Illinois, Soldier Burial Places - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This collection consists of a name index from a card file of soldiers buried in the state of Illinois. Most of these soldiers served from 1774 to 1898.

Record Content
These records usually contain the following information:


 * Name
 * Rank
 * Company
 * Regiment or vessel
 * Death date
 * Name of cemetery
 * Location of cemetery (city and county)
 * Location of grave
 * Information about monument

How to Use the Record
To begin your search it is helpful to know the name of the soldier along with some other identifying information such as death date or burial place.

Search the Collection
To search the collection by name fill in the requested information in the boxes on the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the individuals in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to look at the information on several individuals comparing the information about them to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names, or variations of their name, throughout their life.

For tips about searching on-line collections see the wiki article FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.

Using the Information
Once you have located your ancestor’s burial record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Burial records are often brief so it can be easy confuse individuals.

Next, look at the pieces of information given in the burial record for new information. Add any new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors. For example:


 * The cemetery sexton may be able to provide you with the name of the undertaker or mortuary. This could lead you to funeral records which often include the names and residences of other family members.
 * Use the time period the soldier was living and the location to search for other records such as census and church records.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname, this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?

 * Check for variant spellings of the surnames.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby cemeteries.

Related Websites
Illinois State Archives

Related Wiki Articles
Illinois Cemeteries

Citations for This Collection
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information; that is, cite your sources. This will help people find the record again and evaluate the reliability of the source. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records. Citations are available for the collection as a whole and each record or image individually.

Collection Citation:

Record Citation (or citation for the index entry):