Adams County, Illinois Genealogy

''This article is about a western Illinois county. For other uses, see Adams.''

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

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

Historical Records


Adams County is named for, the sixth President of the United States.

Description
The county was named for the sixth President of the United States, John Quincy Adams. The County Seat is Quincy and was founded 1825. It is located in the West-Central area of the state.

Boundary Changes

 * 13 January 1825 -- Adams County was created 13 January 1825 from Pike County. 03 August 1829: Hancock County fully organized, detached from Adams. (Scofield, 679) 03 March 1837: Adams boundaries were extended to the middle of the Mississippi River [not mapped]. (Ill. Laws 1836-1837, pp. 91-92) 11 February 1843: Adams lost to creation of Marquette (later Highland, extinct). (Ill. Laws 1842-1843, pp. 77-83) 27 Febrary 1847: Adams lost to Highland (extinct). (Ill. Laws 1846-1847, gen., pp. 38-41) by 31 December 1848: Adams gained all of Highland (extinct) when Highland failed to become fully organized as a county; Highland eliminated. (Wilcox, David F., 1:119-120) (source: Newberry Library)

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
1835 Fire burned the courthouse on 9 December; some records were lost or damaged. 1875 Fire destroyed the courthouse on 9 January. 1945 A tornado destroyed the courthouse on April 12.

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:

Biography

 * The History of Adams County, Illinois: containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc.; a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late Rebellion ... portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest, history of Illinois ... etc., etc. Reprint 1977 (original 1879)
 * The History of Adams County, Illinois: containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc.; a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men...miscellaneous matters, etc., etc., pub. 1879 ; Adams Co IL USGenWeb
 * The History of Adams County, Illinois: containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc.; a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men...miscellaneous matters, etc., etc., apparent reprint with index
 * Memorials to those involved in the legal profession, filed by the clerk, with birth and death dates, ca. 1807-1961,
 * Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois: including the late Colonel John Tillson's History of Quincy, together with biographical sketches of many of its leading and prominent citizens and illustrious dead; pub. 1905 ; Adams Co IL USGenWeb
 * Portrait and biographical record of Adams County, Illinois: containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens; pub. 1892. Google Books; Internet Archive; Ancestry ($);
 * Quincy and Adams County History, Vol. 1. pub. 1919 Adams County IL USGenWeb
 * Quincy and Adams County History, Vol. II, pub. 1919 Adams County IL USGenWeb
 * Adams County IL USGenWeb Message Board

Indexes

 * Naturalization index and bar association index, Adams County, Illinois; pub. 1993. WorldCat,

Cemeteries

 * GenealogyTrails.com. Find or add headstone transcriptions for Adams County Cemeteries.
 * Greenmount Cemetery. Over 30,000 are interred here.
 * Interment.net has some Adams County Cemetery Records available online.
 * Linkpendium. Has links to several Adams County Cemetery related websites.
 * Adams County Cemeteries. Has location by Twp/Sec, Township name, some addresses and phone numbers.
 * 1875-1985 Illinois, Quincy, Greenmount Cemetery Records, 1875-1985 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection; index

Census
1830 Census, Quincy only: Adams County ILGenWeb Project

1840 Census, Rural Adams County (No names from Quincy): Adams County ILGenWeb Project

1850 Census, Adams County, Illinois other libraries;

1860 Census, Adams County, Illinois other libraries;

1870 Census of Adams County, Illinois Internet Archive

The 1890 census burned. The Directories section includes a reference to an 1892 directory that can be used to learn who lived in the county at approximately the same time.

State

 * 1855, Index only
 * 1855, Name index to early Illinois records
 * 1855, State Census
 * 1865, State 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, Adams County on page 186.]

Church Records
Church records may give birth, death and marriage information as well as indictate family relationships. See Illinois state wiki article Church Records for more ideas about how to use church records in your research. Many libraries( WorldCat) and the hold abstracts of church records for Adams County. Learn more about how to search WorldCat and the FamilySearch Catalog.


 * Churches in Adams County. Courtesy of USGenWeb.


 * Inventory of the McDonough County Genealogical Society's church records, ca. 1830-1991

Anglican


 * 1891-1895 - St. John's Parish and Cathedral, Quincy, Marriage Index 1891-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

Baptist


 * Duncan, Robert S. The History of the Baptists in Missouri. Scammel and Co., St. Louis: 1882. Online free digital copy.Google Books.

