Peoria County, Illinois Genealogy

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

Description
Peoria County was named for the Peoria, an Illiniwek people who lived there. The county seat is Peoria and the county was organized in 1825. The county is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Peoria County Courthouse 324 Main St Peoria, IL 61602 Phone: 309-672-6000 Peoria County Courthouse

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

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:

Biographies

 * The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Peoria County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Peoria 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
 * 1850-1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 found at Ancestry ($). 1850 Mortality Schedule and 1860 Mortality index also available at Genealogytrails.com

 1840 Pensioners
 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. Washington, D.C., 1841. ; . Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Illinois, Peoria County on page 188.

Church Records
Church records may 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. Many libraries( WorldCat) hold abstracts of church records for Peoria County. Learn more about how to search WorldCat.
 * The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Peoria County edition. A discussion of Catholic missions begins on page 14. A chapter concerning all early churches in Peoria begins on page 101. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

 Catholic  Jewish  Episcopal  Lutheran  List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 1839 St. Patrick's Church Courtesy of Genealogy Trails.
 * 1964 Anshai Emeth Temple Courtesy of Genealogy Trails.
 * Old Christ Church–History, baptisms, confirmations, communicants, marriages, parishoners, burial and death records. Courtesy of Genealogy Trails.
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Peoria County, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records
Original court records are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Court Records for more information about using court records.

Online Court Indexes and Records
 * Court Chambers courtesy of Peoria County, Illinois Genealogy Trails including:
 * Arrests, Complaints and Trial News


 * 1872-1883 Circuit Court Cases
 * 1825-1879 Circuit Court Case Files IRAD–WIU
 * 1825-1986 Circuit Court Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1858-1881 Justice of the Peace DocketsIRAD–WIU
 * 1885-1895 Circuit Court Master's Sale ReportsIRAD–WIU

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 through online sources, the FamilySearch Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Peoria County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page. Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1817-1862 Deed Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1861 Land ownership maps
 * 1980 Land atlas and plat book Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * Beginning 1820 Land Patent Search See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database.
 * 1796-1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry ($)
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
 * Peoria County Federal Township Plats
 * Land Things courtesy Peoria County, Illinois Genealogy Trails. Including Street name changes; old buildings and homes; deeds, mortgages and other land transfers from local newspapers.

Local Histories

 * Ballance, C. The History of Peoria, Illinois. Peoria, Ill.: Printed by N.C. Nason, 1870. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Internet Archive.
 * The History of Peoria County, Illinois... . Chicago: Johnson &amp; Co., 1880. Digital version at Internet Archive, Ancestry ($).
 * Portrait and Biographical Album Peoria County, Illinois. Chicago, IL, USA: Biographical Publishing, 1890. Digital version at Ancestry ($). Another Ancestry ($) version; Internet Archive.
 * McCulloch, David. Early Days of Peoria and Chicago: An Address Read before the Chicago Historical Society at a Quarterly Meeting Held January 19, 1904. Chicago: The Society, 1904. Digital version at Internet Archive, Ancestry ($).
 * Bess, F. B. Eine populäre geschichte der stadt Peoria. Peoria, Ill.: unknown, 1906, c1905. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Internet Archive. English translation: (which includes some biographies): A Popular History of the City Peoria. Digital version of translation at Illinois Ancestors Presents Peoria County.
 * Rice, James M. Peoria, City and County, Illinois: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress, and Achievement. Chicago: The S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1912. Digital versions at Ancestry ($).
 * Slane, Odillon B. Reminiscences of Early Peoria: Including Indian Stories. Peoria, Ill.: Priv. print., 1933. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
 * Township Map of 1870 Peoria County, Illinois with numerous small settlements. (My Genealogy Hound)
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
 Civil War Regiments. Civil War service men from Peoria 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 Peoria County.
 * - 1st Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company D.
 * - 7th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
 * - 8th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861), Company E.
 * - 8th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies E and I.
 * - 11th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies A, B, D, E, L, and M.
 * - 14th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies B and M.
 * - 17th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A and B.
 * - 44th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 53rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.
 * - 77th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, E, F, G, I and K.
 * - 82nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.
 * - 86th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies C, D, H, I and K.
 * - 108th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies C, G, I and K.
 * - 132nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company D.
 * - 139th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies E and F.
 * - 146th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies G and I.
 * - 148th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies C and F.
 * - 151st Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865), Companies A and E.
 * - 155th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
 * - 8th Regiment, Missouri Infantry (Union), Company B
 * - 8th Regiment, Missouri Infantry (Union), Company H


 * Civil War Veterans of Peoria County (accessed 19 September 2011) has photos, diaries, histories, etc. relating to Peoria County and the Civil War.

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

Poor Farms

 * 1848-1936 Almshouse Registers IRAD–WIU
 * 1848-1936 Poor Farm Cemetery Record IRAD–WIU

Probate Records
Original estates and wills are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Probate Records for more information about using probate records. The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through, the FamilySearch Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Peoria County records. For information on how to use IRAD see theWIU IRAD Wiki page.

