DeKalb County, Illinois Genealogy

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

Description
DeKalb 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 May 1, 1837. The county is located in the north-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
DeKalb County Courthouse 133 W State St Sycamore, IL 60178 Phone: 815-895-7138 Dekalb County Courthouse County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Alexander County are kept, see the DeKalb 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:

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

History Timeline
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

Biographies
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 Genealogy Trails.

Census Records
 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 Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. Washington, D.C., 1841. ; . Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Illinois, DeKalb County on page 186.

Church Records
 List of Churches and Church Parishes FamilySearch Places  Catholic
 * 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
 * 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
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 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 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.

Online Court Indexes and 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.

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
 African American
 * 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

Genealogies

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

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. The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed online, through the FamilySearch 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.

Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1838-1927 at FamilySearch —How to Use this Collection; index; also at Ancestry ($)
 * Beginning 1820 Land Patent Search See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database.
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
 * 1796-1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 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 1840 - 1850 Taxable Land Bought at Publick Sale, courtesy: ILGenWeb
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

 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)

Local Histories
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.
 * 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 ($) version.
 * Gross, Lewis M. Past and Present of DeKalb County, Illinois. Chicago: Pioneer Pub. Co., 1907. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 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)
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
 Civil War Regiments. 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 Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; 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.
 * 1856-1991 Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 at Ancestry - index and images ($)
 * 1860-1908 Genealogical Society of DeKalb County, Illinois.Naturalization Records of DeKalb County, Illinois. Sycamore, Illinois : Genealogical Society of DeKalb County, Illinois, 1981.

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * 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, online at online index
 * Find a copy at a library near you. Other libraries (WorldCat).
 * Article copies can be ordered through PERSI
 * Volumes 1–8 are available on film through the FamilySearch Library. Book copies are availalbe only at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City.

Probate Records
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; index & images
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

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. 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.

Birth

 * 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.

Marriage

 * 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($) — index $
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1810-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 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).

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
 * 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.
 * 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 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 IRAD - Northern Illinois University holds the records for DeKalb County. Illinois Regional Archives Depository c/o Regional History Center Founders Memorial Library, Room 400 Northern Illinois University DeKalb, IL 60115 Phone: 815-753-1807

FamilySearch Centers

 * Dekalb Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Naperville Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Schaumburg Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Sterling Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Westchester Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Arlington Heights Memorial Library - an affiliate library
 * Downers Grove Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Fountaindale Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Northlake Public Library District - an affiliate library
 * Palatine Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Riverside Public Library - an affiliate library
 * St. Charles Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Schaumburg Township District Library - Central - an affiliate library

Libraries
Cortland Community Library 63 S. Somonauk Rd. Cortland, IL 60112 Phone: 815-756-7274 Email: [mailto:114bc@tbcnet.com 114bc@tbcnet.com] Website DeKalb Public Library 309 Oak Street DeKalb, IL 60115 Phone: 815-756-9568 Website Genoa Public Library 232 W Main St Genoa, IL 60135 Phone: 815–784-2627 Website Hinkley Public Library District 100 N. Maple St Hinckley, IL 60520 Phone: 815-286-3220 Email: [mailto:staff@hinckley.lib.il.us staff@hinckley.lib.il.us] Website Malta Township Public Library 203 E. Adams St. Malta, IL 60150 Phone: 815–825-2525 Website  Somonauk Public Library District 700 E. LaSalle Street Somonauk, IL 60552 Phone: 815-498-2440 Website Holdings include local cemetery records and plots, marriage and death records, The Somonauk Reveille on microfilm. Sycamore Public Library 103 E State St Sycamore, IL 60178 Phone: 815–895-2500 Website

Museums
Shabbona-Lee-Rollo Historical Museum 119 West Comanche Shabbona, IL 60550 Phone: 815-824-2597 Website

Societies
Genealogical Society of DeKalb County 1730 N. Main St Sycamore, IL 60178 Website Publication: The Cornsilk DeKalb County Historical and Genealogical Society PO Box 295 Sycamore, IL 60178 Phone: 815-756-7904 Email: [mailto:joinerhistoryroom@dekalbcounty.org joinerhistoryroom@dekalbcounty.org] Facebook Website  Hinckley Historical Society 145 E. Lincoln Ave. (Hwy 30) Hinckley, IL 60520 Phone: 815-739-4721 Email: [mailto:hinckleyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com hinckleyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com] Website Kishwaukee Valley Heritage Society 622 Park Ave Genoa, IL 60135 Phone: 815-784-5559 Email:[mailto:kvhs@atcyber.net kvhs@atcyber.net] Facebook Website Sandwich Illinois Historical Society 315 E Railroad St Sandwich, IL 60548 Phone: 815-786-2513 Facebook

Websites

 * DeKalb County IL Genealogy
 * DeKalb ILGenWeb
 * DeKalb County, IL 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.