Catholic


 * 1863–1906 St. Joseph's Church Death Register, Columbus Road. Courtesy of Genealogy Trails.


 * 1867 St. Mary's Church. Courtesy of USGenWeb.
 * 1867–1905 St. Joseph's Church Death Register, Bloomfield. Courtesy of Genealogy Trails.
 * 1880–1906 St. John's Church Death Register. Courtesy of Genealogy Trails.
 * 1898–1950 St. Peter's Church Minutes
 * St. Francis Church and School Quincy. Courtesy of USGenWeb.

Church of Christ


 * 1835 Pleasant View Christian Church. The History of Adams County, Illinois. Murray, Williamson and Phelps, Chicago: 1879. Online digital copy, Internet Archive. Page 969.
 * 1835 Ursa Christian Church.. The History of Adams County, Illinois. Murray, Williamson and Phelps, Chicago: 1879. Online digital copy, Internet Archive. Page 969.
 * 1860–1985 Bluff Fall Church (Formerly German Evengelical Zion (Lutheran) Church of Fall Creek. Courtesy of USGenWeb.
 * 1861–1896 Fowler Christian Church. Courtesy Kevin Fowler's Illinois History Page.

Evangelical


 * 1848–1923 Old Salem History and Cemetery. Courtesy of USGenWeb.

Evangelical Lutheran


 * 1851 St. James (St. Jacobi). Early births, deaths and membership record. Courtesy of USGenWeb.

Jewish


 * 1866–1916 Jewish Congregations.Courtesy of USGenWeb.

Lutheran


 * 1848–1952 Immanuel Lutheran Church, South Prairie. Courtesy of USGenWeb. Renamed Holy Cross.
 * 1851-1885 - St. James Lutheran Church, Quincy, Baptism Index 1851-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batches and.
 * 1851-1895 - St. James Lutheran Church, Quincy, Marriage Index 1851-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batches and.
 * 1863-1885 - St. Matthew's Church, Burton, Baptism Index 1863-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1863-1895 - St. Matthew's Church, Burton, Marriage Index 1863-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1875–1974 Trinity Lutheran Church. List of members. Courtesy of USGenWeb.

Methodist Episcopal


 * Methodist Episcopal Church. Illinois Conference. Columbia Circuit Membership roll
 * 1835–1919 Pleasant View Christian Church records
 * 1835-1929 - Methodist Episcopal Church, Payson, Baptism Index 1835-1929 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1835-1929 - Methodist Episcopal Church, Payson, Marriage Index 1835-1929 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1835-1929 - Methodist Episcopal Church, Payson, Death Index 1835-1929 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1854–1898 Methodist Episcopal Church–La Prarie Circuit
 * 1854-1895 - Methodist Episcopal Church - Illinois Conference - La Prairie Circuit Marriage Index 1854-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1855-1885 - Methodist Episcopal Church - Illinois Conference - La Prairie Circuit Baptism Index 1855-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1856–1907 Methodist Episcopal Church records - Payson Circuit
 * 1856-1885 - Methodist Episcopal Church - Illinois Conference - Payson Circuit Baptism Index 1856-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1856-1895 - Methodist Episcopal Church - Illinois Conference - Payson Circuit Marriage Index 1856-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1859 Ebenezer Chapel and Cemetery. History, Cemetery Records Courtesy of UsGenWeb.
 * 1861–1892 Methodist Episcopal Church records - Paloma Circuit
 * 1875-1885 - Camp Point and Hebron Methodist Episcopal Church, Camp Point, Baptism Index 1875-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1875-1895 - Camp Point and Hebron Methodist Episcopal Church, Camp Point, Marriage Index 1875-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1876–1906 Methodist Episcopal Church–Lorraine Circuit
 * 1888–1928 Bluffs Methodist Church records
 * 1892–1914 Methodist Episcopal Church records - Golden Circuit
 * 1892-1895 - Methodist Episcopal Church - Illinois Conference - Golden Circuit Baptism Index 1892-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1892-1895 - Methodist Episcopal Church - Illinois Conference - Golden Circuit Marriage Index 1892-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1892–1903 Melrose Episcopal Chapel Church records
 * 1895–1967 Richfield Christian Church records
 * 1896-1928 - Methodist Episcopal Church, Mendon, Baptism Index 1896-1928 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1911 - Methodist Episcopal Church, Mendon, Marriage Index 1911 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

