Sangamon County, Illinois Genealogy

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

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

Historical Facts
Sangamon County is named after the Sangamon River, which derived its name from the Pottawatomie Indian word Sain-guee-mon or Sangamon (pronounced sang gä mun), meaning literally "where there is plenty to eat" or what we would call the "land of milk and honey."

Parent County

 * 1821--Sangamon County was created 30 January 1821 from the Northwest Territory. County seat:  Springfield

Description
The county was named for the Sangamon River, which runs through it. The county seat is Springfield and the county was organized on 1821. The County is located in the Southeastern 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.

Record 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

 * Cass
 * Christian
 * Logan
 * Macon
 * Macoupin
 * Menard
 * Montgomery
 * Morgan

Biography

 * The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Sangamon County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Sangamon 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, Sangamon County on page 188.]
 * [1850–1880] U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules Ancestry ($) Only includes those persons who died within the year previous to the census enumeration.

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Church records can 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. Books about church histories and church records can be found online county histories, through WorldCat at many libraries and through a subject search of.

The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Sangamon County edition. This includes a chapter in Vol 2 part 1 about the local churches beginning on page 856. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

Baptist
 * 1823–1837 Minutes of the Sangamon United (later Regular) Baptist Association
 * 1881 History of the Springfield Baptist Association - Courtesy of IL GenWeb

Catholic

Illinois, U.S., Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield Sacramental Records, 1853-1975; Ancestry Covers a large number of parishes in Adams and Sangamon counties.

Disciples of Christ


 * History of the Disciples in Illinois 1819–1914 Excerpt for Sangamon County.

Methodist


 * Island Grove United Methodist Church Includes infant baptisms, marriages, ministers, and member lists. Courtesy of the Morgan Area Genealogy Society.

Lutheran
 * Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church 220 S. Second St. Springfield, IL 62701 (217) 522-8151


 * Trinitry Lutheran Church Burials 1839–1861

Presbyterian 


 * Gathering of the Portuguese Courtesy of IlGenWeb.

Court Records
Original court records are held by the Judicial Circuit Court and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) at the University of Illinois, Springfield. At IRAD–UIS, a large number of records are available listed both as circuit court records and county court records. IRADcase files (1821–1909) and dockets (1836–1917) can be orderd from IRAD. An index (1836–1890) is available as well as other circuit court documents. Most of these records are original and not on film. Later original records are held by the clerk of the circuit court.

IRAD records also include court case files (1870–1950), court dockets (1874–1895), a judegement index (1916–1926) among other court records. As with the circuit court records, these are original records and are not on microfilm.

Copies of court records are available as follows:


 * [1821–1901] Circuit Court Record IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD
 * [1836–1917] Circuit Court Dockets IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD
 * [1836–1897] Circuit Court Execution Dockets IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD
 * [1853–1857] County Court Record F. Manuscript on film. Springfield, Illinois: Office of the Secretary of State, Micrographics Division, Source Documents Unit, 1986.
 * [1903–1927] County Court Plea Record IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD
 * The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln by The Papers of Abraham Lincoln — Free


 * This is a searchable database of all of Lincoln's papers related to his law practice. It includes papers concerning his cases, billings, etc. These records are primarily related to Cases in Sangamon County, but he also had cases elsewhere. The papers includes names of private citizens involved in the cases as well as businesses he represented. The names include witnesses, parties, attorneys, and others.

African American
Database of Servitude and Emancipation Records (1722–1863) This database includes approximately 3,400 names found in governmental records involving the servitude and emancipation of Africans and, occasionally, Indians in the French and English eras of colonial Illinois (1722–1790) and African-Americans in the American period of Illinois (1790–1863). The Illinois State Archives extracted the names of servants, slaves, or free persons and masters, witnesses, or related parties from selected governmental records to produce this database. Courtesy of the Illinois State Archives.

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

History
A History of the early settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois "Centennial Record"(1876) by John and Sarah Power is available free on Google Books. This book provides small biographies of the residents of 1800's Sangamon County.

Land and Property
Original deeds are held by the Sangamon County Recorder and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS).

