Woodford County, Illinois Genealogy

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

Cemeteries
The following web site has additional information on Woodford county cemeteries.
 * ePodunk list of Woodford County cemeteries gives the names of the cemeteries in the county with a link to more information such as address, phone number, and website.

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 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 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
 * 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
Original land records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See Illinois Land and Property for more information about using land records.

1841-1928 Deed Index IRAD-ISU

1833-1928 Deed Record IRAD-ISU

Land Records available at the Family History Library

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 FHL 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.

Military Records
For information about using military records see Illinois Military Records

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
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 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.

1855-1906 Naturalization Papers. Woodford County Court.

1861-1901 Naturalization Records. Woodford County Court.

1867-1906 Naturalization Records. Woodford County Court.

Online Records


 * 1800-1998 - at FamilySearch — index and images


 * 1795-1925 - Woodford County, Illinois Passport Applications Genealogy Trails History Group

Newspapers and Obituaries
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
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 abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through the Family History 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.

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

Probate records available at the Family History Library

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.

Family History Centers
Family History Centers (FHCs) are branches of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah (United States) and are located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources to assist you in the research and study of your genealogy. Currently there are no Family History Centers located directly in Woodford County.

You may search your address for a center near you on the FamilySearch site. The following centers are located in surrounding counties. Their wiki pages may supply hours and other information.

Family History Centers FamilySearch

Illinois,_Woodford Family History Library Holdings

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 Telephone Number: 309-365-4591 E-mail:[mailto:thefortoflex@aol.com thefortoflex@aol.com] Website

Woodford County Historical Society

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 Family History 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


 * 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 FHL Book 977.353 V25f

Death Records

 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images


 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916


 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950


 * 1877-1915 Death Record Index IRAD-ISU. Available at the Family History Library Item 4


 * 1910-1917 Death Record, Coroner's IRAD-ISU

Voter Registration

 * 1865-1890 Voter Registers IRAD-ISU

Neighboring Counties

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

Websites

 * Woodford County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Woodford County IL Genealogy
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * 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)