Presbyterian


 * 1835 United Presbyterian Church (New Hope). The History of Adams County, Illinois. Murray, Williamson and Phelps, Chicago: 1879. Online digital copy, Internet Archive. Page 967.
 * 1871-1908 - Burton Memorial Presbyterian Church, Burton, Baptism Index 1871-1908 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1871-1905 - Burton Memorial Presbyterian Church, Burton, Marriage Index 1871-1905 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

United Methodist


 * 1888-1895 - Bluffs United Methodist Church Marriage Index 1888-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

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

Copies of original records


 * Chancery index
 * before 1850 Proof and final order index
 * 1820–1931 Chancery and other court records and index
 * 1825–1846 Circuit court related records
 * 1825–1849 County record and record of county commissioner's court
 * 1826–1850 People's case files
 * 1826–1953 Circuit Court Case Files Index, ChanceryIRAD–WIU
 * 1826–1844 Circuit court records (contains judgements and naturalizations)
 * 1826–1852 Execution dockets
 * 1827–1854 Chancery case files (includes guardianship and probate)
 * 1827–1850 Minutes
 * 1827–1854 Judgement dockets
 * 1827–1850 Fee bills and index
 * 1829–1845 Circuit Court RecordIRAD–WIU
 * 1830–1919 County Court and Probate IndexIRAD–WIU
 * 1833–1855 Fee books
 * 1837–1935 Chancery records - includes guardianship, divorce, and probate related records
 * 1837–1850 Certificates of land purchase
 * 1837–1850 Justice of the Peace records and index
 * 1837–1844 Miscellaneous case files and index
 * 1839 Judges docket
 * 1839–1853 Dockets
 * 1840–1852 Chancery docket
 * 1841–1899 Chancery complete records
 * 1842–1848 Court ledger books
 * 1845–1850 Jury lists
 * 1846–1849 Law and criminal record
 * 1846–1937 Certificates of Moral CharacterIRAD–WIU
 * 1851–1853 Circuit Court Case Files, DivorcesIRAD–WIU
 * 1853–1953 Circuit Court Record Index, ChanceryIRAD–WIU
 * 1855–1974 Circuit Court Judgment Dockets IRAD–WIU
 * 1855–1974 Judgement docket
 * 1858–1931 Index to court record Chancery
 * 1883–1933 Insanity proceedings
 * 1884–1937 Guardianship records index
 * 1945–1963 Jury Files IRAD–WIU


 * Judici.com, go back only to 1987.

Additional Resources

Additional resources for Adams County court records may be found in the and. 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.

Directories

 * Adams County, IL, 1892. Quincy, IL, USA: Stone &amp; Co., 1892. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

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

Germans
Archives, Libraries, and Museums Biographies Church Records Cemetery Records Court Records Histories Immigration/emigration/migration Maps Newspapers Societies

Mailing Lists
Rootsweb mailing lists:


 * iladams
 * il-cemeteries
 * il-civil-war
 * il-western
 * illinois-tttp
 * ilroots
 * ilobits
 * il-ghosttowns
 * il-old-news
 * il-history

Yahoogroups:


 * Illinois Trails
 * Illinois Genealogy

Message Boards
Rootsweb


 * Unknown County
 * Adams County

Genforum:


 * Illinois
 * Adams County

Adams County IL USGenWeb has its own message board Message Board

History

 * The History of Adams County, Illinois: Containing History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, etc., A Biographical Directory of Its Citizens, War Record of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics, Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men, History of the Northwest, History of Illinois, Map of Adams County, Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, etc., etc. Chicago: Murray, Williamson &amp; Phelps, 1879. Internet Archive; Ancestry ($); Reprint:
 * Collins, William Herzog. Past and Present of the City of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1905. Internet Archive; Ancestry ($)
 * Quincy and Adams County History and Representative Men. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1919. Internet Archive; Ancestry ($); World Vital Records ($).

