Coles County, Illinois Genealogy

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

Description
Coles County was named for Edward Coles, the second governor of Illinois from 1822 to 1826. The county is located in the east-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Coles County Courthouse 651 Jackson Ave Charleston, IL 61920 Phone: 217-348-0516 Coles County Courthouse County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Coles County are kept, see the Coles 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
 * Towns, Townships and their dates of creation. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Biographies

 * The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Coles County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Coles County residents.  See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.  Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Coles County, 1897, no circulation to FamilySearch Centers
 * The history of Coles County, Illinois, 1879, FamilySearch Digital Library
 * An index to the biographical sketches, 1963
 * History of Coles County, Illinois, 1879 . Available online at FamilySearch Library only.
 * Portrait and biographical album of Coles County, Ill., 1887, no circulation to FamilySearch Centers.

Census Records
 Federal
 * For information and tips on using and accessing online census records, see Illinois Census.
 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images

 1840
 * 1840 Federal census, Coles County, Illinois
 * Transcribed 1840 Federal census presented by Genealogy Trails

 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, Coles County on page 186.

 1850
 * U.S. federal census, 1850, Coles County, Illinois
 * Transcribed U.S. federal census, Coles County - presented by Genealogy Trails

 1860
 * U.S. 1860 census, Coles County, Illinois

 1870 United States federal census, 1870, Coles County, Illinois

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 Coles County edition. Internet Archive Free Digital Copy Local church history is found in individual township histories, beginning on page 685. For addtional available copies, see the wiki article Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois.

 Baptist
 * Whetstone Creek, Coles County, Illinois, records of Freewill Baptist Church, 1844-1905. Manuscript on film. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1949.

 Church of Christ
 * History of the Wiley Brick Church. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

 Presbyterian
 * 1904-1971 Union Cumberland Presbyterian, 1904–1971. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.
 * Hebron Presbyterian Church (Brooks family extracts) Courtesy of Illinois Trails.
 * Loxa Presbyterian Church. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records
Court records may give a person’s age, residence, occupation, and family relationships. Friends and neighbors may have given depositions as witnesses. See Court Records for more information about court records. Original court records are housed at the Coles Circuit Court Clerks office as well as the IRAD depository at Eastern Illinois University. See IRAD–EIU for more information about using this depository.

Online Court Indexes and Records
 * 1832-1935 Circuit Clerk's Miscellaneous Files. IRAD–EIU Search for Coles County records.
 * 1832–1890 Circuit Court Case Files. IRAD–EIU
 * 1835–1910 Circuit Court Record, Chancery Circuit Court IRAD–EIU
 * 1835 County Clerk's Miscellaneous Files IRAD–EIU
 * 1869–1873 Court of Common Pleas Case Files (Mattoon) IRAD–EIU

Directories

 * 1918 Transcription of 1918 Farmer's Directory - presented by Genealogy Trails
 * The Farmer's review, farm directory of Coles and Douglas counties, Illinois, 1918 (reprint 198?)
 * Mattoon (Illinois) city directories, 1902, 1904-1905, 1910 and 1911, 1927
 * Polk's Charleston (Coles Co., Ill.) city directory, 1972-
 * Polk's Mattoon (Coles Co., Ill.) city directory, 1973-

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
 African Americans
 * African American Research (US) has more information about the kinds of records
 * Photographic Images and the History of African Americans in Coles County Illinois (Eastern Illinois University)
 * 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

Funeral Homes

 * Business records, 1912-1929, Newman &amp; Harper Mortuary

Land and Property Records
see also: Illinois Land and Property for more information.

Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1830-1886 Deed Records Index. 
 * 1830-present The original land and property records for Coles County are held by the County Clerk. See the info box above for contact information. The following copies are available:
 * 1831-1919 Deed Records. 
 * 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.
 * Abstracts of Coles County Land Patents found in the BLM Land Patent Index. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)
 * No land and property record holdings noted in IRAD-EIU Coles County Listing. Search for Coles County records. Information about how to use IRAD
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Local Histories

 * 1905 History of Coles County (1905). Courtesy of Illinois Trails
 * Every Name Index to History of Coles County, Illinois. Every Name Index compiled by Cathy L. O'Connor, 2012, original text by William Le Baron, Jr., 1879.  EveryNameIndex.com
 * The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Coles County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Coles County residents.  See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1785-1898 U.S., Indexed Early Land Ownership and Township Plats, 1785–1898. Database online. Ancestry ($).
 * 1788-1940 Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
 * Coles County Federal Township Plats
 * Ogle, Geo. A. Standard Atlas of Coles County, Illinois. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1987. Other Libraries (WorldCat)
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

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

 Civil War Regiments. Civil War service men from Coles 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 Coles County.
 * - 1st Regiment, Illinois Cavalry. Company C.
 * - 5th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies B and E.
 * - 7th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 8th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861), Company C.
 * - 8th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
 * - 10th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies H and M.
 * - 21st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 25th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.
 * - 38th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.
 * - 41st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
 * - 54th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, C, G, I and K.
 * - 55th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 59th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.
 * - 62nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies C, E, and K.
 * - 63rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 68th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
 * - 97th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.
 * - 109th Regiment, Indiana Infantry
 * - 123rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry Companies A, C, D, H, I and K.
 * - 130th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
 * - 135th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company K.
 * - 143rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies A and K.


