Wabash County, Illinois Genealogy

United States Illinois  Wabash County

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

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.

Historical Facts
Wabash County is named for the Wabash River which is the English spelling of the French name "Ouabache." French traders named the river waapaahsiiki, a Miami Indian name for the river.

Parent County

 * 1824--Wabash County was created 27 December 1825 from Edwards County. County seat:  Mount Carmel

Boundary Changes
See an interactive map of Wabash County boundary changes.

Record Loss
April 5, 1857 -- 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

Biography

 * 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.

Cemeteries
Illinois Cemeteries for more information. 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 Wabash County and links to the information for the individuals buried there.


 * Wabash 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 Wabash 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.

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 Christia 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:


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

Lutheran

 * Jordan Creek (St. Peter's) Lutheran Church and Cemetery

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

History

 * 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.

Land and Property
Copies of original records


 * 1865–1907 Deed records


 * 1970 Land atlas and plat book, Edwards–Wabash County

Illinois Land and Property for more information. 1857-present The original land and property records for Wabash County are held by the County Clerk. See the info box above for contact information. The following copies are available:


 * [No land and property record holdings noted in IRAD-EIU Wabash County Listing.] Search for Wabash County records. Information about how to use IRAD
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available 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.

Additional Resources
Additional resources for Wabash County land and property may be found in the. Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche can be ordered for viewing at Family History Centers. Copies of books found in the FHLC may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the Family History Library Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Maps

 * Wabash County Federal Township Plats

Military

 * 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
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.

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 Family History 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.

Copies of original records


 * 1853–1937 Will records


 * 1855–1913 Estate records


 * 1857–1935 Index to probate


 * 1857–1925 Probate records

Additional Resources
Additional resources for Wabash County probates may be found in the, and on the topic pages of the Family History Library catalog (FHLC). Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche can be ordered for viewing at Family History Centers. Copies of books found in the FHLC may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the Family History Library 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 Wabash County are kept, see the Wabash County Courthouse page.

Family History Centers
There are over 4500 Family History Centers worldwide which serve as branch facilities of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Volunteers provide research assistance to help patrons identify their ancestors. Microfilm and microfiche may be ordered from the FHL collection at a nominal cost. Locate your nearest Family History Center at the FamilySearch website. Call ahead to verify operating hours. All are welcome. The following centers are accessible to residents of Wabash County, Illinois:

Evansville Indiana Family History Center 8020 E Covert Ave Evansville, Vanderburgh, Indiana Phone: 812-471-0191 Hours: First Wednesday of every month 10:00 - 12:00, Tues &amp; Wed evening 6:00 - 8:00; other times by appointment Closed: Closed Major Holidays

Vincennes Indiana Family History Center 1940 N Old Hwy 41 Vincennes, Knox, Indiana Phone: 812-882-4022 Hours: T, Thu 9am-12:30pm, 5pm-8:30pm Closed: Closed 1 1/2 weeks for Christmas Please note: Addresses posted are not mailing addresses. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries.

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.

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

HOURS Mon-Thu: 11am-7pm Fri-Sat: 11am-5:30pm Sun: 1pm-5:30pm

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

Societies

 * Genealogical Society of Southern Illinois


 * Wabash County Historical Society P.O. Box 911 Mt. Carmel, IL 62863


 * Wabash Genealogical Society Nancy Rayborn 102 Park Lane Allendale, IL 62410

Vital Records
See Illinois Vital Records for more information about Vital records in Illinois.

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 Family History 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.

General


 * 1903–1921 School records

Births

 * 1857–1905 Birth Record, Delayed IRAD–EIU
 * 1877–1916 Birth Record IRAD–EIU
 * 1877–1984 Birth Record Index IRAD–EIU
 * 1857–1905 Birth Record, Delayed IRAD–EIU

Marriages
1857–present The original Wabash County marriage records 1857-present are housed in the office of the County Clerk. The following copies are available:


 * 1857–1971 Marriage Record IRAD–EIU
 * 1857–1978 Marriage Record Index IRAD–EIU

The following abstracts are available:


 * 1857–1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 (1857-1900 for Wabash County)

Deaths
1877–present The original Wabash County death records 1877-present are housed in the office of the County Clerk. The following copies are available:


 * 1877–1955 Death Record IRAD–EIU
 * 1877–1984 Death Record index IRAD–EIU
 * 1912–1917 Death Record, Coroner's IRAD–EIU
 * 1878–1915 Death Record, Stillbirths IRAD–EIU

The following abstracts are available:


 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 (Nov 1877-Oct 1915 for Wabash County)
 * 1916–1950 Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916-1950 (1916-1950 for Wabash County)

Neighboring Counties

 * Edwards
 * Gibson County, Indiana
 * Knox County, Indiana
 * Lawrence
 * Richland
 * White

Web Sites
Databases pertinent to Wabash County


 * Local Governmental Records Database IRAD
 * Name Index to Illinois Local Governments IRAD
 * USGenWeb, Wabash County, Illinois (ILGenWeb)
 * Wabash County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Wabash County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)