DeKalb County, Illinois Genealogy

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

County Organization
Dekalb County's civil records start the following years:

* Incomplete birth and death records

Digital images of birth, marriage, death and naturalization records are available at the DeKalb County Clerk's DeKalb County Genealogy Online website. There is no cost to search the index, but you must first create an account. There is a fee to access images.

For further information about where other records for DeKalb County are kept, see the DeKalb County Courthouse page.

Historical Facts
DeKalb County is named for who was a German baron who fought on the side of the Americans during the Revolution.

Description
The county was named for Johann DeKalb, a German baron, who served in the Colonies during the Revolution, and was mortally wounded at Camden, South Carolina in 1780. The county seat is Sycamore and the county was organized on March 4, 1837. The County is located in the North-central part of the state.

Boundary Changes
Prior to County Formation


 * 1795-1812 - DeKalb part of St. Clair County
 * 1812-1815 - DeKalb part of Madison County
 * 1815-1816 - DeKalb part of Edwards County
 * 1816-1819 - DeKalb part of Crawford County
 * 1819-1821 - DeKalb part of Clark County
 * 1821-1823 - DeKalb part of Pike County
 * 1823-1825 - DeKalb part of Fulton County
 * 1825-1831 - DeKalb part of Putnam County
 * 1831-1835 - DeKalb part of LaSalle County
 * 1836-1837 - DeKalb part of Kane County

County Formation and After


 * 1837 - DeKalb County created from Kane County

For more information see Origin and Evolution of Illinois Counties or DeKalb County Fact Sheet (Illinois State Archives). For interactive county boundary maps see Illinois County Boundaries, 1790-Present, Illinois Historical Counties, or 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.

Records and Resources
For a list of record loss in Illinois counties see: Illinois Counties with Burned Courthouses

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


 * DeKalb County veterans listed in "The Voters and Tax-payers of DeKalb County, Illinois." (Civil War) Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Cemeteries

 * DeKalb County, Illinois Genealogy, DeKalb County. List of cemeteries only with locations, but lists if the cemetery is read (transcribed).
 * Pratt's Oaklawn Cemetery, DeKalb Illinois. Sandwich Township.This database is sponsored by US Genweb, but is not on the US Genweb Tombstone Project page.

Federal
For tips on accessing census records online, see Illinois Census.

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, DeKalb County on page 186.]

Church
Church records may contain birth, marriage and death information. Membership lists can show family and neighbors who worshipped together.

The Cornsilk, the Genealogical Society of DeKalb's newsletter, has histories and abstracted records of many early DeKalb church congregations. Explore an online index to the Cornsilk courtesy of the Genealogical Society of DeKalb County, Joiner History Room.

See Periodicals below to explore ways to access copies of Cornsilk.

In addtion, the Illinois State Historical Society Journal has also published articles about churches in DeKalb County. See the wiki page for Illinois Periodicals for more information about this journal.


 * Davy, Harriet Wilson. From Oxen to Jets: A History of DeKalb County 1835–1963. Illinois: DeKalb County Board of Supervisors, 1963. This history relates church names, organization dates, and reorganization information, including congregations which no longer exist. Other Libraries

Catholic


 * [1865–1900] St John Catholic Church, Somonauk, DeKalb County. Marriages. Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly 24:201, Winter 1992.
 * [1904] St. Mary's Catholic Pew Holders, 1904, Sycamore. Cornsilk. Sycamore, Illinois. Sep 1981. Vol 6 Iss 6.

Congregational


 * Duncan, Don V. History of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, DeKalb, Illinois, 1854-1984. DeKalb, IL : Johnson Printing, 1984. Other Libraries (WorldCat)

Evangelical


 * 100 years: An Inspiration for the Future: Hillcrest Covenant Church, 1883-1983. DeKalb, Illinois: Published for the Centennial Celebration, 1983. Other Libraries (WorldCat) Congregation formerly called Evangelical Mission Covenant and Evangelical Covenant.