 * Genealogy Trails - Coles County Civil War Soldiers (accessed 20 September 2011) Lists Civil War soldiers from Coles County along with their regiments and residences.
 * Eastern Illinois University Bulletin. Coles County in the Civil War 1861-1865. (accessed 31 May 2011)

Naturalization and Citizenship
Coles County has naturalization records in county circuit and Mattoon city court records. Naturalization records may reveal immigration and family information. See Illinois Naturalization for more infomation about this record group. Copies of Coles county naturalization records held at the IRAD depository at Eastern Illinois University are as follows. See IRAD–EIU for more information about this depository.

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1910-1927 Naturalization Certificate Stubs, City Court (Mattoon)IRAD–EIU Search for Coles County records.
 * 1894-1946 Naturalization Declarations fo Intent, Circuit Court.IRAD–EIU
 * 1911-1930 Naturalization Petition Record, Circuit Court.IRAD–EIU
 * 1908-1927 Naturalization Petition Records, City Court (Mattoon).IRAD–EIU
 * 1872-1888 Naturalization Record, Circuit Court.IRAD–EIU FamilySearch  Online images
 * 1894-1906 Naturalization Record, County Court.IRAD–EIU  FamilySearch  Online images
 * 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

 * Obituary index courtesy of Illinois Trails.

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; Images only
 * Illinois Probate Records for more information.
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Vital Records
The website of the Coles County Clerk &amp; Recorder includes information and order forms for ordering birth, marriage, and death records.

Birth

 * 1878–present The original Coles County birth records 1878- present are housed in the office of the County Clerk.
 * 1860-1915 Birth Certificates, Delayed - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1878-1915 Birth Record Index – IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records.
 * Birth abstracts Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Marriage

 * 1831–present The original Coles County marriage records 1831-present are housed in the office of the County Clerk.
 * 1831-1929 Marriage Record - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1810-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1978-1987 Coles county Genealogical Society. Marriages, Coles County, Illinois. Charleston, Illinois: Coles County, Illinois Genealogical Society, 1978-1987. 3 vols. Other Libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1831-1846 Courtesy of Illinois Genealogy Express
 * 1851-1870 1851–1870 Courtesy of Illinois Genealogy Express
 * 1878-1929 Marriage Record Index - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records.
 * 1831-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 (1831-1900 for Coles County)
 * 1790-1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry ($) Coles County covers 1831–1900. Incomplete.
 * Marriages Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Death

 * 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1878–present The original Coles County death records 1878-present are housed in the office of the County Clerk.
 * 1878-1918 Death Record - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1878-1913 Death Record Index - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records.
 * 1887-1909 Death Record, Stillbirths - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records.
 * 1910-1917 Death Record, Coroner - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records.
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
 * 1916-1950 Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916-1950 (1916-1950 for Coles County)
 * 1916-1950 Index to Deaths Courtsey of Illinois Trails.
 * 1916-1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * 1951-1971 Illinois Death Certificates, 1951–1971 at Illinois State Archives - index
 * Mattoon death certificate abstracts. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

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.


 * Eastern Illinois University (EIU) 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.


 * Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) Booth Library

FamilySearch Centers

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

Libraries
Houses the Coles County Illinois Genealogical Society collection of books and materials. Explore the society's online list of materials.
 * Charleston Public Library 712 Sixth St Charleston, IL 61920–2147 Phone: 217–345–4913 Website
 * Mattoon Public Library 1600 Charleston Avenue Mattoon, IL 61938 Phone: 217–234–2621 Website

Societies

 * Coles County Genealogical Society PO Box 592 Charleston, IL 61920 Email: [mailto:colescoilgensoc75@gmail.com colescoilgensoc75@gmail.com] Website
 * Coles County Historical Society PO Box 1398 Mattoon, Illinois 61938 Phone 217-235-6744 Website

Websites

 * Coles IL GenWeb
 * Coles County IL lds
 * Coles County, IL Linkpendium
 * Coles County IL Genealogy Trails - no links, just free transcribed data
 * – 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.