Coles County, Illinois Genealogy

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

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

Historical Facts
Coles County is named for who was the second Governor of the State of Illinois.

Description
The county was named for Edward Coles, the second governor of Illinois from 1822 to 1826. The County Seat is Charleston and was founded December 25, 1830. It is located in the Central area of the state.

Boundary Changes

 * 25 December 1830: - Coles County was created from Clark and Edgar

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.


 * Towns, Townships and their dates of creation. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

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

Biography

 * The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Coles County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Coles County residents.  See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.  Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Coles County, 1897, no circulation to Family History Centers
 * The history of Coles County, Illinois, 1879, FamilySearch Digital Library
 * An index to the biographical sketches, 1963
 * History of Coles County, Illinois, 1879 . Available online at Family History Library only.
 * Portrait and biographical album of Coles County, Ill., 1887, no circulation to Family History Centers.

Cemeteries

 * Genealogy Trails
 * ePodunk

Federal
For tips on accessing census records online, see Illinois Census.

1840

 * 1840 Federal census, Coles County, Illinois
 * Transcribed 1840 Federal census presented by Genealogy Trails

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, Coles County on page 186.]

1850

 * U. S. federal census 1850, Coles County, Illinois
 * U.S. federal census, 1850, Coles County, Illinois
 * Transcribed U.S. federal census, Coles County - presented by Genealogy Trails

1860

 * U. S. 1860 census, Coles County, Illinois

1870
United States federal census, 1870, Coles County, Illinois

Church History and Records
Church records can 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.


 * The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Coles County edition. Internet Archive Free Digital Copy Local church history is found in individual township histories, beginning on page 685. For addtional available copies, see the wiki article Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois.

Baptist

Whetstone Creek, Coles County, Illinois, records of Freewill Baptist Church, 1844-1905. Manuscript on film. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1949.

Church of Christ

History of the Wiley Brick Church. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Presbyterian

Hebron Presbyterian Church (Brooks family extracts) Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Loxa Presbyterian Church. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Union Cumberland Presbyterian, 1904–1971. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Court Records
Court records may give a person’s age, residence, occupation, and family relationships. Friends and neighbors may have given depositions as witnesses. See Court Records for more information about court records. Original court records are housed at the Coles Circuit Court Clerks office as well as the IRAD depository at Eastern Illinois University. See IRAD–EIU for more information about using this depository. Original records at EIU are as following:

1832–1935 Circuit Clerk's Miscellaneous Files. IRAD–EIU Search for Coles County records. 1832–1890 Circuit Court Case Files. IRAD–EIU 1835–1910 Circuit Court Record, Chancery Circuit Court IRAD–EIU 1835 County Clerk's Miscellaneous Files IRAD–EIU 1869–1873 Court of Common Pleas Case Files (Mattoon) IRAD–EIU 1869–1873 Court of Common Pleas Case Files (Mattoon) IRAD Online Index Copies of these case files can be orders from IRAD-EIU.

Directories

 * The Farmer's review, farm directory of Coles and Douglas counties, Illinois, 1918 (reprint 198?)
 * Mattoon (Illinois) city directories, 1902, 1904-1905, 1910 and 1911, 1927
 * Polk's Charleston (Coles Co., Ill.) city directory, 1972-
 * Polk's Mattoon (Coles Co., Ill.) city directory, 1973-
 * Transcription of 1918 Farmer's Directory - presented by Genealogy Trails

African American
The following have information concerning African American research.


 * African American Research (US) has more information about the kinds of records
 * Photographic Images and the History of African Americans in Coles County Illinois (Eastern Illinois University)


 * 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

Funeral Homes

 * Business records, 1912-1929, Newman &amp; Harper Mortuary

History

 * Every Name Index to History of Coles County, Illinois. Every Name Index compiled by Cathy L. O'Connor, 2012, original text by William Le Baron, Jr., 1879.  EveryNameIndex.com


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


 * History of Coles County (1905). Courtesy of Illinois Trails

Land and Property
Illinois Land and Property for more information. 1830-present The original land and property records for Coles County are held by the County Clerk. See the info box above for contact information. The following copies are available:


