Shelby County, Illinois Genealogy

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



Description
Shelby County was named for Isaac Shelby, Governor of Kentucky and hero of the Revolutionary War. The county seat is Shelbyville and the county was organized on 1827. The county is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Shelby County Courthouse 301 E Main St Shelbyville, IL 62565 Phone: 217-774-4212 Shelby County Courthouse

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

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:

Biographies

 * The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Shelby County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Shelby County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

Census Records
 1840 Pensioners
 * 1850-1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 at Ancestry ($)
 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. Washington, D.C., 1841. ; . Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Illinois, Shelby County on page 188.

Church Records
Timeline of some of the major churches in Shelby County:
 * 1825 Methodist Episcopal (M.E.) Church in Shelbyville was the pioneer church in the county
 * 1832 Church of Christ (Baptist) in Shelbyville. Their first meetinghouse was built in 1843. 1839 - Walnut Grove Presbyterian Church. This congregation did not thrive.
 * 1832 Ash Grove Baptist Church south of Windsor
 * 1834 Sand Creek
 * 1843-1852 Shelbyville Presbyterian Church
 * 1844 Union Church, aka Union Predestinarian Baptist Church, aka Flat Branch Church located at Pleak (or Pleak's Corner), Flat Branch Township
 * 1850 St. Paul's Reformed Church located northwest of Shelbyville
 * 1852 Shelbyville Presbyterian Church organized at Prairie Bird. First building condtructed in Shelbyville in 1856
 * 1859 Windsor Baptist Church
 * 1860 Antioch Baptist Church
 * 1860 Bethany Baptist Church
 * 1860 Welborn Creek Baptist Church
 * 1860 West Okaw Presbyterian Church in Prairie Home.
 * 1862 Shelbyville Baptist Church was the second Baptist Church organized in the County after the original Church of Christ created in 1832
 * 1867 Tower Hill Presbyterian Church
 * 1867 Moweaqua Presbyterian Church.
 * 1875 African Methodist Episcopal (M.E.) Church in Shelbyville
 * 1881 Cowden Free Methodist was the first Free Methodist church organized in the county. Several others have been organized since.

 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 Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Shelby County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.

Online Court Indexes and Records
 * 1827-1847 Circuit Court Dockets IRAD–EIU
 * 1828-1871 Circuit Court Case Files IRAD–EIU
 * 1828-1871 Shelby County Circuit Court Case Files Index (Illinois State Archives)

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
 African Americans
 * African American Research (US) has more information about the kinds of records
 * Illinois African-American Resource Guide by the Illinois State Archives describes what records are at the State Archives with an online method for ordering records.
 * African-American Resources for Illinois

Land and Property Records
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 FamilySearch Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Shelby County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.

Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1827-1926 Deed records and indexes
 * 1827-1926 Deed Record IRAD-EIU Search for Shelby County records.
 * 1828-1892 Deed IndexIRAD-EIU Search for Shelby County records. Information about how to use IRAD
 * 1833-1891 Land book: record of taxable lands
 * 1985 Land atlas and plat book
 * Family Maps. Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Shelby County, Illinois. Norman, Oklahoma: Arphax Pub. Co., c2007.
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)
 * 1796-1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry ($)
 * Shelby County Federal Township Plats
 * 1800s – Present Use the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land Patent Index to obtain original federal land transfer records, including homestead, military warrants, and cash entry patents. These records help a researcher establish location and lead to National Archives’ records which may include genealogical information. Earlier land transfer records are at the National Archives.

Local Histories

 * The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Shelby County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Shelby County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1788-1940 Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
 * Shelby County Federal Township Plats
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

 * The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Shelby County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Shelby County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

 Civil War Regiments. Civil War service men from Shelby 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 Shelby County.
 * - 3rd Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company M.
 * - 5th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company G.
 * - 7th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company H.
 * - 14th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 7th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company H.
 * - 35th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
 * - 41st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.
 * - 53rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
 * - 54th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies F and H.
 * - 115th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B and G.
 * - 116th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.
 * - 126th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 143rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company G.

