Johnson County, Illinois Genealogy

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

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

Historical Facts


Johnson County is named for Richard Mentor Johnson who served in the Indian Wars and the War of 1812. He was also served as Vice-President of the United States from 1837 to 1841 in the administration of Martin Van Buren.

Parent County

 * 1812--Johnson County was created 14 September 1812 from Randolph County. County seat: Vienna

Description
The county was named for Richard M. Johnson, a congressman from Kentucky. Johnson served in the Army in the War of 1812. He later went on to be Vice President of the United States for one term. The county seat is Vienna and the county was organized on 1812. The County is located in the Southern 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.

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

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, Johnson County on page 187.]

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Copies of Original records


 * 1845–1928 Records of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Vienna Circuit
 * 1847–1943 Bethlehem Church of Christ
 * 1873–1918 Friendship Baptist Church
 * 1886–1921 Methodist Episcopal Church. Vienna Circuit.

Catholic
FamilySearch has made parish records from two Belleville Diocese Catholic churches in Johnson County available online. The records include first communions, confirmations, marriages, and deaths:


 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.

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 the Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Johnson County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

Abstracts


 * 1813–1970 Annable, Edward l. and Johnson County Genealogical and Hsitorical Society. Johnson County, Illinois, probate index, 1813–1970: index to 3485 probate cases. [Vienna, Ill.]: Johnson County Genealogical &amp; Historical Society, 2008. Other libraries (WorldCat)


 * 1813–1817 Gore, Virgil and Ruth Ann Sistler. Commissioners' records, Johnson County, Illinois : July 15, 1813–1817, volume A. [Vienna, Illinois]: Johnson County Genealogical and Historical Society (Illinois), c1992. Other libraries (WorldCat)


 * 1814–1817 Sistler, Ruth Ann and Jack Kent Sistler; and Johnson County Genealogical and Historical Society. Court records, Johnson County, Illinois October 15, 1814–1817. [Vienna, Illinois]: Johnson County Genealogical and Historical Society (Illinois), c1992. Other libraries (WorldCat)


 * 1818–1828 Sistler, Jack Kent, Ruth A. Sistler, Richard D. Sullins, and SandS Genealogists. Johnson County comissioner's records, book B, 16 March 1818–2 June 1828. [Vienna, Illinois] : SandS Genealogists, [1995?].


 * 1822–1841 Sullins, Richard D., Ruth A. Sistler, Jack Kent Sistler, and SandS Genealogists. Johnson County probate records, November, 1822-March, 1841 (Including one page from October, 1843.).[Vienna, Ill. (P.O. Box 1323 62995)] : SandS Genealogists, 1997.Other libraries (WorldCat)


 * 1829–1836 Sullins, Richard D., Ruth A. Sistler, Jack Kent Sistler, and SandS Genealogists. Johnson County Circuit Court records, 1829–1836 [i.e. 1835]. [Vienna, Illinois]: SandS Genealogists, c1997. Other libraries (WorldCat)


 * 1829–1836 Sullins, Richard D., Ruth A. Sistler, Jack Kent Sistler, and SandS Genealogists. Johnson County Circuit Court records, 1829–1836. [Vienna, Ill. (P.O. Box 1323 62995)] : SandS Genealogists, 1997. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Copies of original records


 * 1813–1817 Territorial County court minutes IRAD (SIU)
 * 1813–1861 Commissioner record
 * 1829–1835 Circuit court record IRAD (SIU)

DNA
The Johnson County, Illinois Project at FamilyTreeDNA is collecting DNA samples from descendants of historic residents of the county.

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

Local Histories
The online Shawnee Community College Local History Project includes personal interviews and newspaper clippings that give you a taste of historic Johnson County. Was your relative one of the interviewed individuals?

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.

The following abstracts and 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 Johnson County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

General


 * Family Maps of Johnson County, Illinois (2007) plats the land of many nineteenth-century Johnson County residents. The publisher's bookstore includes a free online surname index.
 * 1978 Rockford Map Publishers.Johnson County, Illinois, land atlas &amp; plat book : 1978. Rockford, Ill.: Rockford Map Publishers [Vienna, Ill.]: Distributed by Johnson County Board of Commissioners, 1978. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Abstracts


 * Annable, Edward L. Johnson County, Illinois public domain land sales. Cypress, Ill. (P.O. Box 186 62923): Ed Annable Pub. Co., ©1997. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Copies of original records


 * 1809–1892 Deed record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1809–1907 Deed index IRAD (SIU)
 * 1827–1907 Grantee and Grantor index
 * 1827–1928 Deeds

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

Maps

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Civil War
Civil War service men from Johnson 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 Johnson County.


 * - 6th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company B.
 * - 9th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
 * - 14th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies E, G, and K.
 * - 31st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies D and F.
 * - 60th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies H and K.
 * - 109th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
 * - 120th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, C, G, I, and K.
 * - 145th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.

Naturalization
Online Records
 * 1800-1998 - at FamilySearch — index and images

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

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and 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 abstracts and 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 Johnson County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

Online Resources


 * 1859–1937 Probate records and journals, will records, and indexes for Johnson County probate records are also available in . Click on the browse through images link, select Johnson County, and select the record type you are interested in.

