marriage Index

Cemeteries

 * ePodunk list of Iroquois County cemeteries gives the names of the cemeteries in the county with a link to more information such as address, phone number, and web site.

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, Iroquois County on page 187.]

Church Records
1851-1878, 1878-1889 (Marriage Book B) Catholic Church. St. John the Baptist. Marriage Records. item 15 and Fiche 6004547.

Quaker Records includes Onarga and Watseka Monthly Meetings (Ancestry.com)

St. Mary's Catholic Church Records 1859-1882. by Nancy Tabo Scott WorldCat

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Records 1879-1944. by Nora Meier WorldCat

St. Peter Catholic Church Records 1869-1919. by Norma Meier WorldCat

Milford Christian Church Records. by Dauthers of American Revolution WorldCat

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.

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 what records are at the State Archives with an online method for ordering records.
 * African-American Resources for Illinois

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

IRAD - Illinois State University (Following records originally from Office: Recorder.(IRAD- County Listing)


 * Chattel Morgages 1930-1968. IRAD - ISU book.

Family History Library Collection


 * 1835-1887 Land Records. County Court Iroquois County, Illinois. filmed by Genealogical Society of Utah, 1983. 60 microfilms. first film.


 * 1831-1882 Iroquois County Original Land Purchases,: a research project of the Iroquois County Historical Society. by Ralph D. Moore and Virginia M. Moore. item 2 and Book 977.364R2m.

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 ($)
 * Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)
 * Iroquois County Federal Township Plats

Maps

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)

Military Records
For information about using Military records see Illinois Military Records

Revolutionary War
Veteran Burials (Genealogy Trails History Group)

War of 1812
Military Land Grants for Soldiers of the War of 1812 (partial list - USGenWeb)

Civil War
Civil War service men from Iroquois 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 Iroquois County.


 * - 9th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company M.
 * - 10th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company C.
 * - 20th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company I
 * - 25th Regiment, Illinois Infantry. Company F.
 * - 51st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
 * - 76th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A<span, Company E, and Company K.
 * - 113th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, D, F, and I.
 * - 134th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company B.
 * - 150th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865), Company D.
 * - 155th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.

Grand Army of the Republic
A list of GAR post in Illinoisadditionsl site for post list Library of Congress

Williams Post no. 25 of Watseka. Personal War Sketches of the Members of Williams Post. Item 2.

B. Brown Post, Sheldon 1913 - USGenWeb

Gilman Post, Gilman 1913 - USGenWeb

Kirkpatrick Post, Loada 1913 - USGenWeb

Williams Post, Watseka 1913 - USGenWeb

World War I
World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 ($) Ancestry.com

World Ward I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, (FamilySearch.org) Browse cards in alphabetical order by county of registration.

World War II
World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 (FamilySearch.org) Covers men born 1877-1897.

World War II Casualties, Army and Army Air Corps (AccessGenealogy)

Naturalization
Original naturalization records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See Illinois Naturalization Records for more information about using naturalization 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 Illinois State University (ISU) - search for Iroquois County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the ISU IRAD Wiki page.

IRAD -Illinois State University (Following records originally from Office: County Court). IRAD Counties Listing

1876-1903 Naturalization Dockets - IRAD-ISU

Family History Library Collection


 * 1859-1906 Naturalization Records. Illinois, County Court (Iroquois County) Each volume includes an index.

Online Records
 * 1800-1998 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1867-1931 - 1867-1931 Index of Petitons for Naturalizations Iroquois Coutny, Illinois (Iroquois County Genealogical Society)
 * Naturalized Citizens no dates given (Iroquois County Genealogical Society)

Newspapers
Chronicling America (Library of Congress)

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

Neighboring Counties

 * Benton County, Indiana
 * Ford
 * Kankakee
 * Newton County, Indiana
 * Vermilion
 * Warren County, Indiana

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

The Iroqouis County Genealogical Society has an online list of county probate records from 1870-1898. $

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.

Repositories
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. Illinois State University houses the records for Iroquois County.

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

FamilySearh Centers
Family History Centers (FHCs) are branches of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah (United States) and are located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources to assist you in the research and study of your genealogy.

Iroquois County Genealogical Society Old Courthouse Museum 103 West Cherry Street Watseka, IL 60970-1524

Search your home address to locate a center near you on the FamilySearch site. The following centers are located in surrounding counties. Their wiki pages may supply hours and other information.

Find a FamilySearch Center

Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)
Illinois State Universtiy (ISU) 2016 Warehouse Road Campus Box 1520 Normal, Illinois 61802 Phone: 1-309-452-6027

Illinois Regional Archives Depository System - Illinois State University Region

Public Libraries
Watseka Public Library 201 South 4th Street Watseka, IL 60970 815-432-4544

Societies
Miscellaneous Records, Iroquois County, Illinois by Iroquois County Genealogical Society and Cheryl Wixon Gocken. 4 Volumes. FHL Digital version: Vol. 1,  Vol. 2,  Vol 3. and Vol 4

Taxation
1890 Tax List and book 977.364 R4i

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.

Iroquois County Vital Records Office1001 E. Grant St. Watseka, IL 60970 815-432-6970

Order Birth and Death Certificates Online ($)

IRAD- Illinois State University (Following records originally from Office: County Clerk). IRAD County Listing

Birth Records

 * 1869-1915 Birth Records Index. IRAD-ISU microfilm.


 * 1878-1901 Birth Records. IRAD-ISU microfilm.


 * 1853-1962 Delayed Birth Certificats Index. IRAD-ISU microfilm.


 * 1853-1915 Delayed Birth Certificates. IRAD-ISU microfilm.


 * 1872-1900 Delayed Birth Record. IRAD-ISU microfilm.


 * 1878-1900 Birth Records; and 1853-1915 Delayed Birth Records, are available through the Family History Library and FamilySearch centers, including the Iroquois County Genealogical Society.

Marriage

 * 1587-1959 - Illinois, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1810–1934 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index


 * 1866-1935 Marriage Record Index. IRAD-ISU microfilm.
 * 1866-1904 Marriage Record. IRAD-ISU microfilm.

The above Marriage Records Index and Marriage Record are available through the Family History Library and its centers.


 * Iroquois County Marriages. by Iroquois County Genealogical Society WorldCat

Death

 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images


 * 1877-1901 Death Record. IRAD-ISU microfilm. Also available through the Family history Library and its Centers Item 2


 * 1902-1948 Death Records of Iroquois County, Illinois and book 977.364 V2g.

Family History Library Collection

 * 1878-1900 Birth Records; and 1853-1915 Delayed Birth Records,


 * 1902-1948 Death Records of Iroquois County, Illinois and book 977.364 V2g.

Websites

 * Iroquois County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Iroquois County IL Genealogy
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Iroquois County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Iroquois County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)

Databases Pertinent to Iroquois County
Local Governmental Records Database

Names Index to Illinois Local Governments

Illinois Statewide Marriage Index

Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916

Illinois Statewide Death index, 1916-1950

Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Data Base

Federal Township Plats of Illinois.