Wayne County, Illinois Genealogy

United States Illinois  Wayne County

History
The county is named after Revolutionary War General "Mad" Anthony Wayne (1745-1796).

Parent County

 * 1819--Wayne County was created 26 March 1819 from Edwards County. County seat: Fairfield

Record Loss
November 17, 1886 -- Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.

For further information on researching in burned counties, see the following:


 * Burned Counties Research
 * http://blogs.ancestry.com/circle/?p=2424

Neighboring Counties

 * Clay
 * Edwards
 * Hamilton
 * Jefferson
 * Marion
 * Richland
 * White

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

Cemeteries
Illinois cemetery records often identify birth, death, relationship, and military information, as well as religious affiliation.


 * Find A Grave can be searched by the name of a person or family to find where a person is buried. Usually gives birth and death dates often with a picture of the tombstone.  May give obituaries, names of family members and links to their information in Find A Grave.


 * Find A Grave also gives a list of cemeteries in Wayne County and links to the information for the individuals buried there.


 * Wayne Co. IL USGenWeb Tombstone Project usually gives the names of the deceased in alphabetical order by last name with birth and death dates plus any remarks.


 * Illinois Cemeteries by county.


 * The Family History Library Catalog lists . Some of the books or others may be on Google Books or available at public libraries.


 * ePodunk list of Wayne County cemeteries gives the names of the cemeteries in the county with a link to more information such as address, phone number, and web site.

Catholic
FamilySearch has made parish records from a Belleville Diocese Catholic church in Wayne County available online. The records include first communions, confirmations, marriages, and deaths:


 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.

Military

 * Civil War Civil War service men from Wayne 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 Wayne County.


 * - 40th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies D and E.
 * - 56th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.
 * - 60th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies G and H.
 * - 61st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 87th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.

Societies and Libraries

 * Genealogical Society of Southern Illinois John A. Logan College Library 700 Logan College Road Carterville, Illinois 62918 Telephone: 618-985-2828, Ext. 8338 Hours: vary by season, see website

The Society focuses on Alexander, Clay, Clinton, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Marion, Massac, Monroe, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, Saline, St. Clair, Union, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White, and Williamson counties. The Society's book and microfilm collection is housed at the John A. Logan College Library. The Society publishes a newsletter (click here for recent issues) and a quarterly journal The Saga of Southern Illinois (click here for a topical index that breaks down what has been published county-by-county).

Web Sites

 * Wayne County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History(Linkpendium)
 * Wayne County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History(Linkpendium)