 * 1830–1886 Deed Records Index. 
 * 1831–1919 Deed Records. 
 * [No land and property record holdings noted in IRAD-EIU Coles County Listing.] Search for Coles County records. Information about how to use IRAD

Online Resources


 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)
 * 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.
 * Abstracts of Coles County Land Patents found in the BLM Land Patent Index. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Maps

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)


 * Coles County Federal Township Plats
 * Ogle, Geo. A. Standard Atlas of Coles County, Illinois. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1987. Other Libraries (WorldCat)
 * U.S., Indexed Early Land Ownership and Township Plats, 1785–1898. Database online. Ancestry ($).

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

Civil War
Civil War service men from Coles 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 Coles County.


 * - 1st Regiment, Illinois Cavalry. Company C.
 * - 5th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies B and E.
 * - 7th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 8th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861), Company C.
 * - 8th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
 * - 10th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies H and M.
 * - 21st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 25th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.
 * - 38th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.
 * - 41st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
 * - 54th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, C, G, I and K.
 * - 55th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 59th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.
 * - 62nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies C, E, and K.
 * - 63rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 68th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
 * - 97th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.
 * - 109th Regiment, Indiana Infantry
 * - 123rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry Companies A, C, D, H, I and K.
 * - 130th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
 * - 135th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company K.


 * - 143rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies A and K.


 * Genealogy Trails - Coles County Civil War Soldiers (accessed 20 September 2011) Lists Civil War soldiers from Coles County along with their regiments and residences.


 * Eastern Illinois University Bulletin. Coles County in the Civil War 1861-1865. (accessed 31 May 2011)

Naturalization and Citizenship
Coles County has naturalization records in county circuit and Mattoon city court records. Naturalization records may reveal immigration and family information. See Illinois Naturalization for more infomation about this record group. Copies of Coles county naturalization records held at the IRAD depository at Eastern Illinois University are as follows. See IRAD–EIU for more information about this depository.


 * 1910–1927 Naturalization Certificate Stubs, City Court (Mattoon)IRAD–EIU Search for Coles County records.
 * 1894–1946 Naturalization Declarations fo Intent, Circuit Court.IRAD–EIU
 * 1911–1930 Naturalization Petition Record, Circuit Court.IRAD–EIU
 * 1908–1927 Naturalization Petition Records, City Court (Mattoon).IRAD–EIU
 * 1872–1888 Naturalization Record, Circuit Court.IRAD–EIU   Online images
 * 1894–1906 Naturalization Record, County Court.IRAD–EIU    Online images

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

Newspapers and Obituaries
Obituary index courtesy of Illinois Trails.

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:

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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


 * See Illinois Probate Records for more information.

Original Coles County probate records are available at the Coles County Courthouse. See Illinois Probate Records wiki page for more information about using probate records. The following copies of probate records are available:


 * 1866–1886 – Online Images Browse the images.
 * 1846–1862 – Online Images Browse the images.
 * 1998-1909 – Online Images Browse the images.
 * 1923-1925 – Online Images Browse the images.
 * 1900–1909 – Online Images. Browse.
 * 1903–1918 – Online Images. Browse.
 * 1918–1923 – Online Images. Browse.

Deed records can often include family relationship information.


 * 1830–1886 Deed Records Index.
 * 1831–1919 Deed Records. No probate records for Coles County are listed at IRAD. The following probate abstracts are available:


 * Sargent, Samuel S. Genealogies of Families of Coles County, Illinois, and Miscellaneous Cemetery, Marriage, and Probate Records. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1948. Microproduction of typescript.