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 Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Shelby County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1874-1888 Naturalization Dockets IRAD–EIU
 * 1858-1895 Naturalization Record IRAD–EIU
 * 1870-1888 Naturalization Record of Minors IRAD–EIU
 * 1904-1907 Naturalization Record of Minors IRAD–EIU
 * 1876-1888 Naturalization Record, Final IRAD–EIU
 * 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1856-1991 Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 at Ancestry - index and images ($)

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * USGenWeb, Shelby County, Illinois (ILGenWeb), Obituaries and Death Notices

Other Records
 Poor House records
 * 1870-1942 Almshouse Registers IRAD–EIU

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 FamilySearch Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Shelby County records. For information on how to use IRAD see theEIU IRAD Wiki page.

Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1772-1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1819-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
 * 1828-1922 Probate records
 * 1839-1869 Probate Record IRAD–EIU
 * 1854-1890 Probate MinutesIRAD–EIU
 * 1859-1894 Probate Administrator's RecordIRAD–EIU
 * 1859-1905 Probate Executor's Record IRAD–EIU
 * 1819-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
 * 1869-1873 Probate Inventory, Appraisement and Sale Record IRAD–EIU
 * 1870-1918 Probate Will Record IRAD–EIU
 * 1872-1895 Probate Guardian's RecordIRAD–EIU
 * 1872-1894 Probate Inventory RecordIRAD–EIU
 * 1872-1922 Probate Miscellaneous RecordIRAD–EIU
 * 1874-1881 Probate Sale Record, Real Estate IRAD–EIU
 * 1884-1889 Probate Administrator's and Executor's Final Reports IRAD–EIU

School Records

 * 1891-1971 School teachers' daily registers IRAD–EIU

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records
 * 1828-1891 Taxable Lands Lists IRAD–EIU

Vital Records
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the Shelby 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 FamilySearch Library and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Shelby County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.

Birth

 * 1848-1915 Birth Certificates and index
 * 1848-1915 Birth Certificates - IRAD-EIU Search for Shelby County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1848-1906 Birth Record Index - IRAD-EIU Search for Shelby County records.

Marriage

 * 1827-1831 Marriage licenses
 * 1827-1922 Marriage records and index
 * 1827-1922 Marriage Record IRAD-EIU Search for Shelby County records.
 * 1854-1871 Marriage records
 * 1871-1876 Marriage License Applications IRAD-EIU Search for Shelby County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1878-1906 Marriage Record Index - IRAD-EIU Search for Shelby County records.
 * 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1790-1860 Illinois Marriage index at Ancestry ($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1810-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images

Death

 * 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1878-1917 Death records and index
 * 1878-1917 Death Record IRAD-EIU Search for Shelby County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1878-1902 Death Record Index IRAD-EIU Search for Shelby County records.
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950 at Illinois State Archives - index
 * 1916-1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * 1919-1984 Coroner's Inquest Files IRAD–EIU
 * 1926-1975 Coroner's Inquest Record IRAD–EIU
 * 1951-1971 Illinois Death Certificates, 1951–1971 at Illinois State Archives - index
 * 1952-1955 Death Certificates, Coroner - IRAD-EIU Search for Shelby County records.

Archives
Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) The Illinois State Archives administers a system of Illinois Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD) to manage the archival records of local governments. Local governments which have transferred records to the regional depositories include counties, townships, municipalities, and school districts. The records of Shelby County come under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) regional depository. Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) Booth Library 600 Lincoln Avenue Charleston, IL 61920 Phone: 217-581-6093

FamilySearch Centers

 * Champaign Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Decatur Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Jacksonville Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Litchfield Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Mattoon Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Springfield Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Athens Municipal Library - an affiliate library
 * Chatham Area Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Dry Point Township Library County Highway 651 Cowden, IL 62422 Phone: 217-783-2616 Herrick Township Public Library 303 North Broadway Herrick, IL 62431 Phone: 618-428-5223 Moweaqua Public Library District 600 North Putnam Street Moweaqua, IL 62550 Phone: 217-768-4700 Website Shelbyville Public Library 154 North Broadway Shelbyville, IL 62565 Phone: 217-774-4432 Website Windsor Storm Memorial Public Library District 102 South Maple Windsor, IL 61957 Phone: 217-459-2498 Website

Societies
Moweaqua Historical Society 129 S Main Street Moweaqua, IL 62550 Phone: 217-768-3019 Shelby County, Illinois Historical and Genealogical Society 151 South Washington Street Shelbyville, IL 62565 Phone: 217-774-2260 Email: [mailto:shelbycounty@consolidated.net shelbycounty@consolidated.net] Facebook

Websites

 * Shelby County IL Genealogy
 * Shelby County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Shelby ILGenWeb
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.