Woodford County, Illinois Genealogy

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

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

Historical Facts
Woodford County, Illinois is named for Woodford County, Kentucky which is the place where many of the settlers originated.

Parent County

 * 1841--Woodford County was created 27 February 1841 from, Tazewell and McLean Counties. County seat:  Eureka

Description
The county was named for Woodford County, Kentucky. The county seat is Eureka and the county was organized on 27 February 1841. The County is located in the 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.

Eastern Part


 * 1831-1841 McLean


 * 1827-1831 Tazewell


 * 1821-1827 Fayette


 * 1819-1821 Clair


 * 1816-1819 Crawford


 * 1815-1816 Edwards

Western Part


 * 1827-1841 Tazewell


 * 1825-1827 Peoria


 * 1821-1825 Sangamon


 * 1817-1821 Bond


 * 1812-1817 Madison


 * 1801-1812 St. Clair


 * 1790-1801 Knox, Northwest Territory

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

Biographies
Past and Present of Woodford County, Illinois1878  (WorldCat)

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

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

1854-1859 County Court Record IRAD-ISU

African American
The following have information concerning African American research.


 * African American Research (US) has more information about the kinds of records


 * 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
 * African American Coal Miner Information Center

History
Large numbers of Kentuckians settled in frontier Woodford County, Illinois. The name of the county (Woodford) is reminiscent of Woodford County, Kentucky - the previous residence of many pioneer settlers.

Land and Property

 * 1841-1928 Deed Index IRAD-ISU
 * 1833-1928 Deed Record IRAD-ISU
 * 1812 Soldiers of 1812 etc.: Whose Bounty Land Grants Were Located in Woodford County, Illinois. by A.F. Marxhall, L.J. Freese and Milo Custer. item 6 and FS Library book: 977.3 A1 no. 1. second copy 977.3 A1 no. 218.
 * 1832-1893 Grantee and Grantor Indexes. Woodford County Clerk.

Maps

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
 * Woodford County, El Paso and Metamora 1876 from the David Rumsey Map Collection.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
For information about using military records see Illinois Military Records
 * 1860s - 1960s at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Revolutionary War
Veteran Burials (Genealogy Trail History Group)

War 1812
Military Land Grants Woodford County, Illinois for Soldiers of the War of 1812 - USGenWeb

Civil War
Civil War service men from Woodford 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 Woodford County.

Cavalry


 * - 4th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company G

Infantry


 * - 17th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G
 * - 47th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B, and Company I
 * - 51st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
 * - 77th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C, Company F, and Company H.
 * - 85th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.
 * - 86th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.
 * - 108th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D, and Company E
 * - 139th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C


 * IRAD-ISU Records


 * 1861-1863 Militia Roll Record IRAD-ISU
 * 1863-1865 Militia Discharge Record, Civil War IRAD-ISU
 * 1913-1941 Mother's Pension Applications IRAD-ISU
 * 1931-1934 Mother's Pension Accountts IRAD-ISU


 * Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)


 * A list of GAR Post in Illinois, additional site for post list in Illinois, Library of Congress


 * Woodruff Post, Washburn 1913 - USGenWeb


 * 1883 Federal Pension- USGenWeb

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

World War II

 * Army Casualties U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

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

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records


 * 1855-1906 Naturalization Papers. Woodford County Court.
 * 1861-1901 Naturalization Records. Woodford County Court.
 * 1867-1906 Naturalization Records. Woodford County Court.
 * 1795-1925 Woodford County, Illinois Passport Applications Genealogy Trails History Group
 * 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1856-1991 Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 at Ancestry - index & images ($)

Newspapers and Obituaries

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * Newspapers Published in Woodford County  Illinois Newspaper Project
 * Chronicling America  The Library of Congress

Obituaries

 * Woodford County, Illinois, Prairie District Library, Obituaries, 1887 to Present. at Ancestry

Probate Records
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 Illinois State University (ISU) - search for Woodford County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the ISU IRAD Wiki page.

Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1772 - 1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry — index and images $
 * 1819 - 1988 at FamilySearch.org — images
 * 1842-1847 Probate Claim Dockets IRAD-ISU
 * 1869-1964 Probate Will Record IRAD-ISU
 * 1870-1956 Probate Inventory Record IRAD-ISU
 * 1877-1853 Probate Widow's Relinquishment and Selection Record IRAD-ISU
 * 1846-1866 Probate Order Book; Will Record 1869-1925; Guardian Record, 1866-1908; Probate Record, 1745-1876 Woodford County Court.

Public Records

 * 1868-1957 Almshouse Register IRAD-ISU Woodford County Almshouse Registers Index (1868–1957)
 * 1868-1893 Poor Farm Monthly Reports IRAD-ISU
 * 1917-1940 Poor Farm Case Files IRAD-ISU

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 Woodford 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 Woodford County are kept, see the Woodford County Courthouse page.

FamilySearch Centers

 * Normal Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Peoria Illinois FamilySearch Center


 * El Paso District Library - an affiliate library
 * Eureka Public Library District - an affiliate library
 * McLean County Genealogical Society - an affiliate library

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 - Local Governmental Records Listings Arranged by County

Public Libraries
Woodford County Public Libraries

Societies

 * Lexington Genealogical and Historical Society, Inc. 318 West Main Street Lexington, Illinois 61753 Phone 309-365-4591 E-mail:[mailto:thefortoflex@aol.com thefortoflex@aol.com] Facebook Website
 * Illinois Mennonite Historical & Genealogical Society 675 State Route 116 Metamora, IL 61548-7732 Phone 309-367-2551 E-Mail:[mailto:mennmuseum@mtco.com mennmuseum@mtco.com] Website
 * Woodford County Historical Society 112 North Main Street Eureka, IL 61530 E-mail:[mailto:miller061738@yahoo.com miller061738@yahoo.com] Facebook

Taxation

 * 1842-1879 Tax Sale Record IRAD-ISU
 * 1842-1878 Tax Forfeiture Record IRAD-ISU
 * 1853-1871 Tax Deed Affidaviats IRAD-ISU
 * 1860-1880 Tax Judgment Record IRAD-ISU
 * 1857-1888 Tax Assessment Abstracts IRAD-ISU

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.


 * Order Birth and Death Certificates Online

Birth Records

 * 1877-1916 Birth Record Index IRAD-ISU. Available at the FamilySearch Library.

Marriage Records

 * 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * Early Marriages in Woodford County, Illinois (Internet Archives)
 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHertitage($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1810-1934 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1841-1848 1841-1848 Early Marriages of Woodford County - USGenWeb
 * 1841-1901 Marriage Record Index IRAD-ISU
 * 1841-1902 Marriage Index. Woodford County Clerk. Items 2-3
 * 1841-1870 Early Marriages Performed in Woodford County, Illinois. by Lucy Palmer Frane. and FS Library Book 977.353 V25f

Death Records

 * 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — index, some images
 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1877-1915 Death Record Index IRAD-ISU. Available at the FamilySearch Library Item 4
 * 1910-1917 Death Record, Coroner's IRAD-ISU
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHertitage($)
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950 at Illinois State Archives - index
 * 1916-1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index, ($)
 * 1951-1971 Illinois Death Certificates, 1951–1971 at Illinois State Archives - index

Voter Registration

 * 1865-1890 Voter Registers IRAD-ISU

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 Counties

 * LaSalle
 * Livingston
 * Marshall
 * McLean
 * Peoria
 * Tazewell

Websites

 * Woodford County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Woodford County IL Genealogy
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook

Databases Pertinent to Woodford County Local Governmental Records Database Name Index to Illinois Local Governments Illinois Statewide Marriage Index Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916–1950 Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database Federal Township Plats of Illinois Woodford County Almshouse Registers Index (1868–1957)


 * Woodford County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History(Linkpendium)
 * Woodford County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History(Linkpendium)