Monroe County, Illinois Genealogy

United States Illinois  Monroe County

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

Historical Facts
Monroe County is named for James Monroe who was the fifth president of the United States.

Parent County

 * 1816--Monroe County was created 6 January 1816 from Randolph and St. Clair Counties. County seat:  Waterloo


 * See an interactive map of Monroe County boundary changes.

Neighboring Counties

 * Jefferson County, Missouri
 * Randolph
 * Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri
 * St. Louis County, Missouri
 * St. Clair

Cemeteries
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has burial records for Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery and other Veterans Affairs National Cemeteries around the country.

The Illinois Cemeteries page provides general explanations of the following online Monroe County resources:

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

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, Monroe County on page 187.]

Catholic
FamilySearch has made parish records from seven Belleville Diocese Catholic churches in Monroe County available online (free registration is required). The records include first communions, confirmations, marriages, and deaths:


 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.

Evangelical

 * Buecher, Robert. Salem Evangelical Church, Bluff Precinct, Monroe County, IL Marriage Index, 1877-1930, courtesy: ILGenWeb

Court Records
The following abstracts are available:


 * 1877–1963 Vaseska, Pat. Common law book: 1877–1963. Columbia, Illinois : P. Vaseska, c2006. Other libraries (WorldCat)


 * 1816 Flynn, Janet M. Minutes of the organization of Monroe County, Illinois, January 6, 1816. Columbia, Illinois : Monroe County Geneal. Society, [1997]. Other libraries (WorldCat)


 * 1816–1863 Veath, Phyllis K. Monroe County Illinois chancery: section A. Evansville, Illinois : P.K. Veath, [200-?] - 2005.Evansville, Illinois : P.K. Veath, [200-?] - 2005. Other libraries (WorldCat) 


 * 1817–1870 Veath, Phyllis K. Monroe County, Illinois chancery records : section A. Evansville, Illinois : P.K. Veath, [200-?].


 * 1835–1963 Flynn, Janet M. and Pat Vaseska. Monroe County chancery records. [S.l.] : J.M. Flynn, c2005-2006. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Chancery Court

 * Flynn, Janet and Pat Vaseska. Chancery Cases Surname Index (Book 1, 1835-1905), courtesy: ILGenWeb
 * Veath, Phyllis. Chancery Index 1852-1859, Section A Box 70, courtesy: ILGenWeb
 * Flynn, Janet and Pat Vaseska. Chancery Court Records A73 &amp; A75-A80 Book #2, courtesy: ILGenWeb
 * Flynn, Janet and Pat Vaseska. Chancery Court Records A81 - A89 Book #3, courtesy: ILGenWeb
 * Flynn, Janet and Pat Vaseska. Chancery Court Records A-90 to B3 Book #4, courtesy: ILGenWeb
 * Flynn, Janet and Pat Vaseska. Chancery Court Records Drawers B-4 thru B-15 Book #5, courtesy: ILGenWeb
 * Flynn, Janet and Pat Vaseska. Chancery Court Records Drawers B-16 thru B-31 Book #6, courtesy: ILGenWeb
 * Flynn, Janet and Pat Vaseska. Chancery Court Records Drawers B-32 thru B-47 Book #7, courtesy: ILGenWeb

Justice Court

 * Ritter, Vernon. Justice Court Records (Justice of the Peace) Monroe County, Illinois, courtesy: ILGenWeb

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 records at the State Archives with an online method for ordering records.
 * African-American Resources for Illinois

Local Histories

 * Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the Counties: Together with Biographies and Portraits of All the Presidents of the United States, and the Governors of the State of Illinois. Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1894. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Internet Archive. For additional access, see WeRelate.

Land and Property
Original land records are held in the office of the County Recorder. See Illinois Land and Property for more information about using land records.

The following abtracts and copies of original records may be accessed through the Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Monroe County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.

Online Resources

 * Beginning 1820 Land Patent Search
 * 1796–1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry.com ($)

The following abstracts are available:

 * 1816–1840 Veath, Phyllis K. Monroe Co., Illinois deed index: books A,B,C,D 1816–1840. Evansville, Illinois : P.K. Veath, 2001. Other libraries (WorldCat)


 * 1848–1872 Miles, Stephen W., Pat Vseska, Elma Baumann, and Janet M. Flynn. S.W. Miles journal and land lease records.