Lutheran


 * The Centenary of the First Lutheran Church, DeKalb, Illinois 1858–1958. DeKalb, Ill.: The Congregation, 1958. Other Libraries (WorldCat)

Methodist


 * [1882] Free Methodist Church Baptisms Cornsilk. Sycamore, Illinois: Winter 2000. Vol 19 Iss 4.
 * 90th Anniversary, 1854-1944, May 7-14, 1944, First Methodist Church DeKalb, Illinois. DeKalb, Illinois: 1944. Other Libraries (WorldCat}

Presbyterian


 * [1854–1858] "Sandwich Presbyterian Church Records", Cornsilk, Vol. 8 Iss 2, Summer 1989; Vol 10, Iss 1, Spring 1991.

Court
Original court records are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Court Records for more information about using court records.


 * [1858–1911] Circuit Court Filing Receipt BooksIRAD–NIU. Explore how to use IRAD.
 * [1858–1886] Jury RegistersIRAD–NIU. Explore how to use IRAD.
 * [1867–1938] Lein DocketsIRAD–NIU. Explore how to use IRAD.
 * [1900–1913] Circuit Court Witness LedgersIRAD–NIU. Explore how to use IRAD.
 * [1905–1924] Circuit Court Order Books IRAD–NIU. Explore how to use IRAD.

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

Genealogy
Genealogy Files of Dekalb County Families. Courtesy of USGenweb.

History

 * Boies, Henry L. History of DeKalb County, Illinois. Chicago: O.P. Bassett, Printer, 1868. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * Portrait and Biographical Album of DeKalb County, Illinois: Containing Full-page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County: Together with Portraits and Biographies of All the Governors of Illinois, and of the Presidents of the United States: Also Containing a History of the County, from Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1885. Digital version at Ancestry ($); another Ancestry ($) version.
 * Gross, Lewis M. Past and Present of DeKalb County, Illinois. Chicago: Pioneer Pub. Co., 1907. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

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

Land and Property
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 online, through the Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at Northern Illinois University - search for DeKalb County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the NIU IRAD Wiki page.

Copies of Original Records


 * [1838–1930] Deed Record IRAD-NIU
 * [1847–1950] Entry Books IRAD-NIU
 * [1847–1946] Mortgage Record IRAD-NIU
 * [1857–1945] Chattel Mortgage RecordIRAD-NIU
 * [1890–1934] Chattel Mortgage IndexIRAD-NIU

Abstracts


 * [1840] Groves, Pat Riley. Records of DeKalb County, Illinois, Census, Taxable lands School lands, year 1840. Sycamore, Illinois: Geneal. Society of DeKalb County, Illinois, 1980. Other Libraries (WorldCat)

Online Resources


 * 1838 - 1927 at FamilySearch — index
 * Beginning 1820 Land Patent Search See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database.
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
 * 1796–1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry.com ($)
 * Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)
 * DeKalb County Federal Township Plats
 * ['1840 - 1850'] Taxable Land Bought at Publick Sale, courtesy: ILGenWeb

Maps

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
 * Federal Township Map of DeKalb County Courtesy of the Illinois State Archives
 * U.S., Indexed Early Land Ownership and Township Plats, 1785-1898 Ancestry ($)
 * [1892] Ensign, D.W. Atlas of DeKalb County. Library of Congress book on film. Other Libraries (WorldCat) Ancestry ($) Plat book.
 * [1905] Ogle, George A. Atlas of DeKalb County, Ill. Chicago, Illinois. Other Libraries (WorldCat)Ancestry ($) Plat book.
 * [1871, 1892, 1905, 1929] DeKalb County Historical Society.Atlas of DeKalb County, Ill. Evansville, Indiana: Unigraphic, 1976. Other Libraries (WorldCat)
 * Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Dekalb County, Illinois. Norman, Oklahoma : Arphax Pub. Co., 2009. Other Libraries (WorldCat)
 * Township Map of 1870 Dekalb County, Illinois with numerous small settlements. (My Genealogy Hound)

Civil War
Civil War service men from DeKalb 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 DeKalb County.


 * - 8th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies B and K.
 * - 10th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861), Company C.
 * - 10th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.
 * - 13th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies E and F.
 * - 14th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company L.
 * - 17th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company C.
 * - 42nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 52nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
 * - 55th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 58th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies C and E.
 * - 105th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, C, E, G, H and K.
 * - 132nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies F and K.
 * - 147th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.
 * - 156th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.