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; Images only
 * 1825-1887 Peoria County Probate Case Files Index, 1825-1887, courtesy: Illinois State Archives.
 * 1825-1887 Probate Case Files Index, 1825-1887, courtesy: Genealogy Trails.
 * Estates of Revolutionary Soldiers Buried In Peoria County from the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, courtesy InternetArchive.org
 * 1825-1887 Richards, David E. and Sharon M. Soltys. Index to Peoria County probate case files, 1825-1887. Macomb, Illinois: Ill. Regional Archives Depository System, 1989. Many libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1825-1922 Kramer, H. Dorothy and Peoria County Genealogical Society Estate index of Peoria County IL: 1825 thru 1922. Peoria, Illinois: Peoria County Genealogical Society, 2003. Many libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1825-1887 Probate case files IRAD–WIU Note Index book above.

School Records

 * 1906-1929 Peoria, IL Kingman High School Alumni Records: 1906-1929
 * 1896-1943 School teacher's daily registers IRAD–WIU

Vital Records
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the Peoria County Clerk while those recorded after 1916 are kept by the Illinois Department of Public Health with a copy to the County Clerk. Original marriage records are usually kept by the County Clerk from the establishment of the county to the present. Original divorce records are generally in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through online databases, the FamilySearch Library and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Peoria County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

Birth

 * 1878-1915 Peoria County, Illinois, U.S., Births 1878-1915 at Ancestry ($) - index & images
 * Birth Records courtesy Peoria County, Illinois Genealogy Trails. Including Peoria County Court House Birth Register Index (1850 - 1877 and 1884-1889) and Birth Certificates (1850's - 1873).

Marriage

 * 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($) — index
 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1790-1860 Illinois Marriage indexfound at Ancestry ($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1810-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * Marriages including first marriages in the County by Township; Marriage Licenses for July 23, 1936, courtesy Peoria County, Illinois Genealogy Trails.

Death

 * 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1878-1915 Peoria County, Illinois, U.S., Deaths 1878-1915 at Ancestry ($) - index & images
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950 at Illinois State Archives - index
 * 1916-1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage ($) - index
 * 1951-1971 Illinois Death Certificates, 1951–1971 at Illinois State Archives - index
 * 1877-1899, 1804-1929 Death Records including Death Certificates index (1877-1899); miscellaneous death listings; and deceased Peoria County Physicians, 1804-1929 courtesy Peoria County, Illinois Genealogy Trails.

Archives
Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) IRAD is a system of Illinois Regional Archives Depositories managed by the Illinois State Archives, housing the archival records of local Illinois counties, townships, municipalities and school districts. The seven Regional Depositories are housed on state university campuses scattered throughout Illinois. Western Illinois University houses the records for Peoria County.

FamilySearch Centers

 * Normal Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Peoria Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * El Paso District Library - an affiliate library
 * Eureka Public Library District - an affiliate library
 * McLean County Genealogical Society - an affiliate library

Libraries
Alpha Park Public Library District 3527 South Airport Road Bartonville, IL 61607 Phone: 309-697-3822 Email: [mailto:alpha@alphapark.org alpha@alphapark.org] Website Brimfield Public Library District 111 S. Galena Street Brimfield, IL 61517 Phone: 309-446-9575 Fax: 309-446-9357 Email: [mailto:psmith@brimfieldlibrary.org psmith@brimfieldlibrary.org] Website Chillicothe Public Library District 822 North Second Street Chillicothe, IL 61523 Phone: 309-274-2719 Fax: 309-274-3000 Email: [mailto:cpldstaff@yahoo.com cpldstaff@yahoo.com] Website Dunlap Public Library District 302 South First Street Dunlap, IL 61525 Phone: 309-243-5716 Fax: 309-243-5874 Website Lillie M. Evans Library District 207 North Walnut Po Box 349 Princeville, IL 61559 Phone: 309-385-4540 Fax: 309-385-2661 Email: [mailto:lill@lmelibrary.org lill@lmelibrary.org] Website Morrison &amp; Mary Wiley Library 206 W. Main Street Elmwood, IL 61529 Phone: 309-742-2431 Fax: 309-742-8298 Email: [mailto:elmlib@elmnet.net elmlib@elmnet.net] Website Peoria Heights Public Library 816 East Glen Avenue Peoria Heights, IL 61616 Phone: 309-682-5578 Fax: 309-682-4457 Email: [mailto:phpl@peoriaheightslibrary.com phpl@peoriaheightslibrary.com] Website Peoria Public Library 107 NE Monroe Peoria, IL 61602 Phone: 309-497-2000 Website

Societies
Brimfield Historical Society PO Box 55 111 South Galena Avenue Brimfield, Illinois, 61517 Phone: 309-446-3631 Chillicothe Historical Society PO Box 181 723 North Fourth Street Chillicothe, IL 61523-0181 Phone: 309-274-9076 Email: [mailto:chillicothehistorical@gmail.com chillicothehistorical@gmail.com] Website Elmwood Historical Society 302 N. Magnolia Elmwood, IL 61529 Phone: 708-453-1133 Peoria County Genealogical Society PO Box 1489 Peoria, IL 61655-1489 Email: [mailto:pcgswebmaster1489@gmail.com pcgswebmaster1489@gmail.com] Website Peoria Historical Society 611 SW Washington Street Peoria, IL 61602 Phone: 309-674-1921 Email: [mailto:adminphs@peoriahistoricalsociety.org adminphs@peoriahistoricalsociety.org] Website

Websites

 * Peoria County ILGenWeb
 * Peoria County IL Genealogy
 * Peoria County, IL Linkpendium
 * – 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.