Douglas County, Illinois Genealogy

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

Description
The county was named for Stephen A. Douglas, then United States Senator from Illinois. The county seat is Tuscola and the county was organized on 1857. The County is located in the Central part of the state.

County Courthouse
Douglas County Courthouse 401 S. Center Tuscola, IL 61953 Phone: 217-253-2352 Douglas 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.

Populated Places
To see a list of places in Douglas County, click on [Show] in the bar, above. The preceding list of places includes incorporated cities and towns, unincorporated towns and communities, and place names that may have been used in family histories. Some have well-organized records and even have web sites. Some are simply social communities with no official records, but which may be referenced in small-town newspapers. The list is provided to help researchers identify localities within the county. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names.

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

Census Records

 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images

Church Records
 Evangelical and Reformed
 * 1861-1885 Zion's Evangelical and Reformed Church, Arthur, Baptism Index 1861-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batches and.
 * 1865-1895 Zion's Evangelical and Reformed Church, Arthur, Marriage Index 1865-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batches and.

 United Church
 * 1871-1885 Atwood United Church, Atwood, Baptism Index 1871-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batches and.
 * 1871-1895 Atwood United Church, Atwood, Marriage Index 1871-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batches and.

 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Directories
USGenWeb, Douglas County, Illinois (ILGenWeb), Prairie Farmer's Reliable Directory of Douglas County, Illinois, 1918.

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 online, through the FamilySearch Library

Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1796-1907U.S General Land Office Records at Ancestry–($)
 * 1839-1910 Deed indexes First of 21 films.
 * 1856-1891 Deeds First of 21films
 * 1800s – Present Use the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land Patent Index to obtain original federal land transfer records, including homestead, military warrants, and cash entry patents. These records help a researcher establish location and lead to National Archives’ records which may include genealogical information. Earlier land transfer records are at the National Archives.
 * Illinois Public Land Purchase Recordsat Ancestry–($)
 * 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

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

Maps and Gazetteers

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

Military Records

 * 1860s-1960s at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1865-1890, 1919-1950, 1940-1945 Soldiers discharge record, 1865-1890, 1919-1950 Book A 1865-1890 Book B 1919-1950 Book C 1940-1945

 Civil War Regiments. 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.
 * - 13th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies G and H.
 * - 21st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
 * - 25th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.
 * - 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.
 * - 135th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company G.
 * - 149th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865), Company F.
 * - 154th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 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 ($)
 * Arthur Graphic-Clarion - full-text digital issues in Google News Archive; covers 1953-2009

Probate Records
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; index & images
 * See Illinois Probate Records for more information.
 * 1869-1927 Wills and Probates First of 2 films.

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

Birth

 * 1860-1917 Index IRAD-EIU Search for Douglas records. How to use IRAD
 * 1860-1885, 1896-1899 Douglas County Birth Index 1860-1885 and 1896-1899 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 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)

Marriage

 * 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($) — index
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1810-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1857-1899 Douglas County Marriage Index 1857-1899 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1857-1911 Marriage record One of 4 films.
 * 1859-1879 Marriages and
 * 1859-1911 IRAD-EIU Search for Douglas records. How to use IRAD
 * 1859-1980 Marriage index
 * 1859-1980 Index IRAD-EIU Search for Douglas records. How to use IRAD
 * Illinois Statewide Marriage Index

Death

 * Early to 1917 Death index One of 2 films.
 * 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1877-1895 Stillbirth register
 * 1877-1899 Stillbirths IRAD-EIU Search for Douglas records. How to use IRAD
 * 1877-1900 IRAD-EIU Search for Douglas records. How to use IRAD
 * 1877-1902, 1917 Douglas County Death Index 1877-1902 and 1917 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batches and.
 * 1877-1902 Death register
 * 1877-1917 Index IRAD-EIU Search for Douglas records. How to use IRAD
 * 1916-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates
 * 1916-1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * 1951-1971 Illinois Death Certificates, 1951–1971 at Illinois State Archives - index

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 Douglas 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.

FamilySearch Centers

 * Champaign Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Danville Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Decatur Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Mattoon Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Terre Haute Indiana FamilySearch Center
 * Marshall Public Library - an affiliate library
 * McLean County Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
 * Vigo County Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Arcola Public Library  407 E Main Arcola, IL 61910-1513 Phone: (217) 268-4477 Website

Arthur Public Library 225 S Walnut Arthur, IL 61911-1269 Phone: (217) 543-2037 Website

Camargo Township District Library 14 N Main St Villa Grove, IL 61956-1517 Phone:(217) 832-5211 Website

Newman Regional Library District 101 W Yates St Newman, IL 61942 Phone: (217) 837-2412 Website

Tuscola Public Library 112 E Sale St Tuscola, IL 61953-1496 Phone: (217) 253-3812 Website

Museums
Douglas County Museum 700 South Main Street Tuscola, IL 61953r Phone 217-253-2535 Website
 * We have a research and genealogy library open to the public. Also some resources are available online.

Websites

 * Douglas County IL Genealogy
 * Douglas ILGenWeb
 * Douglas County, IL Linkpendium
 * Douglas IL Genealogy Trails
 * – 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.