Marion County, Illinois Genealogy

Guide to Marion 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 Revolutionary War General Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox". The county seat is Salem and the county was organized on 1823. The County is located in the central part of the state.

County Courthouse
Marion County Courthouse 100 E Main St Salem, IL 62881 Phone: 618-548-3856 Marion County Courthouse

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

History Timeline
The county is named after "The Swamp Fox" Revolutionary War Brigadier General Francis Marion(c1732-1795). The first permanent settlers arrived in 1811, seven years prior to Illinois’s acceptance to statehood. Captain Samuel Young of Virginia and his nine year old son were traveling home to Tennessee after exploring Illinois when they made camp for winter near a local Indian tribe and just six miles southwest of Salem Township, the future county seat. The Young’s arrival hinted at quickly approaching migration swell that would be the official end of the Indian tribes who had lived in the area for centuries. From approximately 1795 to 1834, the final Indian removal west of the Mississippi river occurred leading to the disappearance of the loosely organized Illinois Confederation; Illinois lacks a Native American presence even today. Upon spring’s arrival, Samuel returned to Tennessee and brought his wife and children back to Salem Township. The Young family was soon joined by more migrants. Salem and the surrounding areas developed as people continued to migrate into the frontier. At the conclusion of the War of 1812 and with the signing of the Louisiana Purchase, the population of Illinois grew from just over 10,000 to over 50,000 as migrants rushed to settle the newly available land that was rumored to be rich in nutrients and as cheap as $1.25 per acre. Although the state experienced growth, it was still heavily rural and lacked necessary markets to sustain local economies. There were enough harvests to feed one’s family and participate in small trade, but it was important to settle near rivers to have access to more distantly located markets. Since rivers were vital to trade and living, the southern portion of the state was the most densely settle area due to the close proximity to the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Living on the frontier may have given settlers freedom, but it also provided great difficulties. For example, Salem, the county seat of Marion, was on the border between the forest and the open prairies that were filled with green-headed flies that tormented horses. The weather was often extreme and ranged from hot humid summers, to violent hailstorms, and bitter cold winters. Additionally, settlers were met with rampant diseases, personal desolation and isolation, and other issues such as faulty land titles and high interest rates. Marion County helped open the Illinois frontier to new settlers and growth. Although the increase in population contributed to the removal of Native Americans, it did increase trade and economic stability in the region. It remained predominantly rural with a heavy reliance on farming.

Census Records
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, Marion County on page 187.]

Church Records
 List of Churches and Church Parishes  Catholic FamilySearch has made parish records from five Belleville Diocese Catholic churches in Marion County available online. The records include first communions, confirmations, marriages, and deaths:
 * FamilySearch Places
 * 1729-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only

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 Recorder. See Illinois Land and Property for more information about using land 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 Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Marion County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page. Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1823-1901 Grantee index
 * 1823-1903 Deeds
 * 1824-1901 Grantor index
 * 1832-1900 Land entry books and tract books
 * 1857-1916 Mortgages
 * 1870-1904 Miscellaneous record
 * 1873-1901 Release
 * 1985 Land atlas and plat book Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * Beginning 1820 Land Patent Search
 * 1796-1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry ($)
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
 * Marion County Federal Township Plats
 * 1892 Kilmer, W. A. and Gerald Don Kilmer. Marion County, IL landowners index, 1892. Lubbock, Texas Craftsman Printers, c1985. Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * Rockford Map Publishers. Land atlas &amp; plat book retrospect: property information from the past, Marion County IL. Rockford, IL: Rockford Map Publishers, [20--]. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Local Histories

 * Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois. Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen &amp; Co., 1909. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Internet Archive.
 * Brinkerhoff, J. H. G. Brinkerhoff's History of Marion County, Illinois. Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1909. Digital versions at FamilySearch Digital Library and Ancestry ($).

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1788-1940 Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
 * 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 Marion 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 Marion County.
 * - 11th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861), Company C.
 * - 11th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
 * - 21st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G
 * - 22nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies C and G.
 * - 31st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 40th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 111th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, D, E, F, G, H, I, and K.
 * - 115th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.
 * - 136th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company E.
 * - 152nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865), Company F.