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

Family History Centers
There are over 4500 Family History Centers worldwide which serve as branch facilities of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Volunteers provide research assistance to help patrons identify their ancestors. Microfilm and microfiche may be ordered from the FHL collection at a nominal cost. Locate your nearest Family History Center at the FamilySearch website. Call ahead to verify operating hours. All are welcome. The following centers are accessible to residents of Coles County, Illinois:

Champaign Illinois Family History Center 604 W Windsor Rd Champaign, Champaign, Illinois Phone: 217-352-8063 Hours: Thur-Sat 9:30-12:30pm; Thur 7pm-9pm; or by appt]]

Danville Illinois Family History Center 1941 N Bowman Ave Danville, Vermilion, Illinois Phone: 217-446-5887 Hours: Sat 9:30am-2pm

Linton Indiana Family History Center 1000 W Lone Tree Rd Linton, Greene, Indiana Phone: 812-847-9044 Hours: Wed. 6 - 9 pm, Sat 9 - 2

Terre Haute Indiana Family History Center 1845 N 6 1/2 St Terre Haute, Vigo, Indiana Phone: 812-234-0269 Hours: Tue 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Closed: Mondays after 6:00 p.m., all major holidays, inclement weather, whenever Vigo school are on delays or early dismissals. Attention: The Center is also available by appointment.

Please note: Addresses posted are not mailing addresses. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries

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 Clark County come under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) regional depository.

Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) Booth Library Eastern Illinois University (EIU) 600 Lincoln Avenue Charleston, IL 61920 Telephone: (217) 581-6093 Hours: Monday – Friday, except state holidays 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Note: The depository is staffed by graduate student interns. Because of class scheduling conflicts, hours may vary somewhat from the published schedule. Researchers are urged to call before planning a visit.

Public Libraries
Charleston Public Library 712 Sixth Street Charleston, IL 61920–2147 Phone: 217–345–4913

Houses the Coles County Illinois Genealogical Society collection of books and materials. Explore the society's online list of materials.

Mattoon Public Library 1600 Charleston Avenue Mattoon, IL 61938 Phone:1– 217–234–2621

Societies
Coles County Illinois Genealogical Society. Explore online databases provided by the Coles County Illinois Genealogical Society.

Vital Records
Illinois Vital Records for more information. See also How to order Illinois Vital Records or order electronically online.

The website of the Coles County Clerk &amp; Recorder includes information and order forms for ordering birth, marriage, and death records.

Births
1878–present The original Coles County birth records 1878- present are housed in the office of the County Clerk. The following copies are available:


 * 1860-1915 Birth Certificates, Delayed - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1878-1915 Birth Record Index – IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records.

The following abstract are available: Birth abstracts Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Marriages
1831–present The original Coles County marriage records 1831-present are housed in the office of the County Clerk. The following copies are available:


 * 1831–1929 Marriage Record - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records. How to use IRAD

The following marriage indexes are available:
 * 1587-1959 - Illinois, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1810–1934 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1978-1987 Coles county Genealogical Society. Marriages, Coles County, Illinois. Charleston, Illinois: Coles County, Illinois Genealogical Society, 1978-1987. 3 vols. Other Libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1831–1846 Courtesy of Illinois Genealogy Express
 * 1851–1870 Courtesy of Illinois Genealogy Express
 * 1878-1929 Marriage Record Index - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records.

The following abstracts are available:


 * 1831–1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 (1831-1900 for Coles County)
 * 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry.com ($) Coles County covers 1831–1900. Incomplete.
 * Marriages Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Deaths
1878–present The original Coles County death records 1878-present are housed in the office of the County Clerk. The following copies are available:


 * 1878-1918 Death Record - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1878-1913 Death Record Index - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records.
 * 1910-1917 Death Record, Coroner - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records.
 * 1887-1909 Death Record, Stillbirths - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records.

The following abstracts are available:


 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 (No data for Coles County as of Nov 2012. Check back again as records are being added.)
 * 1916-1950 Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916-1950 (1916-1950 for Coles County)
 * 1916-1950 Index to Deaths Courtsey of Illinois Trails.
 * Mattoon death certificate abstracts. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Mortality Schedules
 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images

Websites
Databases pertinent to Coles County


 * Coles County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Coles County IL Genealogy
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Local Governmental Records Database IRAD
 * Name Index to Illinois Local Governments IRAD
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Coles County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History(Linkpendium)
 * Coles County Illinois Genealogy Trails - no links, just free transcribed data
 * EveryNameIndex.com  Free online genealogy indexes for those big old county histories.