Stark County, Illinois Genealogy

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

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

Historical Facts
Stark County was named for John Stark who was an officer during the American Revolution and was known as the "Hero of Bennington" because of his exemplary service at the Battle of Bennington.

Parent County

 * 1839--Stark County was created 2 March 1839 from Knox and Putnam Counties. County seat: Toulon

Description
The county was named for General Colonel John Stark,(August 28, 1728 – May 8, 1822) who served in the American Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He became widely known as the "Hero of Bennington" for his exemplary service at the Battle of Bennington in 1777. The county seat is Toulon and the county was organized on 1839. The County is located in the Northwest 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.

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

Neighboring Counties

 * Bureau
 * Henry
 * Knox
 * Marshall
 * Peoria

Cemeteries
The following web sites have additional information on Stark county cemeteries.
 * GenealogyTrails.com. Has a list of Stark County Cemeteries.


 * Illinois Ancestors Tombstone Project. Find or submit Stark County tombstone photos.


 * Linkpendium. Has links to several Stark County Cemetery related websites.


 * Epodunk has a list of Stark County Cemeteries. The website provides name of cemetery, address and telephone number when available, Google Map with cemetery marker, and other helpful Internet links.


 * The Illinois State Genealogical Society's "Cemetery Location Project" has identified many Stark County Cemeteries.

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

 * Leeson, M. A. Documents and biography pertaining to the settlement and progress of Stark County, Illinois: containing an authentic summary of records, documents, historical works and newspapers relating to Indian history, original settlement, organization and politics, courts and bar, citizen soldiers, military societies, marriages, churches, schools, secret, benevolent and literary societies, etc.: together with biography of representative men of the past and present. Chicago: M.A. Leeson &amp; Co., 1887. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * Stark County, Illinois and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement. Chicago: Pioneer Pub. Co., 1916. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * Shallenberger, E. H. Stark County and Its Pioneers. Cambridge, Ill.: B.W. Seaton, Prairie Chief Office, book and job printer, 1989. 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 Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Stark County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.


 * 1817–1851 Fuller book
 * 1820–1984 Grantor index
 * 1820–1907 Deed records
 * 1874–1902 Grantee index
 * 1882–1891 Deed record IRAD–WIU

Additional Resources

Additional resources for Stark County land and property may be found online in the. Online microfilm are indicated by the camera icon in the catalog entry. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Online Resources


 * Beginning 1820 Land Patent Search See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database.
 * 1796–1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry.com ($)
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
 * Stark County Federal Township Plats

Maps

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)

Civil War
Civil War service men from Stark 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 Stark County.


 * - 7th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
 * - 19th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 37th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 65th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (Scotch Regiment), Companies A and I.
 * - 112th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, E and F.
 * - 139th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company H.
 * - 151st Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865), Company I.

Poorhouse

 * 1868–1941 Almshouse Registers IRAD–WIU


 * Stark County Almshouse Registers Index, 1868-1941, courtesy: Illinois State Archives

Probate Records
Online Probate 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 copies of original records may be accessed through, the Family History Library.

1840–1911 Probate records (and index)

Additional Resources
Additional resources for Stark County probates may be found in the topic page of the FamilySearch Catalog. Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche can be available for viewing at Family History Centers. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

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

Family History Center
There are over 4500 Family History Centers in more than 80 countries offering public access to genealogical records from all over the world. Family History Centers provide patrons with access to over a billion online records and approximately 2.5 million circulating microfilms. Centers are staffed by local volunteers who are eager to provide genealogical research assistance. Currently there are no Family History Centers located directly in Stark County. To find the nearest Family History Center, check out the Family Search Centers page on the FamilySearch.org website.

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. Western Illinois University houses the records for Stark County.

Public Libraries
Ira C. Reed Public Library 302 Commercial Street Lafayette, IL 61449 Tel: 309-995-3042 Emai: [mailto:irclibrary@winco.net irclibrary@winco.net] Facebook

Toulon Public Library District 306 W. Jefferson Street Toulon, IL 61483 Tel: 309-286-5791 Fax: 309-286-4481 Email: [mailto:toulon.library@gmail.com toulon.library@gmail.com] Facebook

Wyoming Public Library District 119 N. Seventh St. Wyoming, IL 61491 Tel: 309-695-2241 Fax: 309-695-2241 Facebook

Societies
Stark County Genealogical Society 207 W. Main Street Toulon, IL 61483-0083 E-mail:[mailto:starkcogene@yahoo.com starkcogene@yahoo.com] Website

Stark County Historical Society 318 W. Jefferson Street Toulon, IL 61483 Telephone Number: 309-286-7079

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 Stark County Clerk while those recorded after 1916 are kept by theIllinois 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 Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Stark County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.

Births

 * 1865–1904 Birth Certificates
 * 1877–1904 Birth Certificates IRAD–WIU

Marriages

 * 1839–1982 Marriage register index
 * 1839–1931 Marriage register
 * 1839–1931 Marriage Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1839–1982 Marriage Record Index IRAD–WIU

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
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index

Deaths

 * 1877-1901 Death Record IRAD–WIU

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

Additional Resources
Additional resources for Stark births, marriages and deaths may be found in the topic page and the  topic page of the FamilySearch Catalog. Online microfilm are indicated by the camera icon in the catalog entry. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Websites

 * Stark County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Stark County IL Genealogy
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Stark County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Stark County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)