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 ($)

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 FamilySearch Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Marion County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU 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
 * 1823-1909 Probate records IRAD (SIU)
 * 1846-1860 Probate sale record, personal property IRAD (SIU)
 * 1850-1973 Estate index IRAD (SIU)
 * 1854-1917 Probate will record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1857-1917 Wills
 * 1866-1890 Probate executor’s record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1866-1898 Probate inventory record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1866-1909 Guardian IRAD (SIU)
 * 1868-1911 Probate guardian’s dockets IRAD (SIU)
 * 1870-1886 Probate widow’s relinquishment and selection record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1888-1906 Probate appraisement record IRAD (SIU)

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 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 FamilySearch Library and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Marion County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.

Birth

 * 1815-1944 Birth certificates, delayed IRAD (SIU)
 * 1854-1915 Birth certificates IRAD (SIU)
 * 1854-1915 Birth certificates and delayed births
 * 1877-1915 Birth record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1877-1904 Birth record index IRAD (SIU)
 * 1878-1904 Birth index
 * 1878-1916 Birth records

Marriage

 * 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHertitage($)
 * 1790-1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry ($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1810-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1821-1859 Marion County Genealogical and Historical Society. Marion County, Illinois marriages, 1821–1859. Book A, B, C, book #1. Salem, Ill.: Marion County Genealogical and Historical Society, [1995]. Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1888-1931 Marion County Genealogical and Historical Society. Marion County, Illinois marriages 1888-1931 book E &amp; F - Book #2.Salem, IL Marion County Genealogical Historical Society, ©1997. Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1821-1910 Index to marriage records index IRAD (SIU)
 * 1821-1919 Marriages
 * 1821-1931 Marriage record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1887-1891 Marriage license applications IRAD (SIU)
 * 1887-1893 Marriage applications

Death

 * 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1850-1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885found at Ancestry ($)
 * 1877-1909 Death record index IRAD (SIU)
 * 1877-1915 Death records index
 * 1877-1915 Death records IRAD (SIU)
 * 1878-1914 Death certificates IRAD (SIU)
 * 1878-1915 Deaths
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHertitage($)
 * 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

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. Southern Illinois University houses the records for Marion County.

FamilySearch Centers

 * Alton Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Centralia Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * O'Fallon Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * St Louis Missouri North FamilySearch Center
 * Vincennes Indiana FamilySearch Center
 * C.E. Brehm Memorial Public Library District - an affiliate library
 * Knox County Public Library - Indiana - an affiliate library
 * Mississippi Valley District Library-Collinsville - an affiliate library
 * O'Fallon Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries

 * Allen McCarthy Branch Library 1500 Case Centralia, IL 62801 (618) 533-9625
 * Bryan-Bennett Library 217 W Main Street Salem, IL 62881 (618) 548-3006 Website
 * Central City Branch Library 141 N Harrison Centralia, IL 62801 (618)533-7721
 * Centralia Regional Library District 515 E. Broadway Centralia, IL 62801 (618)532-5222 Website
 * Hoffman Area Branch Library 100 N. Broadway Hoffman, IL 62250 (618)495-9955
 * Irvington Branch Library 500 Superior Irvington, IL 62848 (618) 249-8243
 * Kinmundy Public Library 111 S. Monroe Kinmundy, IL 62854 (618)547-3250
 * Patoka Public Library 210 W. Bond Patoka, IL 62875 (618)432-5019
 * Sandoval Branch Library 101 N. Broadway Sandoval, IL 62882 (618)247-3873

Museums

 * Centralia Area Historical Museum 240 South Locust Street Centralia, IL 62801 Phone 618-545-0657 E-mail:[mailto:cahs@netwitz.net cahs@netwitz.net]

Societies

 * Kinmundy Historical Society 408 S. Washington St. Kinmundy, IL 62854 E-mail:[mailto:gsee49@yahoo.com gsee49@yahoo.com] Website
 * Marion County Genealogical and Historical Society PO Box 342 Salem, Illinois 62881 E-mail:[mailto:questions_mcghs@yahoo.com questions_mcghs@yahoo.com] Website

Websites

 * Marion County IL Genealogy
 * Marion ILGenWeb
 * Marion 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.