 * List of Pensioners, 1883. Lists certificate no., name of pensioner, address, pension cause, monthly rate, and date of original allowance. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.
 * DeKalb County veterans listed in "The Voters and Tax-payers of DeKalb County, Illinois." (Civil War) Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * DeKalb County’s Online Genealogy allows free index searches of naturalizations, births, marriages, and deaths from 1837 when the county was created. Searches can be done for naturalizations 100 years or older, births 75 years or older, marriages 50 years or older, and deaths 20 years or older. A copy of the original records can be order online for a fee.

Online Records
 * 1800-1998 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1840–1950 - Naturalization Index To access this record you must have the soundex number for your name of interest. Explore how to use soundex.
 * 1860–1908 - Genealogical Society of DeKalb County, Illinois.Naturalization Records of DeKalb County, Illinois. Sycamore, Illinois : Genealogical Society of DeKalb County, Illinois, 1981.

Newspapers

 * Sycamore True Republican (1869-1872, 1877-1968) is available from the Illinois Digital Newspaper Collection.
 * Clinton Township Public Library Historical Index is a collection of news items collected by librarians since 1916.

Obituaries

 * Clinton Township Public Library Historical Index is a collection of news items collected by librarians since 1916.
 * Selected Obituaries, courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Periodicals
The Cornsilk, the Genealogical Society of DeKalb's newsletter, contains abstracted local records and information about research in DeKalb County. Explore an online index to the Cornsilk courtesy of the Genealogical Society of DeKalk County, Joiner History Room.

Cornsilk articles can be acceessed by several different methods.


 * 1) Find a copy at a library near you. Other libraries (WorldCat).
 * 2) Article copies can be ordered through PERSI
 * 3) Volumes 1–8 are available on film through the Family History Library. Book copies are availalbe only at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

Probate Records
Online Probate Records
 * 1772 - 1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1819 - 1988 at FamilySearch.org — images

Repositories

 * County Courthouse

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


 * Historical and Genealogical Society

See Societies, for the DeKalb County Historical–Genealogical Society(Joiner History Room). The society has a research room for the public.

Family History Centers

 * DeKalb Family History Center

Family History Centers (FHCs) are branches of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah (United States) and are located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources to assist you in the research and study of your genealogy. The DeKalb Family History Center is located in Sycamore. Call ahead to verify operating hours. All are welcome. Explore more about the DeKalb Family History Center.


 * Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)

The Illinois Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD), managed by the Illinois State Archives, houses 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 Northern Illinois University (IRAD-NIU) holds the records for DeKalb County. Learn more about finding and using their records.


 * Illinois Regional Archives Depository c/o Regional History Center Founders Memorial Library, Room 400 Northern Illinois University DeKalb, IL 60115 Telephone: (815) 753-1807


 * Public Libraries

Cortland Community Library 63 S. Somonauk Rd. Cortland, IL 60112 Phone: 1–815-756-7274

E-Mail: [mailto:114bc@tbcnet.com 114bc@tbcnet.com] DeKalb Public Library 309 Oak Street DeKalb, Illinois 60115 Phone: 1–815-756-9568

Genoa Public Library 232 West Main Street Genoa, IL 60135 Phone: 1–815–784-2627

Hinkley Public Library District 100 N. Maple Street Hinckley, IL 60520 Phone:1–815-286-3220 E-Mail: staff@hinckley.lib.il.us.

Malta Township Public Library

203 E. Adams St. Malta, Illinois 60150 Phone: 1–815–825-2525

Somonauk Public Library District 700 E. LaSalle Street Somonauk, Illinois 60552 Phone: 1–815-498-2440

This library holds local cemetery records and plots, marriage and death records, The Somonauk Reveille on microfilm, and much more. A microfilm reader-printer is available for making copies.

