Douglas County, Illinois Genealogy

United States Illinois Douglas County

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

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

Historical Facts
Douglas County was named for Stephen A. Douglas who was an American politician and was a candidate for United States President in 1860. He lost to Abraham Lincoln.

Boundary Changes

 * 8 February 1859: Douglas County was created from Coles County.


 * Interactive map of Douglas County boundary changes.

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


 * Douglas 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.

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.


 * 1796-1907U.S General Land Office Records at Ancestry–($)
 * Illinois Public Land Purchase Recordsat Ancestry–($)
 * 1839-1910 Deed indexes First of 21 films.
 * 1856-1891 Deeds First of 21films
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)
 * Douglas County Federal Township Plats
 * Federal Township Plats of Illinois
 * 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.

Maps

 * Douglas County Federal Township Plats

Civil War

 * Civil War service men from Douglas 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 Douglas County.


 * - 54th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 55th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.
 * - 57th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.
 * - 70th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.
 * - 79th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, E, G, and K.


 * Soldiers discharge record, 1865-1890, 1919-1950 Book A 1865-1890 Book B 1919-1950 Book C 1940-1945

World War I

 * Soldiers discharge record, 1865-1890, 1919-1950 Book A 1865-1890 Book B 1919-1950 Book C 1940-1945

World War II

 * Soldiers discharge record, 1865-1890, 1919-1950 Book A 1865-1890 Book B 1919-1950 Book C 1940-1945

Newspapers

 * Arthur Graphic-Clarion - full-text digital issues in Google News Archive; covers 1953-2009

Probate Records
Illinois Probate Records for more information.


 * 1869-1927 Wills and Probates First of 2 films.

Repositories

 * County Courthouse

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


 * Family History Center


 * Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)


 * Public Libraries

Births

 * 1860-1917 Index - IRAD-EIU Search for Douglas records. How to use IRAD
 * 1877-1901 - IRAD-EIU Search for Douglas records. How to use IRAD
 * 1859-1915 Birth index
 * 1877-1918 Birth register and certificates One of 3 films.
 * Arthur Local Registrar's Birth Cerificates Index (1868-1925)

Marriages

 * 1859-1980 Marriage index
 * 1857-1911 Marriage record One of 4 films.
 * 1859-1879 Marriages and
 * 1859-1980 Index - IRAD-EIU Search for Douglas records. How to use IRAD
 * 1859-1911 - IRAD-EIU Search for Douglas records. How to use IRAD
 * To-1850 Illinois Marriages to 1850 at Ancestry–($);Index, INCOMPLETE
 * 1851-1900 Illinois Marriages, 1851-1900 at Ancestry–($);Index, INCOMPLETE
 * 1790-1860 Illinois Marriages, 1790-1860 at Ancestry–($);Index, INCOMPLETE
 * Illinois Statewide Marriage Index

Deaths

 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 (No data for Douglas County as of Aug 2011. Check back again as records are being added.)
 * Early to 1917 Death index One of 2 films.
 * 1877-1902 Death register
 * 1877-1895 Stillbirth register
 * 1916–1947 
 * 1877-1917 Index - IRAD-EIU Search for Douglas records. How to use IRAD
 * 1877-1900 - IRAD-EIU Search for Douglas records. How to use IRAD
 * 1877-1899 Stillbirths - IRAD-EIU Search for Douglas records. How to use IRAD
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates

Websites
Databases pertinent to Douglas County


 * 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.
 * Douglas County, Illinois genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Douglas County, Illinois genealogy and history presented by Illinois Genealogy Trails. This website includes biographies, births, cemeteries, death records, family bibles, county histories, marriages, military, obituaries, and newspaper gleanings.