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 Adams County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

Copies of original records


 * 1817–1860 Original land entry
 * 1817–1960 Recorder's Unclaimed Instruments IRAD–WIU
 * 1817–1833 Deed Record, TranscriptionIRAD–WIU
 * 1817–1818, 1853, 1855 Military land warrants
 * 1817–1861 Land Patent RecordIRAD–WIU
 * 1818–1832 Transcribed conveyances
 * 1818–1847 Old deeds and index
 * 1818–1927 Deed Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1823–1872 Land record
 * 1825–1827 Deeds and index
 * 1825–1892 Deed Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1832–1900 Quit claim deeds
 * 1834–1853 Land sold for tax
 * 1834–1873 Surveyor's records
 * 1835–1942 Real estate records
 * 1835–1852 Mortgage Entry Books IRAD–WIU
 * 1836–1852 Mortgages
 * 1836–1845 Mortgage Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1837–1900 Release deeds
 * 1837–1850 Certificates of land purchase
 * 1839–1900 Warranty deeds
 * 1840–1884 Chattel mortgage packets
 * 1840–1959 Chattel Mortgages IRAD–WIU
 * 1842–1941 Administrator's and executor's deeds
 * 1849–1874 Entry Books IRAD–WIU
 * 1850 Patent book
 * 1851–1857 Swamp Land Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1851–1855 Swampland Records
 * 1856–1931 Guardian deeds

Additional Resources

Additional resources for Adams County land and property may be found online in the and. 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 ($)
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Databases
 * Adams County Federal Township Plats
 * Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)
 * Adams County Deeds/Land courtesy USGenWeb Archives Illinois.

Maps

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
 * GIS Interactive map of Adams County
 * Township Map of 1870 Adams County, Illinois with numerous small settlements. (My Genealogy Hound)
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Military History and Records

 * 1860s - 1960s at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * County Recorder. Military land warrants, 1817-1818, 1853, 1855

Civil War
Civil War service men from Adams 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 Adams County.


 * - 1st Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company F.
 * - 2nd Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, (Adams County Cavalry) Company L.
 * - 3rd Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company F.
 * - 10th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861), Companies A, D, and E.
 * - 10th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
 * - 16th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, C, and H.
 * - 27th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.
 * - 50th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, and K.
 * - 78th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, E, F, G, I, and K.
 * - 84th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies E and I.
 * - 118th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies D, F, and K.
 * - 119th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, G, and I.
 * - 137th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies A, B, D, and G.
 * - 148th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, D, F, G, and H.
 * - 151st Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865), Company H.
 * - 13th Regiment, Missouri Infantry (Union), Company F :- 3rd Regiment, Enrolled Missouri Militia Cavalry (Union), Company C :- 3rd Regiment, Enrolled Missouri Militia Cavalry (Union), Company K


 * Adams County, militia rolls, book A, 1861-1862


 * Illinois military census, 1861-1862 A list, by county, of able-bodied male citizens between the ages of eighteen and forty-five in pursuance of General Orders No. 99 of the War Department and instructions of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois. Adams, Cook, JoDavies and Lake counties.

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.

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

The following copies of original records may be accessed through the Family History Library.


 * 1826–1844 Circuit court records (contains judgements and naturalizations)

Newspapers and Obituaries

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

Quincy Public Library
Historical Newspaper Archive is searchable by name and date range. Includes newspapers from 1835-1919.

Adams County Illinois GenWeb Obituary Index
Index to about 800 transcribed Obituaries &amp; Death Notices.

Poorhouses

 * 1873–1898 Almshouse Registers
 * 1906–1947 Poor Farm Account books IRAD–WIU

Adams County Almshouse Register Index, 1873-1898, courtesy: Illinois State Archives.

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 Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Adams County records. For information on how to use IRAD see theWIU IRAD Wiki page.

Copies of original records


 * 1826–1849 Probate letters of administration
 * 1826–1900 Probate Case Files IRAD–WIU
 * 1826–1964 Probate Case Files Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1826–1969 Probate Record Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1827–1849 Probate bonds
 * 1827–1854 Chancery case files (includes guardianship and probate)
 * 1830–1969 Probate index
 * 1830–1919 Probate and County Court Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1832–1938 Estate records and index (index to 1964)
 * 1836–1922, 1930, 1933 Original wills and probate papers
 * 1837–1908 Wills IRAD–WIU
 * 1837–1935 Chancery records - includes guardianship, divorce, and probate related records
 * 1837–1964 Probate Will Record Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1842–1941 Administrator's and executor's deeds
 * 1844–1943 Last wills and testaments and probate related papers
 * 1847–1849 Record
 * 1847–1849 Probate Minutes IRAD–WIU
 * 1849–1908 Probate Wills IRAD–WIU
 * 1849–1943 Probate orders and decrees
 * 1850–1890 Probate related letters and bonds
 * 1857–1925 Letters of administration, bonds and petitions
 * 1871–1931 Will boxes
 * 1883–1954 Widow's relinquishments and selections
 * 1883–1925 Probate letters of testamentary
 * 1897–1935 Conservator's bonds and letters
 * 1897–1920 Probate Will Record, Extra-Jurisdictional IRAD–WIU
 * 1900–1932 Letters of administration, de bonis non (of the goods not administered) with will annexed (1900–1929)
 * 1907–1925 Records of wills
 * 1909–1951 Partial index to Original wills and probate papers

Additional Resources

Additional resources for Adams County probates may be found in the and on  topic pages 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.

