Henry County, Illinois Genealogy

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

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

Historical Facts


Henry County is named for Patrick Henry who was an orator and statesman of the Revolutionary War period.

Description
The county was named for Patrick Henry - a Revolutionary war period lawyer, orator and statesman. The county seat is Cambridge and the county was organized on 1837. The County is located in the North-Western part of the state.

Parent County

 * 1825--Henry County was created 13 January 1825 from Fulton County. County seat:Cambridge

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.

Neighboring Counties

 * Bureau
 * Knox
 * Mercer
 * Rock Island
 * Stark
 * Whiteside

Cemeteries
The following web sites have additional information on Henry county cemeteries.


 * Henry County Cemeteries Provides a listing of a few tombstone transcriptions.


 * Illinois Ancestors Tombstone Project.


 * Henry County Cemetery by Linkpendium has links to several related websites.


 * Henry County Cemeteries. The website provides name of cemetery, address and telephone number when available, Google Map with cemetery marker, and other helpful Internet links.


 * The Henry County, Ill ILGenWeb Cemeteries


 * Henry County Cemeteries Illinois State Genealogical Society's "Cemetery Location Project" has identified many cemeteries.

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 Henry County. Learn more about how to search WorldCat and the FamilySearch Catalog.


 * 1857–1887 Gifford, B.R. Clergyman's private register. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1980.
 * The History of Henry County. Kett, H.F., Chicago: 1877. Free digital copy. Internet Archive. Many church histories are found in the town histories beginning on page 530. Churches not included in the town histories are listed beginning on page 541.

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 Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Henry County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

Copies of original records


 * 1840–1927 Probate Record books on microfilm, FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1847–1872 Circuit Court Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1849–1923 County court Minutes
 * 1857–1928 Circuit Court Case Files, Criminal IRAD–WIU
 * 1872–1961 County Court Record, Criminal IRAD–WIU
 * 1873–1963 Circuit Court Record, Criminal IRAD–WIU
 * starting 1892 Index to probate records
 * 1894-1901 Probate Records, Volume C images on-line
 * 1915–1940 Circuit Court Record, Chancery IRAD–WIU

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

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 through online sources, the Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Henry County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

Copies of original records


 * 1818–1901 Deed records
 * 1836–1903 Grantee index
 * 1840–1898 Grantor index
 * 1850 Taxable Lands Lists IRAD–WIU
 * 1987 Land atlas and plat book Many libraries (WorldCat)

Additional Resources

Additional resources for Henry County land and property may be found online in the and. Online microfilm are indicated by the camera icon in the catalog entry. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Online Resources


 * 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 ($)
 * Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)
 * Henry County Federal Township Plats

Local Histories

 * The History of Henry County, Illinois: Its Tax-payers and Voters: Containing also a Biographical Directory, a Condensed History of the State, Map of the County, a Business Directory, an Abstract of Every-day Laws, War Record of Henry County, Officers of Societies, Lodges, etc., etc.. Chicago: H.F. Kett &amp; Co., 1877. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Internet Archive; Internet Archive.
 * Kiner, Henry L. History of Henry County, Illinois. Chicago: Pioneer Pub. Co., 1910. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * Portrait and Biographical Album of Henry 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: Biographical Pub. Co., 1885. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Maps

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)

General

 * 1860–1975 Military Discharge Record Index IRAD–WIU

Civil War
Civil War service men from Henry 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 Henry County.


 * - 1st Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company D.
 * - 9th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies B, C, and H.
 * - 17th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
 * - 19th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.
 * - 27th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company I.
 * - 37th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 42nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A and B.
 * - 57th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
 * - 57th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies D and H.
 * - 65th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (Scotch Regiment), Company D.
 * - 83rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
 * - 112th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, C, D, G, H, I, and K.
 * - 124th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A and F.
 * - 132nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company G.
 * - 134th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company H.
 * - 139th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company K.
 * - 148th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company I.


 * 1862–1865 Civil War bounty order registers IRAD–WIU

Naturalization
Original naturalization records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See Illinois Naturalization Records for more information about using naturalization records.

Online Records
 * 1800-1998 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Declarations of Intent for Citizenship of the United States courtesy Genealogytrails.com.

Poor House Records

 * 1903–1932 Blind Relief Application Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1889–1902 Almshouse Registers IRAD–WIU

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

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 Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Henry County records. For information on how to use IRAD see theWIU IRAD Wiki page.

Online Resources


 * 1860–1926 Probate records, and widows relinquishment records for Henry County probate records are also available in . Click on the browse through images link, select Henry County, and select the record type you are interested in.