Abstracts


 * Sistler, Jack Kent and Ruth A. Sistler and Richard D. Sullins. Probate judges docket, Johnson County, Illinois.[Vienna, Illinois] : SandS Genealogists, 2002. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Copies of original records


 * 1822–1873 Probate minutes IRAD (SIU)
 * 1822–1888 Probate records
 * 1859–1948 Probate records
 * 1860–1973 Probate case files index IRAD (SIU)
 * 1870–1904 Probate will record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1870–1926 The probate journals and will records for Johnson County probate records are also available in . Click on the browse through images link, select Johnson County, and select the record type you are interested in.

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

Family History Center
There are many Family History Centers in or near Johnson County, please check the listing herefor one close to you.


 * Carbondale Illinois Family History Center 7168 Old Hwy 13 W. Carbondale, IL 62901 Phone: 618-549-3034


 * Eldorado Illinois Family History Center 103 Grayson Rd. Eldorado, IL 62930 Phone: 618-273-8172


 * Foxcroft Illinois Family History Center 17947 N. Hwy 37 Johnston City, IL 62951 Phone: 618-937-4755

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 Johnson County.

Public Libraries
Vienna Carnegie Public Library 401 Poplar Street Vienna, IL 62995 618-658-5051

Societies

 * Johnson County Genealogical & Historical Society PO Box 1207 404 Vine Street Vienna, Illinois 62995-1207 Facebook

Genealogical Society of Southern Illinois has a page with details about its' activities.

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 Johnson 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 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 Johnson County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

General

 * 1814–1840 Sistler, Jack K. and Ruth A. Sistler and Richard D. Sullins. 1818-1840 censuses of Johnson County, Illinois: with additional vital records before 1850, marriages, divorces, guardianships, deaths. [Vienna, Illinois]: SandS Genealogists, [200-?]. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Births:
Copies of Original Records


 * 1878–1925 Birth Record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1887–1974 Birth record index IRAD (SIU)

Marriages:
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

Abstracts


 * 1820s-1850s Illinois Miscellaneous Genealogical Records: From Counties, Bond, Boone, Calhoun, Cook, Crawford, Du Page, Johnson, Knox, Lake, Will, Pope: Kentucky county, Mercer: Missouri county, Ralls. Evanston, Ill.: Illinois Society, D.A.R., 1946. Digital version at Ancestry ($). The compiler states that many of the loose marriages records indexed for Johnson County have since disappeared from the courthouse, which means some early Johnson County marriages are only documented in this book.


 * 1834–1885 Foss, Carolyn Cromeenes and Judy Foreman Lee. Johnson County, Illinois early marriages. Evansville, Indiana : Evansville Bindery, c1992. Other libraries (WorldCat)


 * 1834–1857 Bellamy, Mrs. Guy, Cara Slack and Johnson County (Illinois) Courts. Marriages recorded from 1834 to 1857, Johnson County, Illinois courthouse at Vienna. Copied from county clerk's records as originally recorded, not indexed. [Vienna, Ill., Mrs. G. Bellamy] 1969. Other libraries (WorldCat)


 * 1839–1853, 1865- Winget, Judy Walley. Williamson County, Illinois marriages, 1839 to 1853 and 1865; Pope County, Illinois marriages, 1826 to 1845; Johnson County, Illinois marriages, 1857 to 1860. S.P.: Saline County Genealogical Society (Illinois), 1984. Worldcat


 * 1857–1860 Winget, Judy Walley. Williamson County, Illinois marriages, 1839 to 1853 and 1865; Pope County, Illinois marriages, 1826 to 1845; Johnson County, Illinois marriages, 1857 to 1860. [Harrisburg, Ill]: Saline County Genealogical Society (Illinois), 1984. Other libraries (WorldCat)


 * 1886–1900 Sistler, Jack K. and Ruth A. Sistler and Richard D. Sullins. Early marriages, Johnson County, Illinois. Evansville, Ind. (221 E. Columbia St., Evansville 47711: Published for the authors by Evansville Bindery, 2004. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Copies of Original Records


 * 1834–1926 Marriage record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1835–1926 Marriage record index IRAD (SIU)
 * 1835–1857 Index to marriage licenses
 * 1835–1878 Marriage licenses
 * 1878–1896 Bride and Groom indexes to marriage register
 * 1878–1926 Marriage register
 * 1896–1926 Index to marriage register

Deaths
Online resources
 * 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — index, some images
 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1850-1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 found at Ancestry.com ($)
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950

Abstracts


 * 1878-1900 Kreklow, Rebel L. Death records, Johnson County, Illinois, 1878-1900. Vienna, Illinois : Johnson County Genealogical and Historical Society (Illinois), c2002. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Copies of original records


 * 1878-1933 Index; Death record and register IRAD (SIU) Search for Johnson records How to use IRAD

Places / Localities
To see a list of places in Johnson County, click on [Show], in the bar 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. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names.

Websites

 * Johnson County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy, Gen.Inc.
 * Johnson County IL Genealogy, LDS Gen.
 * Johnson county, IL, Gen. village
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Johnson County, Illinois Genealogy Trails. Newspapers, Biographies, Marriage, Death records.
 * ILGenWeb Johnson County, Illinois. Biographies, Births, Census, Cemeteries, Court, Deeds/Land, History, Military, Newspapers, Obituaries, Photos.
 * Johnson County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Johnson County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)