Adams County, Illinois Genealogy

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

Description
Adams County was named for the sixth President of the United States, John Quincy Adams and was founded in 1825. The county seat is Quincy and is located in the West-Central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Adams County Courthouse 521 Vermont St #G20 Quincy, IL 62301 Phone: 217-277-2100 Adams County Courthouse

County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Adams County are kept, see the Adams 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
13 January 1825 -- Adams County was created 13 January 1825 from Pike County. 03 August 1829: Hancock County fully organized, detached from Adams. (Scofield, 679) 03 March 1837: Adams boundaries were extended to the middle of the Mississippi River [not mapped]. (Ill. Laws 1836-1837, pp. 91-92) 11 February 1843: Adams lost to creation of Marquette (later Highland, extinct). (Ill. Laws 1842-1843, pp. 77-83) 27 Febrary 1847: Adams lost to Highland (extinct). (Ill. Laws 1846-1847, gen., pp. 38-41) 31 December 1848: Adams gained all of Highland (extinct) when Highland failed to become fully organized as a county; Highland eliminated. (Wilcox, David F., 1:119-120) (source: Newberry Library)

Biographies

 * The History of Adams County, Illinois: containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc.; a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late Rebellion ... portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest, history of Illinois ... etc., etc. Reprint 1977 (original 1879)
 * The History of Adams County, Illinois: containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc.; a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men...miscellaneous matters, etc., etc., pub. 1879 ; Adams Co IL USGenWeb
 * The History of Adams County, Illinois: containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc.; a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men...miscellaneous matters, etc., etc., apparent reprint with index.
 * Memorials to those involved in the legal profession, filed by the clerk, with birth and death dates, ca. 1807-1961,
 * Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois: including the late Colonel John Tillson's History of Quincy, together with biographical sketches of many of its leading and prominent citizens and illustrious dead; pub. 1905. ; Adams Co IL USGenWeb
 * Portrait and biographical record of Adams County, Illinois: containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens; pub. 1892. Internet Archive; Ancestry ($);
 * Quincy and Adams County History, Vol. 1. pub. 1919 Adams County IL USGenWeb
 * Quincy and Adams County History, Vol. II, pub. 1919 Adams County IL USGenWeb

 Indexes
 * Naturalization index and bar association index, Adams County, Illinois; pub. 1993. WorldCat,

Census Records
1830 Census, Quincy only: Adams County ILGenWeb Project 1840 Census, Rural Adams County (No names from Quincy): Adams County ILGenWeb Project 1850 Census, Adams County, Illinois other libraries; 1860 Census, Adams County, Illinois other libraries; 1870 Census of Adams County, Illinois Internet Archive The 1890 census burned. The Adams section includes a reference to an 1892 directory that can be used to learn who lived in the county at approximately the same time.

 State
 * 1855 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1855, Name index to early Illinois records
 * 1855, State Census
 * 1865, State Census

 1840 Pensioners
 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. Washington, D.C., 1841. ; ; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Illinois, Adams County on page 186.

Church Records
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) and the hold abstracts of church records for Adams County.


 * Churches in Adams County. Courtesy of USGenWeb.
 * Inventory of the McDonough County Genealogical Society's church records, ca. 1830-1991

 Anglican
 * 1891-1895 St. John's Parish and Cathedral, Quincy, Marriage Index 1891-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch

 Baptist
 * Duncan, Robert S. The History of the Baptists in Missouri. Scammel and Co., St. Louis: 1882. Online at Google Books

 Catholic
 * 1863-1906 St. Joseph's Church Death Register, Columbus Road. Courtesy of Genealogy Trails
 * 1867 St. Mary's Church. Courtesy of USGenWeb
 * 1867-1905 St. Joseph's Church Death Register, Bloomfield. Courtesy of Genealogy Trails
 * 1880-1906 St. John's Church Death Register. Courtesy of Genealogy Trails
 * 1898-1950 St. Peter's Church Minutes
 * St. Francis Church and School Quincy. Courtesy of USGenWeb

 Church of Christ
 * 1835 Pleasant View Christian Church. The History of Adams County, Illinois. Murray, Williamson and Phelps, Chicago: 1879. Online digital copy, Internet Archive. Page 969.
 * 1835 Ursa Christian Church.. The History of Adams County, Illinois. Murray, Williamson and Phelps, Chicago: 1879. Online digital copy, Internet Archive. Page 969.
 * 1860-1985 Bluff Fall Church (Formerly German Evangelical Zion (Lutheran) Church of Fall Creek. Courtesy of USGenWeb.
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

 Evangelical
 * 1848-1923 Old Salem History and Cemetery. Courtesy of USGenWeb.

 Evangelical Lutheran
 * 1851 St. James (St. Jacobi). Early births, deaths and membership record. Courtesy of USGenWeb.

