McDonough County, Illinois Genealogy

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

McDonough County Organization
McDonough 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 McDonough County are kept, see the McDonough County Courthouse page.

Historical Facts
McDonough County is named for Thomas McDonough whose most notable achievement was when, as commander of American naval forces during the War of 1812, he won the decisiveBattle of Lake Champlain.

Parent County

 * 1826--McDonough County was created 25 January 1826 from Schuyler County. County seat:  Macomb

Description
The county was named for Thomas Macdonough who defeated a British squadron in the decisive naval Battle of Lake Champlain in the War of 1812. The county seat is Macomb and the county was organized on 1826. The County is located in the West Central area of the state.

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Illinois county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Illinois County Boundary Maps" (1790-1869) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Populated Places

 * Adair
 * Bardolph
 * Blandinsville
 * Bushnell
 * Colchester
 * Colmar
 * Fandon
 * Good Hope
 * Industry
 * Macomb (county seat)
 * New Philadelphia
 * Prairie City
 * Sciota
 * Tennessee
 * Walnut Grove

Township Names
Bethel, Blandinsville, Bushnell, Colchester, Chalmers, Eldorado, Emmet, Hire, Industry, Lamoine, Macomb, Mound, New Salem, Prairie City, Sciota, Scotland, Tennessee, Walnut Grove

Place Names
Rezab, Gordana. Place names of McDonough County, Illinois : past and present. Macomb, Ill.: Western Illinois University, 2008. Digital Version at Internet Archive.

Neighboring Counties

 * Fulton
 * Hancock
 * Henderson
 * Schuyler
 * Warren

Biography

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

Cemeteries
The following web sites have additional information on McDonough county cemeteries.


 * McDonough County Cemeteries cutesy of Genealogytrails.


 * McDonough County tombstone photos. Illinois Ancestors Tombstone Project.


 * McDonough County Cemetery Records by Interment.net has some cemetery information available online.


 * McDonough County Cemetery by Linkpendium. Has links to several related websites.


 * McDonough County Cemeteries by Epodunk has a list of. The website provides name of cemetery, address and telephone number when available, Google Map with cemetery marker, and other helpful Internet links.


 * The McDonough County Cemeteries by Illinois State Genealogical Society's"Cemetery Location Project".

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, McDonough County on page 187.]

Church Records

 * 1830–1991 Inventory of the McDonough County Genealogical Society's church records
 * 1846–1884 Marriages performed by Rev. W.S. Campbell
 * 1850–1874, 1940 Old Bedford Christian Church membership
 * 1855–1922 Methodist Episcopal Church
 * 1859–1992 New Salem Christian Church
 * 1866–1990 West Prairie Presbyterian Church
 * 1892–1928 Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church Minutes, baptisms, marriages, deaths


 * Methodist


 * Membership Book (1950-1969). Pennington Point Methodist Church.
 * Membership Record (1869-1882). Pennington Point Methodist Church.
 * Membership Record (1869-1902). Pennington Point Methodist Church.
 * Quarterly Conference Record (1860-1882). Pennington Point Methodist Church.
 * Membership Record (1902-1918). Pennington Point Methodist Church.

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.

The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for McDonough County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

Copies of original records


 * 1830–1908 Circuit Court case files IRAD–WIU
 * 1830–1937 Circuit Court Record, Common Law IRAD–WIU
 * 1831–1908 Circuit court Judgment dockets IRAD–WIU
 * 1837–1851 Circuit Court dockets IRAD–WIU
 * 1838–1937 Circuit Court Record, Chancery IRAD–WIU
 * 1840–1963 Justice of the Peace Dockets IRAD–WIU
 * 1841–1844 Circuit court complete record, common law IRAD–WIU
 * 1849–1914 Circuit Court Execution dockets IRAD–WIU
 * 1869–1875 Patent records
 * 1857–1869 Patent records
 * 1870–1937 Circuit Court record, criminal IRAD–WIU
 * 1872–1886 County Court Case Files IRAD–WIU
 * 1872–1890 County Court IndexI RAD–WIU
 * 1872–1957 County Court Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1873–1877 Circuit court indictment record IRAD–WIU
 * 1875–1935 Insanity Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1880–1941 County Court Miscellaneous Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1882–1938 County Court Fee Books IRAD–WIU
 * 1891–1954 Jury Registers IRAD–WIU
 * 1893–1925 Insanity Dockets IRAD–WIU
 * 1914–1941 Mother's Pension RecordIRAD–WIU

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

Local Histories

 * Clarke, S. J. History of McDonough County, Illinois: Its Cities, Towns and Villages, with Early Reminiscences, Personal Incidents and Anecdotes, and a Complete Business Directory of the County. Springfield, Ill.: D.W. Lusk, State Printer and Binder, 1878. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * Portrait and biographical record of Hancock, McDonough and Henderson counties, Illinois : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county (1894)
 * History of McDonough County, Illinois: Together with Sketches of the Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History, Portraits of Prominent Individuals, and Biographies of the Representative Citizens: History of Illinois, Embracing Accounts of the Pre-historic and Historic Races and a Brief Review of Its Civil and Military History. Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Co., 1885. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Internet Archive.
 * Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County. Chicago: Munsell Pub. Co., 1907. Digital version at Ancestry ($); USGenWeb (partial)