The following copies of original records are available:

 * 1807–1838 Supreme Court docket and minutes
 * 1816–1900 Grantor and Grantee index
 * 1816–1963 Deed index IRAD (SIU) Search for Monroe records How to use IRAD
 * 1816–1900 Deeds
 * 1816–1963 Deed record IRAD (SIU) Search for Monroe records How to use IRAD
 * 1854–1870 Swampland record IRAD (SIU) Search for Monroe records How to use IRAD
 * 1986 Rockford Map Publishers. Land atlas and plat book, Monroe County, Illinois, 1986. Rockford, Illinois : Rockford Map Publishers, c1986. Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1910–1917 Stallion registration record IRAD (SIU)Search for Monroe records How to use IRAD

Private Papers
Bertille Brand Klein kept a diary or "news book" of her daily life in Hecker, Illinois from January 1930 (age 15 1/2) until December 1939 (age 25). She mentions many local family names with some birth and death dates. Her granddaughter Angie Kelly is digitizing this valuable resource. Visit Tillie's Tales to read this interesting journal (work in progress).

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 copies of original records may be accessed through the Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Monroe County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.

The following abstracts of the records are available:

 * 1816–1851 Veath, Phyllis K. Monroe County, Illinois will books. Evansville, Illinois : P.K. Veath, [1999?]. Other libraries (WorldCat)


 * 1852–1857 Veath, Phyllis K. Monroe Co., Illinois : administrators, bonds and guardianships, 1852-1857. Evansville, Illinois : P.K. Veath, 2002. Other libraries (WorldCat)

The following copies of original records are available:

 * 1819–1887 Probate Case Files IRAD (SIU) Search for Monroe records How to use IRAD
 * 1845–1885 Index to estates
 * 1820–1885 Estate files
 * 1845–1894 Probate Record Index IRAD (SIU)Search for Monroe records How to use IRAD

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

Societies
Genealogical Society of Southern Illinois has a page with details about its' activities.

Vital Records
See Illinois Vital Records for more information about Vital records in Illinois. Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the Monroe 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 vital records may be accessed through online databases, the Family History Library and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Monroe County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.

Indexes for Births, Marriages, Deaths:

 * Las Vegas Family History Center. Index, marriage, birth and death records for the surname of Heller thru Henfling, Monroe County, Illinois. Las Vegas, Nevada: Las Vegas Family History Center, 1986.


 * Buecher, Robert. Salem Evangelical Church, Bluff Precinct, Monroe County, Illinois: baptism index, 1877–1932; confirmation index, 1878–1926; marriage index, 1877–1930, death index, 1877–1948. St. Louis, Missouri: R. Buecher, [2005?]. Other libraries (WorldCat)


 * 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage indexfound at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1850–1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 found at Ancestry.com ($)
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950
 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
 * 1877–1930 Marriage index for Salem Evangelical Churchfound on ilgenweb.net
 * 1877–1948 Death Index for Salem Evangelical Churchfound on ilgenweb.net
 * 1884–1953 Death Index for Zoar United Church of Christfound on ilgenweb.net

Births:

 * Vaseska, Pat. Monroe County, Illinois birth index. Columbia, Illinois: P. Vaseska, c1997. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Marriages:

 * 1878–1920 Vaseska, Pat. Monroe County, Illinois marriage index : 1878–1920. Columbia, Illinois : P. Vaseska, c2001. Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1816–1877 Hotz, Roberta Sparwasser. Monroe County, Illinois, marriage records, 1816–1977. Thomson, Illinois : Heritage House, c1976. Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1816–1820 Veath, Phyllis K. Monroe County, Illinois 1820 census and 1816–1820 marriages. Evansville, Illinois : P.K. Veath, 1999. Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1816–1830 Veath, Phyllis K. Monroe Co., Illinois marriages 1816-1830. Evansville, Illinois : P.K. Veath, 1999. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Deaths:

 * 1806–1879 Vaseka, Pat. Monroe County, Illinois, death index, 1806 to 1879. Columbia, Illinois : P. Vaseska, 1999. Other libraries (WorldCat) 

Births:

 * 1868–1915 Birth Records
 * 1868–1915 Birth CertificatesIRAD (SIU) Search for Monroe records How to use IRAD
 * 1877–1915 Birth record IRAD (SIU) Search for Monroe records How to use IRAD

Marriages:

 * 1816–1877, 1817–1866 Index
 * 1816–1877 Marriage Record Index IRAD (SIU) Search for Monroe records How to use IRAD
 * 1816–1915 Marriage records
 * 1816–1916 Marriage records IRAD (SIU)Search for Monroe records How to use IRAD

Deaths:

 * 1878–1915 Death records
 * 1877–1915 Death recordsIRAD (SIU)Search for Monroe records How to use IRAD

Web Sites

 * Monroe County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Monroe County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)