Clay County, Illinois Genealogy

United States Illinois Clay County

Clay County Organization
Clay 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 Clay County are kept, see the Clay County Courthouse page

Historical Facts
Clay County is named for who is known for authoring the "Missouri Compromise."

Boundary Changes

 * 23 December 1824: -- Clay County was created from Wayne, Lawrence and Fayette Counties.


 * Interactive map of Clay County boundary changes.

Biography

 * Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois - note film 825601 can not be circulated to family history centers.
 * History of Wayne and Clay Counties, Illinois

Cemeteries
Illinois Cemeteries for more information. Find A Grave, list of cemeteries. Additional information can be found at local level (city, township, etc.)


 * Clay Co. IL USGenWeb Tombstone Project usually gives the names of the deceased in alphabetical order by last name with birth and death dates plus any remarks.


 * Illinois Cemeteries by county.

Census
For information and tips on accessing census records online, see Illinois 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, Clay County on page 186.]

Catholic
FamilySearch has made parish records from two Belleville Diocese Catholic churches in Clay County available online. The records include first communions, confirmations, marriages, and deaths:


 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.

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

Land and Property
Illinois Land and Property for more information.

1817-present The original land and property records for Clay County are held by the County Recorder. See the info box above for contact information. The following copies are available:


 * 1825-1892 Deed Index IRAD-EIU Search for Clay County records. Information about how to use IRAD
 * 1825-1911 Deed Record IRAD-EIU Search for Clay County records.
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)
 * Clay 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

 * Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois. Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen &amp; Co., 1909. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Internet Archive.

Maps

 * Clay County Federal Township Plats

Civil War
Civil War service men from Clay 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 Clay County.


 * - 40th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 98th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A and F.

Probate Records
Illinois Probate Records for more information.

County Courthouse
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Clay County are kept, see the Clay 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 Clay County, Illinois: Centralia Illinois Family History Center Leafland &amp; 3rd Street Centralia, Marion, Illinois Phone: 618-532-3482 Hours: Wednesday 2-6pm Attention: We have temporarily moved to this new location while our building is being remodeled. 

Evansville Indiana Family History Center 8020 E Covert Ave Evansville, Vanderburgh, Indiana Phone: 812-471-0191 Hours: First Wednesday of every month 10:00 - 12:00, Tues &amp; Wed evenings 6:00 - 8:00; other times by appointment Closed: Closed Major Holidays Vincennes Indiana Family History Center 1940 N Old Hwy 41 Vincennes, Knox, Indiana Phone: 812-882-4022 Hours: T, Thu 9am-12:30pm, 5pm-8:30pm Closed: Closed 1 1/2 weeks for Christmas  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 Clay 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.

Societies
Genealogical Society of Southern Illinois has a page with details about its' activities.

Vital Records
Illinois Vital Records for more information.

Births
1877–present The original Clay County birth records 1877-present are housed in the office of the County Clerk. The following copies are available:


 * 1877-1918 Birth Record - IRAD-EIU Search for Clay County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1877-1904 Birth Record Index - IRAD-EIU Search for Clay County records.
 * 1844-1944 Birth Record, Delayed - IRAD-EIU Search for Clay County records.

Marriages
1825–present — The original Clay County marriage records 1825-present are housed in the office of the County Clerk. The following copies are available:


 * 1858–1919 Marriage Record IRAD-EIU Search for Clay County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1825–1845 Marriage Record, Transcription IRAD-EIU Search for Clay County records.

The following abstracts are available:


 * 1825–1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 (1825-1900 for Clay County)

Illinois Marriages Clay County marriage records for 1860 and 1861 are interspersed with each other. Not overlapped at the end of the year. but mixed at other dates.

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

Deaths
1877–present - The original Clay County death records 1877-present are housed in the office of the County Clerk. The following copies are available:


 * 1877–1918 Death Record IRAD-EIU Search for Clay County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1877–1904 Death Record Index IRAD-EIU Search for Clay County records.

The following abstracts are available:


 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 (No data for Clay County as of Aug 2011. Check back again as records are being added.)
 * 1916–1950 Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916-1950 (1916-1950 for Clay County)

Websites
Databases Pertinent to Clay County


 * Local Governmental Records Database IRAD
 * Name Index to Illinois Local Governments IRAD
 * USGenWeb Project, Clay County, Illinois (ILGenWeb)
 * Clay County, IllinoisGenealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)