Wabash County, Illinois Genealogy

Guide to Wabash 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 Wabash River. The county seat is Mount Carmel and the county was organized on May, 1826. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Wabash County Courthouse 401 N. Market St Mt. Carmel, IL 62863 Phone: 618-262-5362 Wabash County Courthouse

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

 * The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Wabash County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Wabash County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

Census Records
 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, Wabash County on page 188.]

Church Records

 * 1819-1860 Barney's Prairie Christian Church records

 Catholic FamilySearch has made parish records from two Belleville Diocese Catholic churches in Wabash County available online. The records include first communions, confirmations, marriages, and deaths:
 * 1729-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only

 Lutheran
 * Jordan Creek (St. Peter's) Lutheran Church and Cemetery
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
 * [No court record holdings noted in IRAD-EIU Wabash County Listing.] Search for Wabash County records. Information about how to use IRAD

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

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. Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1796-1907 U.S. General Land Office Records at Ancestry ($)
 * Wabash County Federal Township Plats
 * 1800s – Present Use the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land Patent Index to obtain original federal land transfer records, including homestead, military warrants, and cash entry patents. These records help a researcher establish location and lead to National Archives’ records which may include genealogical information. Earlier land transfer records are at the National Archives.
 * 1865-1907 Deed records
 * 1970 Land atlas and plat book, Edwards–Wabash County
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)

Local Histories

 * The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Wabash County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Wabash County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

Maps and Gazetteers

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

Military Records

 * The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Shelby County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Shelby County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

 Civil War Regiments. Civil War service men from Wabash 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 Wabash County.
 * - 40th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company I
 * - 66th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company I
 * - 115th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C
 * - 130th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 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 ($)

Newspapers

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

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 Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Wabash County records. For information on how to use IRAD see theEIU 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
 * 1853-1937 Will records
 * 1855-1913 Estate records
 * 1857-1935 Index to probate
 * 1857-1925 Probate records
 * [No probate record holdings noted in IRAD-EIU Wabash County Listing.] Search for Wabash County records. Information about how to use IRAD

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 Wabash 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 Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Wabash County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.

Birth

 * 1857-1905 Birth Record, Delayed IRAD–EIU
 * 1870-1905 Delayed birth record books
 * 1877-1905 Birth Records
 * 1877-1905 Stillbirths
 * 1877-1916 Birth Record IRAD–EIU
 * 1877-1984 Birth Record Index IRAD–EIU

Marriage

 * 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 index found at Ancestry ($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1810-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1857-1930 Marriage records and index
 * 1857-1971 Marriage Record IRAD–EIU
 * 1857-1978 Marriage Record Index IRAD–EIU

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
 * 1877-1955 Death Record IRAD–EIU
 * 1877-1984 Death Record index IRAD–EIU
 * 1878-1915 Death Record, Stillbirths IRAD–EIU
 * 1912-1917 Death Record, Coroner's IRAD–EIU
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHertitage($)
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950 at Illinois State Archives - index
 * 1916-1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * 1951-1971 Illinois Death Certificates, 1951–1971 at Illinois State Archives - index

Archives
 Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) The Illinois State Archives administers a system of Illinois Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD) to manage the archival records of local governments.Local governments which have transferred records to the regional depositories include counties, townships, municipalities, and school districts.The records of Wabash County come under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) regional depository. Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) Booth Library Eastern Illinois University (EIU) 600 Lincoln Avenue Charleston, IL 61920 Telephone: (217) 581-6093 Hours: Monday – Friday, except state holidays 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Note: The depository is staffed by graduate student interns. Because of class scheduling conflicts, hours may vary somewhat from the published schedule. Researchers are urged to call before planning a visit.

FamilySearch Centers

 * Evansville Indiana FamilySearch Center
 * Vincennes Indiana FamilySearch Center
 * Knox County Public Library - Indiana - an affiliate library
 * Pike County Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Mt. Carmel Public Library 727 Mulberry St. Mt. Carmel, IL 62863 618-263-3531 Website

Museums
Wabash County Museum (Burkett House) Physical Address: 119 W. 3rd St (in the Burket House) Mailing Address: P.O. Box 512 Mt. Carmel, IL 62863 Website

Societies
Wabash County Historical Society PO Box 512 320 North Market Street Mt. Carmel, IL 62863 Phone 618-262-8774 Email:[mailto:ctdant@frontier.com ctdant@frontier.com] Facebook Website

Websites

 * Wabash County IL Genealogy
 * Wabash ILGenWeb
 * Wabash 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.