Available indexes to land records:


 * [1822–1832] Sangamon County Genealogical Society. Sangamon County, Illinois Deed &amp; Misc. Record Index, 1822-1832. Springfield, Ill.: Sangamon County Genealogical Society, 1995. Other libraries (WorldCat
 * [1822–1902] Deed Index IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD
 * [1825–1876] Sangamon County Town Lots Record (IRAD–UIS #4/275/02) Courtesy of USGenWeb.
 * [1822–1844] Deed Index This index is from Menard County.
 * [1824–1902] Deed Index
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Each purchase entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, numeric code indicating the county in which the land is located, legal description (township, section, range), volume and page numbers of original entry, and variously, the sale type, and the purchaser's sex and residence. Courtesy of the Illinois State Archives.
 * Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This database indexes the same record group as the IRAD Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales. However, this version includes the volume and page number of the record. Ancestry ($) IRAD holds the following original deed records, which are also on microfilm:
 * [1823–1910] Deed Record IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD
 * [1833–1867] Town Lot Entry Books IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD

The following copies of deed records are available:


 * [1671–1820] Cahokia Books B &amp; C, Land Records (1800-1820) and Historical Material (ca. 1671-1819), 1671-1820. Manuscript on film. {{FHL|533302}item|disp=FHL film 1543598}}
 * [1796–1907] General Land Office Records Ancestry ($) Land patents (cash and homestead)
 * [1822–1917] Deed Records
 * [1827–1900] Deed Records These records are from Menard County.

The following deed abstracts are available:


 * [1858] Gochanour, Eileen L. 1858 Sangamon County, Illinois, Plat. Springfield, Illinois : W.W. Allers and E.L. Gochanour, 1987.Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * [1887] Sangamon County Genealogical Society. Directory of the Farmers and Land owners of Sangamon County. Springfield, Illinois: Sangamon County Genealogical Society, 1987. Other Libraries (WorldCat)
 * Rockford Map Publishers. Land atlas and plat book, Sangamon County, Illinois, 1985.Rockford, Illinois: Rockford Map Publishers, 1985. Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * Sangamon County Genealogical Society. Early Federal Land Sales of Sangamon County, Illinois: within the Present Boundries. Springfield, Illinois: Sangamon County Genealogical Society, 1978. Other Libraries (WorldCat)

Maps

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
 * Township map of Sangamon County. Courtesy of Illinois State Archives.
 * Township Map of 1870 Sangamon 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
Veterans Databases Courtesy of the Illinois State Archives. Includes War of 1812, Indian Wars, Mexican War and various other databases.

Civil War
Civil War service men from Sangamon 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 Sangamon County.


 * - 1st Regiment, Illinois Light Artillery, Battery F.
 * - 2nd Regiment, Illinois Light Artillery, Batteries B, G, H, I, and K.
 * - 3rd Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company A.
 * - 7th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861), Companies B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and K.
 * - 7th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies G and I.
 * - 9th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861), Company F.
 * - 10th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861), Companies H and I.
 * - 10th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies A, B, G, H, and L.
 * - 12th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861), Company K.
 * - 14th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
 * - 16th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies D and M.
 * - 19th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.
 * - 26th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
 * - 29th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies D and I.
 * - 30th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 33rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
 * - 38th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.
 * - 64th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (Yates’ Sharpshooters), Company C.
 * - 70th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, E and F.
 * - 73rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, G and I.
 * - 101st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
 * - 106th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.
 * - 114th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B and F.
 * - 115th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 124th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies C and K.
 * - 130th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B and I.
 * - 133rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies A, E, and I.
 * - 149th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865), Company A.
 * - 152nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865), Company B.
 * - 11th Regiment, Missouri Infantry (Union), Comany C :- 11th Regiment, Missouri Infantry (Union), Company B


 * Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls Database Courtesy of the Illinois State Archives
 * Database of Illinois Civil War Veterans Serving in the U.S. Navy Courtesy of the Illinois State Archives
 * Database of Illinois Civil War Veterans of Missouri Units Courtesy of the Illinois State Archives

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Records


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

Newspapers and Obituaries

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)


 * Sangamon County Obituary Index Courtesy of Rootsweb


 * Obituaries of Sangamon County Courtesy of Illinois Trails


 * Sangamon County Obituaries Courtesy of US GenWeb

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

Many of the early Sangamon County pre-1946 original probate records are held at IRAD. (How to search IRAD.) These records include dockets, case files, guardianship files, inventories and administrator and executor records. Additionally, probate bonds for the sale of real estate are included in this record group. See IRAD for a complete list of these holdings. (Search for Sangamon County) The Sagamon County Circuit Clerk holds more recent probate records.