 Jewish
 * 1866-1916 Jewish Congregations.Courtesy of USGenWeb.

 Lutheran
 * 1848-1952 Immanuel Lutheran Church, South Prairie. Courtesy of USGenWeb. Renamed Holy Cross.
 * 1851-1885 St. James Lutheran Church, Quincy, Baptism Index 1851-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batches and.
 * 1851-1895 St. James Lutheran Church, Quincy, Marriage Index 1851-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batches and.
 * 1863-1885 St. Matthew's Church, Burton, Baptism Index 1863-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1863-1895 St. Matthew's Church, Burton, Marriage Index 1863-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1875-1974 Trinity Lutheran Church. List of members. Courtesy of USGenWeb.

 Methodist Episcopal
 * Methodist Episcopal Church. Illinois Conference. Columbia Circuit Membership roll
 * 1835-1919 Pleasant View Christian Church records
 * 1835-1929 Methodist Episcopal Church, Payson, Baptism Index 1835-1929 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1835-1929 Methodist Episcopal Church, Payson, Marriage Index 1835-1929 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1835-1929 Methodist Episcopal Church, Payson, Death Index 1835-1929 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1854-1898 Methodist Episcopal Church–La Prarie Circuit
 * 1854-1895 Methodist Episcopal Church - Illinois Conference - La Prairie Circuit Marriage Index 1854-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1855-1885 Methodist Episcopal Church - Illinois Conference - La Prairie Circuit Baptism Index 1855-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1856-1907 Methodist Episcopal Church records - Payson Circuit
 * 1856-1885 Methodist Episcopal Church - Illinois Conference - Payson Circuit Baptism Index 1856-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1856-1895 Methodist Episcopal Church - Illinois Conference - Payson Circuit Marriage Index 1856-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1859 Ebenezer Chapel and Cemetery. History, Cemetery Records Courtesy of UsGenWeb.
 * 1861-1892 Methodist Episcopal Church records - Paloma Circuit
 * 1875-1885 Camp Point and Hebron Methodist Episcopal Church, Camp Point, Baptism Index 1875-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1875-1895 Camp Point and Hebron Methodist Episcopal Church, Camp Point, Marriage Index 1875-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1876-1906 Methodist Episcopal Church–Lorraine Circuit
 * 1888-1928 Bluffs Methodist Church records
 * 1892-1914 Methodist Episcopal Church records - Golden Circuit
 * 1892-1895 Methodist Episcopal Church - Illinois Conference - Golden Circuit Baptism Index 1892-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1892-1895 Methodist Episcopal Church - Illinois Conference - Golden Circuit Marriage Index 1892-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1892-1903 Melrose Episcopal Chapel Church records
 * 1895-1967 Richfield Christian Church records
 * 1896-1928 Methodist Episcopal Church, Mendon, Baptism Index 1896-1928 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch
 * 1911 Methodist Episcopal Church, Mendon, Marriage Index 1911 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

 Presbyterian
 * 1835 United Presbyterian Church (New Hope). The History of Adams County, Illinois. Murray, Williamson and Phelps, Chicago: 1879. Online digital copy, Internet Archive. Page 967.
 * 1871-1908 Burton Memorial Presbyterian Church, Burton, Baptism Index 1871-1908 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1871-1905 Burton Memorial Presbyterian Church, Burton, Marriage Index 1871-1905 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

 United Methodist
 * 1888-1895 Bluffs United Methodist Church Marriage Index 1888-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

 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 Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Adams County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

Online Court Indexes and Records  Copies of original records
 * Chancery index
 * before 1850 Proof and final order index
 * 1820-1931 Chancery and other court records and index
 * 1825-1846 Circuit court related records
 * 1825-1849 County record and record of county commissioner's court
 * 1826-1850 People's case files
 * 1826-1953 Circuit Court Case Files Index, ChanceryIRAD–WIU
 * 1826-1844 Circuit court records (contains judgements and naturalizations)
 * 1826-1852 Execution dockets
 * 1827-1854 Chancery case files (includes guardianship and probate)
 * 1827-1850 Minutes
 * 1827-1854 Judgement dockets
 * 1827-1850 Fee bills and index
 * 1829-1845 Circuit Court RecordIRAD–WIU
 * 1830-1919 County Court and Probate IndexIRAD–WIU
 * 1833-1855 Fee books
 * 1837-1935 Chancery records - includes guardianship, divorce, and probate related records
 * 1837-1850 Certificates of land purchase
 * 1837-1850 Justice of the Peace records and index
 * 1837-1844 Miscellaneous case files and index
 * 1839 Judges docket
 * 1839-1853 Dockets
 * 1840-1852 Chancery docket
 * 1841-1899 Chancery complete records
 * 1842-1848 Court ledger books
 * 1845-1850 Jury lists
 * 1846-1849 Law and criminal record
 * 1846-1937 Certificates of Moral CharacterIRAD–WIU
 * 1851-1853 Circuit Court Case Files, DivorcesIRAD–WIU
 * 1853-1953 Circuit Court Record Index, ChanceryIRAD–WIU
 * 1855-1974 Circuit Court Judgment Dockets IRAD–WIU
 * 1855-1974 Judgement docket
 * 1858-1931 Index to court record Chancery
 * 1883-1933 Insanity proceedings
 * 1884-1937 Guardianship records index
 * 1945-1963 Jury Files IRAD–WIU
 * Judici.com, go back only to 1987.

