Pulaski County, Illinois Genealogy

Guide to Pulaski County, Illinois ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records. Illinois Online Genealogy Records

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

Historical Facts
Pulaski county was named for Count Casimir Pulaski who emigrated from Poland and was killed fighting on the side of the patriots in the American Revolution. He saved the life of George Washington and is one of only seven people awarded honorary United States citizenship.

Parent County

 * 1843--Pulaski County was created 3 March 1843 from Johnson County. County seat:  Mound City

Description
The county was named for Kazimierz Pulaski who was killed at the Siege of Savannah in the Revolutionary War. The county seat is Mound City and the county was organized on 1843. The County is located in the South Central area 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.

Record Loss
1879  A fire burned the courthouse on 22 November and most records were destroyed. 1837  Some records were damaged by a flood.

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:

Neighboring Illinois Counties
Alexander · Johnson · Massac · Union

Neighboring Kentucky Counties
Ballard · McCracken

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

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

A chapter on Pulaski County, Illinois church history appears in a local history, available for online at Ancestry ($), beginning on page 56.

Histories of several Pulaski County churches are included in:


 * Atherton, Wanda L. et al. Pulaski County, Illinois Genealogy Notes. 2 vols. Carterville, Ill.: Genealogy Society of Southern Illinois, 1988, c1988-c1992..


 * Badgley, Glenna Conant. Ohio Chapel Church History. Ill.: G.C. Badgley, 1982. WorldCat (Other Libraries)

Baptist

 * Plummer, Virginia Hagler. History of Shiloh Baptist Church, Villa Ridge, Illinois. Villa Ridge, Ill.: Shiloh Baptist Church, 1987. WorldCat (Other Libraries)
 * Maple Grove Baptist Church (Perks, Ill.) Records, 1896-1941. WorldCat (Other Libraries)

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


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


 * "Benedictine Fathers at Wetaug, or, The Cluny Priory," Tri-County Record, ca. 1932-1933..

Christian

 * Angel, Mrs. O.L. Grain Chain, Illinois, Christian Church. Typescript. Microfilmed 1974:.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints


 * Mound

Disciples of Christ
History of the Disciples of Christ in Illinois, Pulaski County section appears on page 364 is available online, courtesy: Internet Archive


 * Hough, Mrs. Frances L. The History of Pulaski County Episcopal Church, available online, courtesy: Genealogy Trails.

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


 * 1857–1945 Circuit court index IRAD (SIU)
 * 1900–1945 Circuit court record, Chancery IRAD (SIU)

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
 * Levins Cemetery, courtesy: Afrigeneas
 * Masonic Cemetery, courtesy: Afrigeneas

History

 * Every Name Index to History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Every Name Index compiled by Cathy L. O'Connor, 2010.  Original text written by William Henry Perrin, published by O.L. Baskin &amp; Co., 1883, reproduction by Unigraphic, Inc., 1969.  EveryNameIndex.com

Local Histories
The online Shawnee Community College Local History Project includes dozens of personal interviews, newspaper clippings, and even a Jackson Family Bible to give you a taste of historic Pulaski County. Was your relative one of the interviewed individuals?


 * Wall, J. L. Moyers' Brief History of Pulaski County: 1843-1943. Mound City, Ill.: The Pulaski Enterprise, 1990. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

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 online sources, the FamilySearch Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Pulaski 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 ($)
 * Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)
 * Pulaski County Federal Township Plats

Copies of original records


 * 1873–1891 Grantee and Grantor index
 * 1843–1888 Deeds
 * Selected land records
 * 1978 Rockford Map Publishers. Atlas &amp; plat book, Pulaski - Alexander County, Illinois, 1978 Rockford, Illinois: Rockford Map Publishers, 1962. Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1873–1945 Deed Index IRAD (SIU)
 * 1842–1945 Deed record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1940–1944 Recorder's miscellaneous record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1851–1940 Surveyor's record IRAD (SIU)

Maps

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
 * Township Map of 1870 Pulaski County, Illinois with numerous small settlements. (My Genealogy Hound)
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Civil War
Civil War service men from Pulaski 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 Pulaski County.


 * - 9th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 31st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.
 * - 81st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company I.
 * -109th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 144th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.

Naturalization and Citizenship
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 Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Franklin County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.


 * 1872–1903 Naturalization record IRAD (SIU)

Online Records


 * 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1856-1991 Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 at Ancestry - index and images, ($)

Newspapers and Obituaries

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

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

Copies of original records


 * 1862–1973 Index to probate files
 * 1862–1890Probate journals
 * 1862–1944 Probate record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1898–1956 Probate will record 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 Pulaski County are kept, see the Pulaski County Courthouse page.

Family History Centers

 * Carbondale Illinois Family History Center
 * Foxcroft Illinois Family History Center
 * Paducah Kentucky Family History Center


 * Herrin City Library - an affiliate library
 * McCracken County Public Library - an affiliate library
 * The State Historical Society of Missouri - Cape Girardeau - an affiliate library

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 Pulaski County.

Societies

 * Olmsted Historical Society PO Box 64 Olmsted, IL 62970-0064

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

Birth
Abstracts


 * 1883-1899 Birth Records, 1883-1899, Pulaski County, Illinois donated by Darrel Dexter and transcribed by Sharon Darnell, courtesy of Genealogy Trails.
 * '1881-1899 Delayed Birth Records, 1881-1899, Pulaski County, Illinois Donated by Darrel Dexter and transcribed by Sharon Darnell, courtesy of Genealogy Trails.
 * 1882-1899 Stillbirth Records, 1882-1899, Pulaski County, Illinois donated by Darrel Dexter and transcribed by Sharon Darnell, courtesy of Genealogy Trails.

Copies of Original Birth Records


 * 1882–1918 Birth Record
 * 1882–1926 Birth record IRAD (SIU)

Marriage
Online Resources


 * 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHertitage($)
 * 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry ($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1810-1934 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index

Copies of original Marriage Records


 * 1872–1923 Marriage index
 * 1923–1936 Marriage register index
 * 1857; 1861–1922 Marriage register
 * 1861–1947 Marriage record IRAD (SIU)

Death
Online Resources
 * 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — index, some images
 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1850-1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885found at Ancestry ($)


 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHertitage($)
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950 at Illinois State Archives - index
 * 1916-1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index, ($)

Abstracts


 * 1883-1899 Death Records, 1883-1899, Pulaski County, Illinois donated by Darrel Dexter and transcribed by Sharon Darnell, courtesy Genealogy Trails.

Copies of original Death Records


 * 1882-1919 Death record
 * 1882-1926 Death record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1882-1929 Death record, stillbirths IRAD (SIU)
 * 1883-1883 Coroner's inquest record IRAD (SIU)

Websites

 * Pulaski County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Pulaski County Genealogy and History (Genealogy Trails)
 * Pulaski County IL Genealogy
 * Pulaski County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * EveryNameIndex.com Free online genealogy indexes for those big old county histories.
 * Pulaski County Illinois HOME OF THE GRAND CHAIN GANG Ancestry and History Research
 * Black Migration to Pulaski County, Illinois 1860-1900Illinois Historical
 * Black Migration to Pulaski County, Illinois 1860-1900Illinois Historical