Sycamore Public Library 103 East State Street Sycamore, Illinois 60178 1–815–895-2500  

Societies
DeKalb County Historical and Genealogical Society PO Box 295 Sycamore, IL 60178 E-mail:[mailto:joinerhistoryroom@dekalbcounty.org joinerhistoryroom@dekalbcounty.org] Website

Mutiliple databases are available through the county historical society. The staff will do limited research for the cost of copies only. Scanned records can be e-mailed. Of particular interest is their obituary index, military indexes, and their index to the county genealogical society periodical, The Cornsilk. On their website, select "Archives" to see a complete listing of their holdings. Explore other online databases at their website.

Thousands of obituaries have been collected from county newspapers and other sources. These obituaries have been indexed and organized into 3-ring binders. Other obituaries are available on microfilm. Some early obits are not available. Contact the office with your request. Please include name and date of death. No charge for research time. You pay only for copies and postage. Do not send any money until you receive a copy of the obituary you requested.

Vital Records
DeKalb County’s Online Genealogy allows free index searches of births, marriages, deaths and naturalizations from 1837 when the county was created. Searches can be done for births 75 years or older, marriages 50 years or older, deaths 20 years or older, and naturalizations 100 years or older. A copy of the original records can be order online for a fee.

See Illinois Vital Records for more information about Vital records in Illinois. Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. See also How to order Illinois Vital Records or order electronically online.

Original birth and death certificates recorded 1878–1916 are kept by the DeKalb County Clerk while those recorded after 1916 are kept by the Illinois Department of Public Health with a copy to the County Clerk. The county clerk does not have birth records after 1916. Original marriage records are kept by the County Clerk from 1837 to the present. Original divorce records are generally in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk.

No birth, marriage or death records for DeKalb county are held at the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) at Northern Illinois University, except for the Birth and Death Reporting Accounts 1902–1903. See below for other sources of vital records copies, indexes and abstracts.

Births
The following indexes to birth records are available:


 * 1878–1903 Genealogical Society of DeKalb County, Illinois. Index to Birth Record Books of DeKalb County, Illinois. Sycamore, Illinois: Genealogical Society of DeKalb County, Illinois, 198-?
 * 1837–1890 Marshall, Florence Houghton. Some Early Births in DeKalb County, Ill. and Vicinity, 1837-1890.S.l.: s.n., 1987. Other Libraries
 * 1902–1903 Birth and Death Reporting Accounts 1902–1903. IRAD–NIU.

Marriages

 * 1587-1959 - Illinois, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1810–1934 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1837–1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763–1900 Courtesy of the Illinois State Archives.
 * 1837-1850 - DeKalb County Marriage Index 1837-1850 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1837–1850 Steenrod, Robert L. De Kalb County, Illinois marriage records, 1837-1850. Belvidere, Illinois: s.n., 1960. Other Libraries
 * 1837–1850 Steenrod, Robert L. De Kalb County, Illinois marriage records, 1837-1850. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1970. Manuscript on film
 * 1837–1850Illinois Marriages, 1790-1860 Ancestry ($) 
 * 1837–1877 Genealogical Society of DeKalb County, Illinois.Marriage records of DeKalb County, Illinois. Sycamore, Illinois: Geneal. Society of DeKalb County, Illinois, 1979. Other Libraries
 * 1865-1900 "1865-1900 Marriages Performed at St. John Catholic Church, Somonauk, DeKalb County," The Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 24, No. 4 (Winter 1992).

Deaths

 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1850 1850 Mortality Schedule Transcription. Courtesy of Illinois Trails. Information taken from a US Census transcription.
 * 1860 1860 Mortality Schedule Transcription. Courtesy of Illinois Trails. Information taken from a US Census transcription.
 * 1878-1903 Anderson, Marian. Index to Death Register I, January 1878-June 1903. Sycamore, Illinois: Geneal. Society of DeKalb County, Ill., 1982. Other Libraries (Worldcat)
 * 1885-1916 Marshall, Florence Houghton. Alphabetical Index to the Death Register of DeKalb County, Illinois, 1885-1916. S.l.: s.n., 1996. Other Libraries (Worldcat)
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates 1916–1950 Courtesty of the Illinois State Archives
 * 1916-1950 Transcribed DeKalb County deathsfrom the Illinois State Archives death index. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Websites

 * DeKalb County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * DeKalb County IL Genealogy
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Dekalb County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History(Linkpendium)