Copies of original records


 * starting 1892 Index to probate records
 * 1840–1927 Probate Record books
 * 1851–1900 Probate Case Files IRAD–WIU
 * 1852–1924 Will records and index
 * 1856–1928 Guardian's records and index
 * 1856–1930 Administrator's records {FHL|533470|item|disp=FHL first film 1435953 Item 1(first of 2 films)}}
 * 1858–1923 Executor's records
 * 1860–1926 Widow's relinquishments and selections
 * 1907–1930 Conservator's bonds and letters

Additional Resources

Additional resources for Henry County probates may be found in the topic page of the FamilySearch Catalog. Online microfilm are indicated by the camera icon in the catalog entry. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

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

Family History Center
There are over 4500 Family History Centers in more than 80 countries offering public access to genealogical records from all over the world. Family History Centers provide patrons with access to over a billion online records and approximately 2.5 million circulating microfilms. Centers are staffed by local volunteers who are eager to provide genealogical research assistance. Currently there are no Family History Centers located directly in Henry County. To find the nearest Family History Center, check out the Family Search Centers page on the FamilySearch.org website.

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. Western Illinois University houses the records for Henry County.

Public Libraries
[http://www.annawanillinois.org/library.htm '''Annawan-Alba Twp. Library'''] 200 North Meadow Lane, Suite 2 Annawan, IL 61234 Telephone: 309-935-6483 Fax: 309-935-6483

Atkinson Public Library District 109 South State Street Atkinson, IL 61235 Telephone: 309-936-7606

Cambridge Public Library District 212 West Center Street Cambridge, IL 61238 Telephone: 309-937-2233 Fax: 309-937-2873

Clover Library District 440 North Division Street Woodhull, IL 61490 Telephone: 309-334-2680 Fax: 309-334-2945 Email: [mailto:wi_wood@winco.net wi_wood@winco.net]

Galva Public Library District 120 N.W. Third Avenue Galva, IL 61434 Telephone: 309-932-2180 Fax: 309-932-2280

Geneseo Public Library District 218 South State Street Geneseo, IL 61254 Telephone: 309-944-6452 Fax: 309-944-6721 Email: [mailto:gpld@geneseo.lib.il.us gpld@geneseo.lib.il.us]

Kewanee Public Library District 102 S. Tremont St. Kewanee, IL 61443 Telephone: 309-852-4505

Colona Public Library 911 1st Street Colona, IL 61241 Telephone: 309-792-0548 Fax: 309-792-2143 Email: [mailto:contact@colonalibrary.com contact@colonalibrary.com]

Western District Library 1111 4th Street Orion, IL 61273 Telephone: 309-526-8375

[http://home.grics.net/~thomsonlib/ '''York Twp. Public Library'''] 1005 West Main Street Thomson, IL 61258 Telephone: 815-259-2480 Fax: 815-259-2480 Email: [mailto:thomsonlib@grics.net thomsonlib@grics.net]

Societies
Galva Historical Society PO Box 24 Galva, IL 61434

Henry County Genealogical Society PO Box 346 Kewanee, IL 61443 Email:[mailto:steven.morrison@comcast.net steven.morrison@comcast.net] Website

Henry County Historical Society POBox 48 Bishop Hill, IL 61419 Telephone Number: 309-927-3528

Kewanee Historical Society 211 N. Chestnut Street Kewanee, IL 61443 Telephone Number: 309-854-4701 Email:[mailto:kewaneehistory@kewanee.com kewaneehistory@kewanee.com] Website

Taxation

 * 1850 Taxable Lands Lists IRAD–WIU
 * 1873 State Tax Refunding Record IRAD–WIU

Vital Records
See Illinois Vital Records for more information about Vital records in Illinois. See also How to order Illinois Vital Records or order electronically online.

Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the Henry 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 Family History Library and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Henry County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.

The website of the Henry County Clerk/Recorder explains how to order birth, marriage, civil union, and death records. Downloadable Vital Records Forms.

Births
Copies of Original Birth Records


 * 1860–1915 Birth Record Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1860–1900 Birth Certificates, Delayed IRAD–WIU
 * 1877–1900 Birth Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1877–1901 Register of Births
 * 1942–1975 Delayed births
 * Prior to 1916 Index to births

Marriages
Copies of original Marriage Records


 * 1837–1985 Marriage Record index IRAD–WIU
 * 1837–1923 Index to Marriages and Marriage Records IRAD–WIU
 * 1867–1922 Marriage License Applications IRAD–WIU

Online Resources


 * 1587-1959 - Illinois, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
 * 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage indexfound at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1810–1934 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index

Deaths
Copies of original Death Records


 * Prior to 1916 Death index
 * 1877-1902, 1905 Register of deaths, v. 1
 * 1870-1905 Coroner's Inquest Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1877-1902 Death Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1877-1915 Death Record Index IRAD–WIU

Additional Resources


 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916
 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1850-1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 found at Ancestry.com ($)

Additional Resources
Additional resources for Henry County births, marriages and deaths may be found in the and the  topic page topic page of the FamilySearch Catalog. Online microfilm are indicated by the camera icon in the catalog entry. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Websites

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