The following indexes are available:


 * [1825–1901] Sangamon County Guardian's Case Files Index; another copy courtesy of Genealogy Trails.
 * [1821–1906] Sangamon County Probate Case Files Index
 * [1850–1946] Dixon, Dan. Index to Record of Letters and Wills, Sangamon County, Illinois. Springfield, Illinois: Sangamon County Genealogical Society, 1988-1992. Other libraries (WorldCat)

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

Family History Centers

 * Decatur Illinois Family History Center
 * Jacksonville Illinois Family History Center
 * Quincy Illinois Family History Center
 * Springfield Illinois Family History Center


 * Athens Municipal Library - an affiliate library
 * Chatham Area Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Vespasian Warner Public Library - 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.

The University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) houses the records for Sangamon County. The link will help you find and use the records. There address is:

Archives, Special Collections &amp; Illinois Regional Archives Depository BROOKENS LIBRARY: Room 144 University of Illinois at Springfield One University Plaza, MS BRK 140 Springfield, Illinois 62703-5407 217-206-6520

Public Libraries
See the Illinois state wiki page Archives and Libraries for more information about state libraries in the Springfield area.

Auburn Public Library 338 W. Jefferson Auburn, IL 62615 Phone: 217-438-6211

Chatham Area Public Library District 600 E. Spruce Chatham, IL 62629 Phone: 217-483-2713 Genealogy research assistance is available at the library. Please call the library staff for more information.

Divernon Twp. Library 221 South Second Divernon, IL 62530 Phone: 217–628-3813

Illinois State Archives Margret Cross Norton Building Springfield, IL 62756 Phone: 217-782-4682 Fax: 217-524-3930

Illinois State Historical Society Old State Capitol Springfield, IL 62701 Phone: 217-525-2781

Illinois State Library Gwendolyn Brooks Building 300 South 2nd Street Springfield, IL 62701-1796 Phone: 217–785-5600 The Illinois State Library has well over 500 different Illinois county histories and over 300 historical county atlases, with an additional 800 plat books representative of the 102 counties.

Illiopolis/Niantic Public Library 6th and Mary Streets Illiopolis, IL 62539 Phone: 217-486-5561

Lincoln Presidential Library 212 N. Sixth Street Springfield, IL 62701 Appointments recommended (217-524-6358) for research in the Manuscripts, Audiovisual, and Lincoln collections. Please make arrangements by telephone or Email. Email:[mailto:alplm.reference@illinois.gov alplm.reference@illinois.gov] A significant feature of the collection is the large number of Illinois newspapers available on microfilm. Explore a searchable list of their Illinois newspapers.

Sangamon Valley Collection Lincoln Library 326 South Seventh Street Springfield, IL Phone: 217-753-4900 The Sangamon Valley Collection (SVC) provides in-depth resources for the study of Springfield, Illinois, Sangamon County and the eleven adjacent counties. A significant genealogical resource of this collection is a card index of obituaries published in the Springfield IL newspapers from the mid-1800's to the present. The index contains basic information and references the newspaper in which the obituary was published. Microfilm copies of those papers are available on the same floor of the library.

Pawnee Public Library 613 Douglas Pawnee, IL 62558 Phone: 271–625–7716 The Pawnee Public Library holds microfilm copies of local newspapers and cemetery records.

Riverton Village Library 1200 E. Riverton Rd. Riverton, IL 62561 Phone: 217–629-6353

Rochester Public Library District #1 Community Drive Rochester, IL 62563 Phone: 217–498–8454

Sherman Public Library District 2100 E. Andrew Road Sherman, IL 62684 Phone: 217-496-2496

West Sangamon Public Library District 112 East Illinois St. New Berlin, IL 62670 Phone: 217–488–7733

Williamsville Public Library 217 North Elm Street Williamsville, IL 62693 Phone: 217–566-3520

Societies

 * Sangamon County Historical Society PO Box 9744 Springfield, Illinois 62791-9744 Phone 217-525-1961 E-mail:[mailto:schsoffice@gmail.com schsoffice@gmail.com] Facebook Website

Vital Records
See also How to order Illinois Vital Records or order electronically online.

Births
The original Sangamon County birth records are held by the Sangamon County Clerk and the Illinois Department of Public Health. In addtion there are some Springfield City birth records.

Indexes to births


 * [1884–1887]–Sangamon County Genealogical Society. Sangamon County, Illinois Birth Record Index. Springfield, Ill.: Sangamon County Genealogical Society, 2000. Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * [1860–1916] Delayed birth index cards. 4 records only for 1860–1862. 1865 missing.