Land and Property
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 Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for McDonough County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

Abstracts


 * Boyd, Gregory A. Family maps of McDonough County, Illinois : with homesteads, roads, waterways, towns, cemeteries, railroads and more. Norman, Oklahoma: Arphax Pub. Co., 2008. Many libraries (WorldCat)

Copies of original records


 * 1802–1938 Town lot abstracts
 * 1817–1962 Deed RecordIRAD–WIU
 * 1831–1905 Grantor and grantee indexes
 * 1831–1847 School land record
 * 1831–1986 Deed IndexIRAD–WIU
 * 1831–1847 School Land Sale Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1831–1986 Land AbstractsIRAD–WIU
 * 1834–1975 Plat RecordIRAD–WIU
 * 1836–1854 Mortgage RecordIRAD–WIU
 * 1862–1878 Estray record, justice of the peace IRAD–WIU
 * 1864–1873 Plat record, schools IRAD–WIU
 * 1867–1880 Chattel mortgage record IRAD–WIU
 * 1881–1917 Chattel Mortgage Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1910–1918 Stallion Registration Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1913 Standard atlas - including plat book
 * 1945 Plat book of farm ownership of McDonough County, Illinois Many libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1954 Farm Plat book and business guide Many libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1969 Triennial atlas &amp; plat book Many libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1972 Atlas and plat book Many libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1986 Land Atlas and plat book Many libraries (WorldCat)

Additional Resources

Additional resources for McDonough County land and property may be found online in the. Online microfilm are indicated by the camera icon in the catalog entry. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Online Resources


 * 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.com ($)
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
 * McDonough County Federal Township Plats
 * Plat book of McDonough County, Illinois. Chicago : Occidental Pub. Co., 1893. Digital Version at Library of Congress.

Maps

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)


 * Plat book of McDonough County, Illinois. Chicago : Occidental Pub. Co., 1893. Digital Version at Library of Congress.

Military

 * 1843–1846 Militia Roll Record IRAD–WIU

Civil War
Civil War service men from McDonough 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 McDonough County.


 * - 2nd Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company H.
 * - 7th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company L.
 * - 11th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company I.
 * - 16th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, B, and C.
 * - 21st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 28th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
 * - 55th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies F and G.
 * - 59th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
 * - 64th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (Yates’ Sharpshooters), Companies A and D.
 * - 65th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (Scotch Regiment), Company E.
 * - 78th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies C and I.
 * - 84th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, C and F.
 * - 119th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.
 * - 124th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies D and I.
 * - 137th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies C, D, G, and I.
 * - 151st Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865), Company C.
 * - Engineer Regiment of the West, Missouri Volunteers (Union), Company C

Naturalization
Original naturalization records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See Illinois Naturalization Records for more information about using naturalization records.

The following copies of original records may be accessed through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for McDonough County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.


 * 1854–1884 Naturalization Record, Final IRAD–WIU
 * 1856–1937 Naturalization Declarations of Intent IRAD–WIU
 * 1859–1913 Naturalization papers IRAD–WIU
 * 1866–1877 Naturalization Record of Soldiers and Minors IRAD–WIU
 * 1872–1892 Naturalization Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1889–1906 Naturalization Declarations of Intent IRAD–WIU
 * 1890–1904 Naturalization Record, Final IRAD–WIU
 * 1891–1904 Naturalization Record of Minors IRAD–WIU
 * 1907–1927 Naturalization Certificate stubs IRAD–WIU
 * 1907–1938 Naturalization Petition Record IRAD–WIU

Online Records


 * 1800-1998 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate Records
Online Probate Records
 * 1772 - 1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1819 - 1988 at FamilySearch.org — images

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 Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for McDonough County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

Abstracts


 * 1834–1857 McDonough County Genealogical Society. Abstracts of wills in McDonough County, Illinois 1834-1857: from will book I in the courthouse at Macomb, Illinois, page 1 through page 193. Macomb, Illinois : McDonough County Genealogical Society, 1980. Many libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1834–1851 Bell, Annie W. B. Record of wills in McDonough County, Illinois, 1834-1851.

