Coles County, Illinois Genealogy

United States Illinois Coles County

County Organization
Coles 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 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.

Parent County

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

Boundary Changes
See an interactive map of Coles County boundary changes.

Places/Localities
To see a list of places in Coles 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.

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


 * Coles 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.

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

1840

 * 1840 Federal census, Coles County, Illinois

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

1860

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

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

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-

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
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.

Land and Property
Illinois Land and Property for more information.


 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)
 * Coles 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.

Maps

 * Coles County Federal Township Plats

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.


 * - 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.


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

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 Coles County are kept, see the Coles County Courthouse page.

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 Coles County come under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) regional depository.&lt;

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.

Vital Records
Illinois Vital Records for more information.

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.

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
 * 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)

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 Aug 2011. Check back again as records are being added.)
 * 1916–1950 Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916-1950 (1916-1950 for Coles County)

Websites

 * 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)