Woodford County, Illinois Genealogy

Guide to Woodford 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 Woodford County, Kentucky. The county seat is Eureka and the county was organized on 27 February 1841. The County is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Woodford County Courthouse 117 E. Court St Eureka, IL 61530 Phone: 309-467-3312 Woodford County Courthouse

County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Woodford County are kept, see the Woodford 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
Past and Present of Woodford County, Illinois1878 (WorldCat)

Church Records
 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 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.

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 Illinois State University (ISU) - search for Woodford County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the ISU IRAD Wiki page.

Online Court Indexes and Records 1854-1859 County Court Record IRAD-ISU

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
 * African American Coal Miner Information Center

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records


 * 1812 Soldiers of 1812 etc.: Whose Bounty Land Grants Were Located in Woodford County, Illinois''. by A.F. Marxhall, L.J. Freese and Milo Custer. item 6 and FS Library book: 977.3 A1 no. 1. second copy 977.3 A1 no. 218.
 * 1841-1928 Deed Index IRAD-ISU
 * 1833-1928 Deed Record IRAD-ISU
 * 1832-1893 Grantee and Grantor Indexes. Woodford County Clerk.

Local Histories
Large numbers of Kentuckians settled in frontier Woodford County, Illinois. The name of the county (Woodford) is reminiscent of Woodford (KY) - the previous residence of many pioneer settlers.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
For information about using military records see Illinois Military Records  Revolutionary War Veteran Burials(Genealogy Trail History Group)  War of 1812 Military Land Grants Woodford County, Illinois for Soldiers of the War of 1812 - USGenWeb  Civil War Regiments. Civil War service men from Woodford 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 Woodford County.  Cavalry
 * 1862-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1861-1863 Militia Roll Record IRAD-ISU
 * 1863-1865 Militia Discharge Record, Civil War IRAD-ISU
 * 1913 Woodruff Post, Washburn 1913 - USGenWeb
 * 1913-1941 Mother's Pension Applications IRAD-ISU
 * 1931-1934 Mother's Pension Accountts IRAD-ISU
 * Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)
 * A list of GAR Post in Illinois, additional sitefor post list in Illinois, Library of Congress
 * 1883 Federal Pension- USGenWeb
 * - 4th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company G

 Infantry
 * - 17th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G
 * - 47th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B, and Company I
 * - 51st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D
 * - 77th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C, Company F, and Company H
 * - 85th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F
 * - 86th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A
 * - 108th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D, and Company E
 * - 139th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C

 World War I World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 (Ancestry)  World War II
 * Army CasualtiesU.S. National Archives and Records Administration

Naturalization and Citizenship
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 FamilySearch Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Illinois State University (ISU) - search for Woodford County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the ISU IRAD Wiki page.

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1795-1925 Woodford County, Illinois Passport ApplicationsGenealogy Trails History Group
 * 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 ($)
 * 1855-1906 Naturalization Papers. Woodford County Court.
 * 1861-1901 Naturalization Records. Woodford County Court.
 * 1867-1906 Naturalization Records. Woodford County Court.

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry, index ($)
 * Newspapers Published in Woodford County Illinois Newspaper Project
 * Chronicling America  The Library of Congress

Obituaries

 * Woodford County, Illinois, Prairie District Library, Obituaries, 1887 to Present. at Ancestry

Public Records

 * 1868-1957 Almshouse Register IRAD-ISU Woodford County Almshouse Registers Index (1868–1957)
 * 1868-1893 Poor Farm Monthly Reports IRAD-ISU
 * 1917-1940 Poor Farm Case Files IRAD-ISU

Voting Records

 * 1865-1890 Voter Registers IRAD-ISU

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 Illinois State University (ISU) - search for Woodford County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the ISU 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
 * 1842-1847 Probate Claim Dockets IRAD-ISU
 * 1869-1964 Probate Will Record IRAD-ISU
 * 1870-1956 Probate Inventory Record IRAD-ISU
 * 1877-1853 Probate Widow's Relinquishment and Selection Record IRAD-ISU
 * 1846-1866 Probate Order Book; Will Record 1869-1925; Guardian Record, 1866-1908; Probate Record, 1745-1876 Woodford County Court.
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records
 * 1842-1879 Tax Sale Record IRAD-ISU
 * 1842-1878 Tax Forfeiture Record IRAD-ISU
 * 1853-1871 Tax Deed Affidaviats IRAD-ISU
 * 1860-1880 Tax Judgment Record IRAD-ISU
 * 1857-1888 Tax Assessment Abstracts IRAD-ISU

Vital Records

 * Order Birth and Death Certificates Online

Birth

 * 1877-1916 Birth Record Index IRAD-ISU. Available at the FamilySearch Library.

Marriage

 * 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast, index ($)
 * Early Marriages in Woodford County, Illinois (Internet Archives)
 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1810-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1841-1848 1841-1848 Early Marriages of Woodford County - USGenWeb
 * 1841-1901 Marriage Record Index IRAD-ISU
 * 1841-1902 Marriage Index. Woodford County Clerk. Items 2-3
 * 1841-1870 Early Marriages Performed in Woodford County, Illinois. by Lucy Palmer Frane. and FS Library Book 977.353 V25f

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
 * 1877-1915 Death Record Index IRAD-ISU. Available at the FamilySearch Library Item 4
 * 1910-1917 Death Record, Coroner's IRAD-ISU
 * 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

Archives
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. Illinois State University houses the records for Woodford County.  Illinois Regional Archives Depository - IRAD Illinois State Universtiy - ISU 2016 Warehouse Road Campus Box 1520 Normal, Illinois 61802 Phone: 1-309-452-6027

Illinois Regional Archives Depository System - Local Governmental Records Listings Arranged by 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
Woodford County Public Libraries

Societies
Lexington Genealogical and Historical Society, Inc. 318 West Main St Lexington, IL 61753 Phone: 309-365-4591 E-mail:[mailto:thefortoflex@aol.com thefortoflex@aol.com] Facebook Website

Illinois Mennonite Historical & Genealogical Society 675 State Route 116 Metamora, IL 61548-7732 Phone 309-367-2551 E-Mail:[mailto:mennmuseum@mtco.com mennmuseum@mtco.com] Website Woodford County Historical Society 112 North Main St Eureka, IL 61530 E-mail:[mailto:miller061738@yahoo.com miller061738@yahoo.com] Facebook

Websites

 * Woodford ILGenWeb
 * Woodford County IL Genealogy
 * Woodford County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History(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.