Online Resources

Adams County Will Records courtesy USGenWeb Archives Illinois.

Repositories
Inventory of the county archives of Illinois, no. 1''', Historical Records Survey, pub. 1939 '''

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

Family History Centers

 * Quincy Illinois Family History Center

To learn more about the genealogical resources available at Family History Centers, see Introduction to Family History Centers. For center hours and holiday closure information, see Quincy Illinois Family History Center.

Illinois Regional Archives Depository
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 Adams County.

Public Libraries
Camp Point Public Library District 206 E. State Street Camp Point, IL 62320 217-593-7021

Clayton Public Library District 211 East Main Street Clayton, IL 62324 217-894-6519

Four Star Public Library District 132 W. South Street Mendon, IL 62351 217-936-2131 Facebook

Quincy Public Library 526 Jersey Quincy, IL 62301 217-223-1309

Quincy Public Library hosts the valuable Quincy Historical Newspaper Archive as well as a photo archive that is part of the Illinois Digital Archives. They hold a weath of resources from Abraham Lincoln’s Quincy connections and Quincy’s Underground Railroad to early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) members and local records for genealogy research. Contact the Reference desk for help with Adams County genealogy.

Schools

 * 1883–1956 School teachers' daily registers IRAD–WIU

Societies
Great River Genealogical Society c/o Quincy Public Library 526 Jersey Street Quincy, IL 62301-3927 Phone 217-577-3222 E-mail:[mailto:sandersnl43@att.net sandersnl43@att.net] Facebook Website Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County] 425 South 12th Street Quincy, IL 62301-4303 Phone 217-222-1835 E-mail:[mailto:hsqac@sbcglobal.net hsqac@sbcglobal.net] Website

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 Adams 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 Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Adams County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.

To learn how to order birth, marriage, and death records, visit the County Clerk's website:

Adams County Clerk Vital Records Georgia Volm 507 Vermont St Quincy, IL 62301 217-277-2150

Births
Copies of Original Birth Records


 * 1855–1915 Birth Record Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1859–1915 Birth Certificate Index, Delayed IRAD–WIU
 * 1866–1903 Birth Records
 * 1877–1903 Birth Record IRAD–WIU

Marriages
Abstracts of Marriage Records


 * 1825–1899 Great River Genealogical Society. Marriages of Adams County, Illinois [Quincy, Illinois]: Great River Genealogical Society (Illinois), 1979. Many libraries (WorldCat)

Copies of original Marriage Records
 * 1810–1934 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1825–1926 Marriage records
 * 1825–1926 Marriage Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1825–1917 Marriage Record Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1834–1923 Adams County, Illinois marriage records

Some of the Family History Library's Collection of Adams County marriages have been digitized:.

Online Resources


 * 1587-1959 - Illinois, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
 * 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage indexfound at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index

Deaths
Copies of original Death Records


 * 1877–1990 Index to register of deaths IRAD–WIU
 * 1877–1915 Death Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1878–1972 Death Record Index IRAD–WIU

Online Resources
 * 1749-1999 - at FamilySearch — index, some images
 * 1850-1880 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950 at Illinois State Archives - index; ''Also at:

MyHeritage ($)''
 * 1850–1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 found at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1877-1990 Adams County, Illinois, U.S., Card Index to Deaths, 1877-1990 - index ($)


 * Brown County Permanent Resident Index (burials), courtesy: ILGenWeb

Divorce Records

 * 1837–1935 Chancery records - includes guardianship, divorce, and probate related records
 * 1851–1853 Circuit Court Case Files, Divorces IRAD–WIU

Additional Resources
Additional resources for Adams County births, marriages and deaths may be found in the and the  topic page 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.

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers
 * Quincy Illinois Family History Center

Websites

 * Adams County ILGenWeb
 * Adams County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Adams County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Adams County IL Genealogy