Directories

 * Adams County, IL, 1892. Quincy, IL, USA: Stone &amp; Co., 1892. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
 African American
 * 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 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 Adams County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1817-1860 Original land entry
 * 1817-1960 Recorder's Unclaimed Instruments IRAD–WIU
 * 1817-1833 Deed Record, TranscriptionIRAD–WIU
 * 1817-1818, 1853, 1855 Military land warrants
 * 1817-1861 Land Patent RecordIRAD–WIU
 * 1818-1832 Transcribed conveyances
 * 1818-1847 Old deeds and index
 * 1818-1927 Deed Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1823-1872 Land record
 * 1825-1827 Deeds and index
 * 1825-1892 Deed Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1832-1900 Quit claim deeds
 * 1834-1853 Land sold for tax
 * 1834-1873 Surveyor's records
 * 1835-1942 Real estate records
 * 1835-1852 Mortgage Entry Books IRAD–WIU
 * 1836-1852 Mortgages
 * 1836-1845 Mortgage Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1837-1900 Release deeds
 * 1837-1850 Certificates of land purchase
 * 1839-1900 Warranty deeds
 * 1840-1884 Chattel mortgage packets
 * 1840-1959 Chattel Mortgages IRAD–WIU
 * 1842-1941 Administrator's and executor's deeds
 * 1849-1874 Entry Books IRAD–WIU
 * 1850 Patent book
 * 1851-1857 Swamp Land Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1851-1855 Swampland Records
 * 1856-1931 Guardian deeds
 * 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 ($)
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Databases
 * Adams County Federal Township Plats
 * Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)
 * Adams County Deeds/Land courtesy USGenWeb Archives Illinois.
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Local Histories

 * The History of Adams County, Illinois: Containing History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, etc., A Biographical Directory of Its Citizens, War Record of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics, Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men, History of the Northwest, History of Illinois, Map of Adams County, Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, etc., etc. Chicago: Murray, Williamson &amp; Phelps, 1879. Internet Archive; Ancestry ($); Reprint:
 * Collins, William Herzog. Past and Present of the City of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1905. Internet Archive; Ancestry ($)
 * Quincy and Adams County History and Representative Men. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1919. Internet Archive; Ancestry ($).
 * History of Adams County Illinois at MyHeritage — index & images ($)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
 * GIS Interactive map of Adams County
 * Township Map of 1870 Adams County, Illinois with numerous small settlements. (My Genealogy Hound)
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

 * 1860s-1960s at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * County Recorder. Military land warrants, 1817-1818, 1853, 1855

 Civil War Regiments. Civil War service men from Adams 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 Adams County.
 * Adams County, militia rolls, book A, 1861-1862
 * Illinois military census, 1861-1862 A list, by county, of able-bodied male citizens between the ages of eighteen and forty-five in pursuance of General Orders No. 99 of the War Department and instructions of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois. Adams, Cook, JoDavies and Lake counties.
 * - 1st Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company F.
 * - 2nd Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, (Adams County Cavalry) Company L.
 * - 3rd Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company F.
 * - 10th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861), Companies A, D, and E.
 * - 10th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
 * - 16th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, C, and H.
 * - 27th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.
 * - 50th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, and K.
 * - 78th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, E, F, G, I, and K.
 * - 84th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies E and I.
 * - 118th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies D, F, and K.
 * - 119th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, G, and I.
 * - 137th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies A, B, D, and G.
 * - 148th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, D, F, G, and H.
 * - 151st Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865), Company H.
 * - 13th Regiment, Missouri Infantry (Union), Company F - 3rd Regiment, Enrolled Missouri Militia Cavalry (Union), Company C - 3rd Regiment, Enrolled Missouri Militia Cavalry (Union), Company K

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.

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1826-1844 Circuit court records (contains judgements and naturalizations)
 * 1856-1991 Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 at Ancestry - index & images ($)

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * 1835-1919 Historical Newspaper Archive is searchable by name and date range. Includes newspapers from 1835-1919.

Obituaries
Index to about 800 transcribed Obituaries and Death Notices at Pike Co IL GenWeb Project.

Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

 * 1873-1898 1873–1898 Almshouse Registers courtesy: Illinois State Archives.
 * 1906-1947 Poor Farm Account books IRAD–WIU

Probate Records
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
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

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 Adams County records. For information on how to use IRAD see theWIU IRAD Wiki page.


 * 1826-1849 Probate letters of administration
 * 1826-1900 Probate Case Files IRAD–WIU
 * 1826-1964 Probate Case Files Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1826-1969 Probate Record Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1827-1849 Probate bonds
 * 1827-1854 Chancery case files (includes guardianship and probate)
 * 1830-1969 Probate index
 * 1830-1919 Probate and County Court Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1832-1938 Estate records and index (index to 1964)
 * 1836-1922, 1930, 1933 Original wills and probate papers
 * 1837-1908 Wills IRAD–WIU
 * 1837-1935 Chancery records - includes guardianship, divorce, and probate related records
 * 1837-1964 Probate Will Record Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1842-1941 Administrator's and executor's deeds
 * 1844-1943 Last wills and testaments and probate related papers
 * 1847-1849 Record
 * 1847-1849 Probate Minutes IRAD–WIU
 * 1849-1908 Probate Wills IRAD–WIU
 * 1849-1943 Probate orders and decrees
 * 1850-1890 Probate related letters and bonds
 * 1857-1925 Letters of administration, bonds and petitions
 * 1871-1931 Will boxes
 * 1883-1954 Widow's relinquishments and selections
 * 1883-1925 Probate letters of testamentary
 * 1897-1935 Conservator's bonds and letters
 * 1897-1920 Probate Will Record, Extra-Jurisdictional IRAD–WIU
 * 1900-1932 Letters of administration, de bonis non (of the goods not administered) with will annexed (1900–1929)
 * 1907-1925 Records of wills
 * 1909-1951 Partial index to Original wills and probate papers

Adams County Will Records courtesy USGenWeb Archives Illinois.

School Records

 * 1883-1956 School teachers' daily registers IRAD–WIU

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

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 Adams 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 Adams County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.

Birth

 * 1855-1915 Birth Record Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1859-1915 Birth Certificate Index, Delayed IRAD–WIU
 * 1866-1903 Birth Records
 * 1877-1903 Birth Record IRAD–WIU

Marriage

 * 1825-1899 Great River Genealogical Society. Marriages of Adams County, Illinois [Quincy, Illinois]: Great River Genealogical Society (Illinois), 1979. Many libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1825-1926 Marriage records
 * 1825-1917 Marriage Record Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1834-1923 Adams County, Illinois marriage records
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1810-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($) — index $
 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1790-1860 Illinois Marriage indexfound at Ancestry ($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index

Death

 * 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1877-1990 Adams County, Illinois, U.S., Card Index to Deaths, 1877-1990 - index ($)
 * 1877-1915 Death Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1877-1990 Index to register of deaths IRAD–WIU
 * 1878-1972 Death Record Index IRAD–WIU
 * 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
 * Brown County Permanent Resident Index (burials), courtesy: ILGenWeb

Divorce

 * 1837-1935 Chancery records - includes guardianship, divorce, and probate related records
 * 1851-1853 Circuit Court Case Files, Divorces IRAD–WIU

Archives
Inventory of the county archives of Illinois, no. 1, ''Historical Records Survey, pub. 1939''

 Illinois Regional Archives Depository 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 Adams County.

FamilySearch Centers

 * Hannibal Missouri FamilySearch Center
 * Nauvoo Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Quincy Illinois FamilySearch Center

 FamilySearch Centers
 * FamilySearch Centres
 * Quincy Illinois FamilySearch Center

Libraries
Camp Point Public Library District 206 E. State St Camp Point, IL 62320 217-593-7021 Website

Clayton Public Library District 211 East Main St Clayton, IL 62324 217-894-6519 Website

Four Star Public Library District 132 W. South St Mendon, IL 62351 217-936-2131 Website

Quincy Public Library 526 Jersey Quincy, IL 62301 217-223-1309 Website
 * Quincy Public Library hosts the valuable Quincy Historical Newspaper Archive as well as a photo archive that is part of the Illinois Digital Archives. They hold a weath of resources from Abraham Lincoln’s Quincy connections and Quincy’s Underground Railroad to early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) members and local records for genealogy research. Contact the Reference desk for help with Adams County genealogy.

{| style="float:right;

Societies
Great River Genealogical Society c/o Quincy Public Library 526 Jersey Street Quincy, IL 62301-3927 Phone 217-577-3222 E-mail:[mailto:sandersnl43@att.net sandersnl43@att.net] Website

Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County] 425 South 12th Street Quincy, IL 62301-4303 Phone 217-222-1835 E-mail:[mailto:hsqac@sbcglobal.net hsqac@sbcglobal.net] Website

Websites

 * Adams County ILGenWeb
 * Adams County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Adams County IL Genealogy
 * – 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.