Adams County, Illinois Genealogy

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

United States Illinois Adams County

Adams County Organization
Adams County's civil records start the following years:

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.

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)


 * Interactive map of Adams County boundary changes.

Record Loss
9 December 1835: - Courthouse burned and many records were damaged. 9 January 1875: - Courthouse burned again, and may records damaged.

For further information on researching in burned counties, see Burned Counties Research.

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. Adams County IL USGenWeb; 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
Find A Grave, list of cemeteries. Additional information can be found at local level (city, township, etc.)


 * A report on Hunsaker burial grounds in Illinois, pub. 1959, Q. Maurice Hunsaker, President, Hunsaker Family Organization.

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

Federal

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 Quincy Public Library

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, State Census FamilySearch 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 History
Inventory of the McDonough County Genealogical Society's church records, ca. 1830-1991 Assembly of God, Eagle Church - [United] Methodist Church, Scotia - FHL film 1787898 [United] Methodist Church, Tennessee - [United] Pentecostal Church of Macomb - other areas [not a lot of material] that include Fulton, Adams and Knox counties. FHL film 1787899 item 1

Church Records

 * Methodist Episcopal Church. Illinois Conference. Columbia Circuit Membership roll
 * 1835–1919 Pleasant View Christian Church records
 * 1854–1898 Methodist Episcopal Church–La Prarie Circuit
 * 1856–1907 Methodist Episcopal Church records - Payson Circuit
 * 1861–1892 Methodist Episcopal Church records - Paloma Circuit
 * 1876–1906 Methodist Episcopal Church–Lorraine Circuit
 * 1888–1928 Bluffs Methodist Church records
 * 1892–1914 Methodist Episcopal Church records - Golden Circuit
 * 1892–1903 Melrose Episcopal Chapel Church records
 * Methodist Episcopal Church. Illinois Conference. Columbia Circuit Membership roll
 * 1895–1967 Richfield Christian Church records
 * 1898–1950 St. Peter's Church Minutes

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. Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche can be ordered for viewing at Family History Centers. Copies of books found in the FHLC may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the Family History Library 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

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/Ancestry


 * 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 in the and. Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche can be ordered for viewing at Family History Centers. Copies of books found in the FHLC may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the Family History Library 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
 * Adams County Federal Township Plats

Maps

 * GIS Interactive map of Adams County

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.
 * - 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.


 * 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.

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
The Adams County ILGenWeb Project has a nice collection of Obituaries &amp; Death Notices.

Poorhouses

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

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

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 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 Family History Library catalog (FHLC). Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche can be ordered for viewing at Family History Centers. Copies of books found in the FHLC may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the Family History Library Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

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 210 Cardinal Terrace Quincy, IL 62301 217-224-3220

To learn more about the genealogical resources available at Family History Centers, see Introduction to LDS 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 Tel: 217-593-7021

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

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

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

Schools

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

Vital Records
See Illinois Vital Records for more information about Vital records in Illinois.

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 IndexIRAD–WIU
 * 1859–1915 Birth Certificate Index, DelayedIRAD–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


 * 1825–1926 Marriage records
 * 1825–1926 Marriage RecordIRAD–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


 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
 * 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage indexfound at Ancestry.com ($)

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


 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916
 * 1850–1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 found at Ancestry.com ($)


 * 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, DivorcesIRAD–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 Family History Library catalog (FHLC). Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche can be ordered for viewing at Family History Centers. Copies of books found in the FHLC may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the Family History Library Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Websites

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