Peoria County, Illinois Genealogy

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

Peoria County Organization
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.

Historical Facts
Peoria County is named for the Native American tribe called the Peorias which was originally one of the tribes from the Illinois confederacy.

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


 * 13 January 1825: Peoria County was created from Fulton County. County seat: Peoria

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

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:

Neighboring Counties

 * Fulton
 * Knox
 * Marshall
 * Stark
 * Tazewell
 * Woodford

Biography

 * 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.

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, Peoria County on page 188.]

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

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.


 * A brief history of Churches in Peoria County can be found on the Peoria County webpage of Illinois Ancestors. The website host has provided extracts from James Rice's 1912 history of the city and county of Peoria, Illinois.

Catholic


 * 1839 St. Patrick's Church Courtesy of Genealogy Trails.

Jewish


 * 1964 Anshai Emeth Temple Courtesy of Genealogy Trails.

Espiscopal


 * Old Christ Church–History, baptisms, confirmations, communicants, marriages, parishoners, burial and death records. Courtesy of Genealogy Trails.

Lutheran


 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Peoria County, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

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 copies of original records may be accessed through 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.


 * 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

Online Resources

Court Chambers courtesy of Peoria County, Illinois Genealogy Trails including:


 * Arrests, Complaints and Trial News
 * 1872-1883 Circuit Court Cases

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

 * Ballance, C. The History of Peoria, Illinois. Peoria, Ill.: Printed by N.C. Nason, 1870. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Internet Archive.
 * The History of Peoria County, Illinois: containing a history of the Northwest, history of Illinois, history of the county, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc., etc., a sketch of its cities and towns, their improvements, industries, manufactories, churches, schools, etc., etc., a war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, biographical sketches, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, map of Peoria County, Constitution of the United States, miscellaneous matters, tables, etc., etc.. Chicago: Johnson &amp; Co., 1880. Digital version at Ancestry ($); Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * 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 Ancestry ($); Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * Bess, F. B. Eine populäre geschichte der stadt Peoria. Peoria, Ill.: unknown, 1906, c1905. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); 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 ($); Google Books.
 * Slane, Odillon B. Reminiscences of Early Peoria: Including Indian Stories. Peoria, Ill.: Priv. print., 1933. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

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 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.

Copies of original records


 * 1817–1862 Deed Record IRAD–WIU


 * 1861 Land ownership maps


 * 1980 Land atlas and plat book Other libraries (WorldCat)

Additional Resources

Additional resources for Peoria County land and property may be found online in the and. 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 ($)
 * 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.

Maps

 * 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

Civil War
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 Records


 * 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1856-1991 Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 at Ancestry - index and images, ($)

Newspapers and Obituaries

 * 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
Online Probate Indexes and 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 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 Resources


 * Peoria County Probate Case Files Index, 1825-1887, courtesy: Illinois State Archives.


 * 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

Abstracts


 * 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)

Copies of original records


 * 1825–1887 Probate case files IRAD–WIU Note Index book above.

Additional Resources

Additional resources for Peoria 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.

Schools
Peoria, IL Kingman High School Alumin Records: 1906-1929

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.

Family History Centers

 * Normal Illinois Family History Center
 * Peoria Illinois Family History Center


 * El Paso District Library - an affiliate library
 * Eureka Public Library District - an affiliate library
 * McLean County Genealogical Society - an affiliate library

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.

Public Libraries
Alpha Park Public Library District 3527 South Airport Road Bartonville, IL 61607 Telephone: 309-697-3822 Email: [mailto:alpha@alphapark.org alpha@alphapark.org]

Brimfield Public Library District 111 S. Galena Street Brimfield, IL 61517 Telephone: 309-446-9575 Fax: 309-446-9357 Email: [mailto:psmith@brimfieldlibrary.org psmith@brimfieldlibrary.org]

Chillicothe Public Library District 822 North Second Street Chillicothe, IL 61523 Telephone: 309-274-2719 Fax: 309-274-3000 Email: [mailto:cpldstaff@yahoo.com cpldstaff@yahoo.com] Facebook

Dunlap Public Library District 302 South First Street Dunlap, IL 61525 Telephone:309-243-5716 Fax: 309-243-5874

Lillie M. Evans Library District 207 North Walnut Po Box 349 Princeville, IL 61559 Telephone: 309-385-4540 Fax: 309-385-2661 Email: [mailto:lill@lmelibrary.org lill@lmelibrary.org] Facebook

Morrison &amp; Mary Wiley Library 206 W. Main Street Elmwood, IL 61529 Telephone: 309-742-2431 Fax: 309-742-8298 Email: [mailto:elmlib@elmnet.net elmlib@elmnet.net]

Peoria Heights Public Library 816 East Glen Avenue Peoria Heights, IL 61616 Telephone: 309-682-5578 Fax: 309-682-4457 Email: [mailto:phpl@peoriaheightslibrary.com phpl@peoriaheightslibrary.com] Facebook

Peoria Public Library 107 NE Monroe Peoria, IL 61602 Telephone: 309-497-2000 Facebook

School Records

 * 1896–1943 School teacher's daily registers IRAD–WIU

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] Facebook Website
 * Elmwood Historical Society 302 N. Magnolia Elmwood, IL 61529 Phone 708-453-1133 Facebook


 * Peoria County Genealogical Society PO Box 1489 Peoria, IL 61655-1489 Email:[mailto:pcgswebmaster1489@gmail.com pcgswebmaster1489@gmail.com] Facebook Website
 * Peoria Historical Society 611 SW Washington Street Peoria, IL 61602 Phone 309-674-1921 Email:[mailto:adminphs@peoriahistoricalsociety.org adminphs@peoriahistoricalsociety.org] Facebook 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 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.

Births
Online Resources
 * 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).

Marriages
Online Resources


 * 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($)
 * 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage indexfound at Ancestry ($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1810-1934 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index
 * Marriages including first marriages in the County by Township; Marriage Licenses for July 23, 1936, courtesy Peoria County, Illinois Genealogy Trails.

Deaths
Online Resources
 * 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — index, some images
 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1850-1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 found at Ancestry ($). 1850 Mortality Schedule and 1860 Mortality index also available at Genealogytrails.com
 * 1878-1915 Peoria County, Illinois, U.S., Deaths 1878-1915 at Ancestry - index & images, ($)
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHertitage($)
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950 at Illinois State Archives - index
 * 1916-1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index, ($)
 * Death Records including Death Certificates index (1877-1899); miscellaneous death listings; and deceased Peoria County Physicians, 1804-1929 courtesy Peoria County, Illinois Genealogy Trails.

Additional Resources
Additional resources for Peoria County births, marriages and deaths 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.

Websites

 * Peoria County ILGenWeb
 * Peoria County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Peoria County IL Genealogy
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Illinois Ancestors Presents Peoria County. Extensive Biographies, Cemeteries, 1830 Census, Church Information, Directories (1861, 1879, 1883-1884, 1909, 1917), Early Settlers, Obituaries, 1954 Plat Book, Lookup Volunteers, Detailed Maps, School Information, Vital Records Gleaned from Newspapers
 * Peoria County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History(Linkpendium)
 * Peoria County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History(Linkpendium)