Copies of birth records for Sangamon County are available through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) at Northern Illinois University and the Family History Library as follows:


 * [1860-1917]–Birth Certificates IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD
 * [1912-1917]–Birth Record (Springfield) IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD
 * [1923–1929]–Birth Certificates, Delayed (Springfield) IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD . Delayed birth records include submissions by individuals who were born before the state officially collected birth records, but who are in need of a birth record for identification.These may include affidavits by family members or Bible records.

The following are abstracts of birth records:


 * [1860-1883]–Birth Records

Marriages
The original Sangamon County birth records are held by the Sangamon County Clerk. After 1962, copies are also held by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Indexes


 * 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1810-1934 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index
 * [1821–1955]–Marriage Record Index IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD.
 * [1821–1900]– Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
 * [1821–1850] Illinois Statewide Marriage Index Ancestry ($)
 * [1825–1889]–Sangamon County Genealogical Society. Divorce index, Sangamon County, Illinois, October 1825-October 1899. Springfield, Illinois : Sangamon County Genealogical Society, 1988. Other Libraries (WorldCat)

The following copies are available:


 * [1879–1975]–Marriage License Applications IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD.
 * [1821–1901]–Marriage Licenses IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD. Some of these records held by IRAD are original county records.
 * [1821–1874]–Marriage Licenses

The following abstracts are available:


 * [1821-1907]–Sangamon County Genealogical Society. Marriage Records, Sangamon County, Illinois. Springfield, Illinois: Sangamon County Genealogical Society, 1977-2006. Other Libraries(WorldCat)
 * [1822–1870]–Daughters of the American Revolution. Sangamon County, Marriage Records. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1970. Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * [1879-1881, 1886–1889]– Sangamon County, Illinois Marriage Applications. Springfield, Illinois: Allers and Gochanour, 1986. Other Libraries(WorldCat) (Library lacks v.2–3)
 * Walter R. Sanders. Sangamon County, Illinois, 325 Miscellaneous Marriage Records. Litchfield, Ill. 196-? Typescript. Other Libraries (WorldCat)

Deaths
Death records prior to 1916 are incomplete. The original Sangamon County death records are held by the Sangamon County Clerk and the Illinois Department of Public Health. Use the index to discover the death date and death certificate number for an ancestor, then contact the Sangamon County Clerk to order the corresponding death certificate. In addition, some Springfield City burial and death records are available.

Indexes


 * 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — index, some images


 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHertitage($)


 * 1868-1888 Sangamon County, Illinois death certificate card index. Manuscript on film. Few records prior to 1886.


 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950


 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images


 * 1850-1880 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules Ancestry ($) Only includes those persons who died within the year previous to the census enumeration.

Copies of death records for Sangamon County are available through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) at Northern Illinois University and the Family History Library as follows:


 * 1877-1927 – Death Certificates IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD
 * 1886-1918 – Death Record (Springfield) IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD
 * 1908-1916 – Burial Permit Record (Springfield:) IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD
 * 1917-1958 – Death Certificates,Stillbirths IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD
 * 1932-1949 – Burial Certificates, Veterans Only IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD

The following abstracts are available:


 * 1878-1890 - Sangamon County Genealogical Society. Sangamon County, Illinois Physician's Certificate of Death, 1878–1890.Springfield, Illinois: Sangamon County Genealogical Society, 1997. Other Libraries(WorldCat)

Researching Your Roots in Central Illinois offers the following free online death indexes:


 * 1) WWII U.S. Army Deaths
 * 2) Sangamon County Patient Deaths at the Illinois State Hospital (1910s-1930s)
 * 3) Portuguese Deaths 1886-1888 and 1916-1918
 * 4) Pritchett Funeral Home (Illiopolis) Book I (Feb 1921 - Oct 1939) and Book II (Oct 1939 - Mar 1962)

Online Resources
 * 1916-1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index, ($)

Websites

 * Sangamon County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Sangamon County IL Genealogy
 * Sangamon County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Sangamon County, Illinois (Researching Your Roots in Central Illinois). Cemetery, Church Records, Directories, Guardianship, Local Histories, Oibtuaries, Naturalizations, Probate Records, Soldier's and Sailor's Home, Tax Lists, Vital Records
 * Sangamon County, Illinois (Researching Your Roots in Central Illinois). Cemetery, Church Records, Directories, Guardianship, Local Histories, Oibtuaries, Naturalizations, Probate Records, Soldier's and Sailor's Home, Tax Lists, Vital Records