Stark County, Illinois Genealogy

United States Illinois  Stark County

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

Historical Facts
Stark County was named for John Stark who was an officer during the American Revolution and was known as the "Hero of Bennington" because of his exemplary service at the Battle of Bennington.

Parent County

 * 1839--Stark County was created 2 March 1839 from Knox and Putnam Counties. County seat:  Toulon

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

Neighboring Counties

 * Bureau
 * Henry
 * Knox
 * Marshall
 * Peoria

Cemeteries
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 Stark County and links to the information for the individuals buried there.


 * Stark 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 Stark 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.

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

Local Histories

 * Leeson, M. A. Documents and biography pertaining to the settlement and progress of Stark County, Illinois : containing an authentic summary of records, documents, historical works and newspapers relating to Indian history, original settlement, organization and politics, courts and bar, citizen soldiers, military societies, marriages, churches, schools, secret, benevolent and literary societies, etc. : together with biography of representative men of the past and present. Chicago: M.A. Leeson &amp; Co., 1887. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * Stark County, Illinois and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement. Chicago: Pioneer Pub. Co., 1916. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * Shallenberger, E. H. Stark County and Its Pioneers. Cambridge, Ill.: B.W. Seaton, Prairie Chief Office, book and job printer, 1989. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Civil War
Civil War service men from Stark 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 Stark County.


 * - 19th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 37th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 65th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (Scotch Regiment), Companies A and I.

Poorhouse
Stark County Almshouse Registers Index, 1868-1941, courtesy: Illinois State Archives

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

Web Sites

 * Stark County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Stark County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)