Copies of original records


 * 1833–1922 Probate record IRAD–WIU
 * 1833–1940 Probate Record Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1833–1925 Probate Case Files IRAD–WIU
 * 1834–1940 Probate Will Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1838–1933 Probate Case Files, Guardians IRAD–WIU
 * 1850–1859 Probate Administrator's and Guardian's Letters IRAD–WIU
 * 1854–1865 Probate Inventory, Appraisement and Sale Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1858–1921 Probate Administrator's Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1858–1926 Probate Executor's Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1858–1940 Probate Guardian's Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1859–1924 Probate Appraisement Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1859–1923 Probate Inventory Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1859–1929 Probate Sale Record, Personal Property IRAD–WIU
 * 1872–1957 Probate Inventory Record, GuardiansIRAD–WIU
 * 1874–1953 Probate Widow's Relinquishment and Selection Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1883–1932 Probate Administrator's Record with Will Annexed IRAD–WIU
 * 1884–1932 Probate Administrator's Record De Bonis Non with Wills IRAD–WIU
 * 1884–1924 Probate Conservator's Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1885–1923 Probate Administrator's and Executor's Reports IRAD–WIU
 * 1885–1925 Probate Guardian's Report Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1885–1939 Probate Sale Record, Real Estate IRAD–WIU
 * 1901–1923 Probate Conservator's Report Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1914–1928 Probate Settlement Record IRAD–WIU

Additional Resources

Additional resources for McDonough County probates may be found in the topic page of the FamilySearch Catalog. Online microfilm are indicated by the camera icon in the catalog entry. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Online Resources

McDonough County Probate Case Files Index, 1833-1925, courtesy: Illinois State Archives

McDonough County Guardian's Case Files Index, 1838-1933, courtesy: Illinois State Archives

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

Family History Center
Macomb Illinois Family History Center 2000 W Adams Macomb, IL 61455 309-836-3201

To learn more about the genealogical resources available at Family History Centers, see Introduction to LDS Family History Centers. For center hours and holiday closure information, see Macomb Illinois Family History Center.

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 McDonough County.

Public Libraries
Blandinsville-Hire Public Library District 130 South Main Street Blandinsville, IL 61420 Telephone: 309-652-3166

Bushnell Public Library District 455 N. Dean Street Bushnell, IL 61422 Telephone: 309-772-2060 Fax: 309-772-9038 Email: [mailto:plibrary@bushnell.net plibrary@bushnell.net]

Colchester District Library 203 Macomb St. Colchester, IL 62326 Telephone: 309-776-4861 Fax: 309-776-4099 Email: [mailto:colchesterlibrary@yahoo.com colchesterlibrary@yahoo.com]

 Macomb Public Library District 235 S. Lafayette Macomb, Illinois 61455-2231 Telephone: 309-833-2714 Fax: 309-833-2714 Email: [mailto:library@macomb.com library@macomb.com]

School Records

 * 1876–1948 School teacher's daily registers IRAD–WIU

Societies
McDonough County Genealogical Society 201 S. Lafayette Street PO Box 202 Macomb IL 61455 Telephone Number: 309-255-5161 E-mail:[mailto:mcgs@macomb.com mcgs@macomb.com] Website

Western Illinois Museum 201 South Lafayette Street Macomb, IL 61455 Telephone Number: 309-837-2750 Email:[mailto:info@wimuseum.org info@wimuseum.org] Website

McDonough County Historical Society] PO Box 83 Macomb, IL 61455 Website

Vital Records
See Illinois Vital Records for more information about Vital records in Illinois. See also How to order Illinois Vital Records or order electronically online.

Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the McDonough 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 Family History Library and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for McDonough County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.

Births:
Abstracts of Birth Records

Copies of Original Birth Records


 * 1902–1941 Birth and Death Reporting Accounts IRAD–WIU

Marriages:
Online Resources
 * 1587-1959 - Illinois, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
 * 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1810–1934 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index

Abstracts of Marriage Records


 * 1830–1900 Grimm, Libby, and Mary Hartmann. McDonough County marriages. Macomb, Illinois: McDonough County Genealogical Society, 1980-. Many libraries (WorldCat)


 * 1830–1851 Bell, Annie W. B. Record of marriages in McDonough County, Illinois, for the period of years, 1830-1851. Washington, D.C.: [s.n.], 1935. Many libraries (WorldCat)

Copies of original Marriage Records


 * 1830–1923 Marriage Licenses IRAD–WIU
 * 1830–1923 Marriage Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1881–1923 Marriage licenses applications IRAD–WIU

Deaths:
Online Resources


 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950 Also at genealogytrails.com.
 * 1850-1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 found at Ancestry.com (Free)

Abstracts of Death Records


 * 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 Allen, Margaret McKee. 1850-60-70-80 mortality schedules for McDonough County, Illinois. Macomb, Illinois : McDonough County Genealogical Society, [1982?].Many libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1966–1970 Foster, Virgil R. Index to Fulton, McDonough and Hancock counties, Illinois obituaries Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1993.

Copies of original Death Records


 * 1844-1903 Coroner's Inquest Files IRAD–WIU
 * 1860-1923 Coroner's Inquest Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1902-1941 Birth and Death Reporting Accounts IRAD–WIU

Additional Resources
Additional resources for McDonough births, marriages and deaths may be found in the topic page and the  topic page of the FamilySearch Catalog. Online microfilm are indicated by the camera icon in the catalog entry. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers
 * Macomb Illinois Family History Center

Websites

 * McDonough County ILGenWeb
 * McDonough County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * McDonough County IL Genealogy
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Mcdonough County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History(Linkpendium)
 * Mcdonough County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History(Linkpendium)