Cumberland County, Illinois Genealogy

Guide to Cumberland County, Illinois ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records. Illinois Online Genealogy 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 Cumberland County are kept, see the Cumberland County Courthouse page.

Historical Facts
Cumberland County is named for the, which was named for the town of Cumberland, Maryland.

Description
The county was named for the National Road (Cumberland Road), which was projected to run through it. The County Seat is Toledo and was founded 1843. It is located in the East Central area of the state.

Boundary Changes

 * 2 March 1843: - Cumberland County was created from Coles County.

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
1885 All records were lost in a fire on 5 November.

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

Church History and Records
Abstracts


 * 1843–1972 Lacey, Ruth and Walter. History of Long Point Circuit and Long Point Chapel, Cumberland County, 1843-1972: Long Point Chapel of Union Township NW1/4, Section 24, T1ON, Range 10E; Long Point Cemetery of Union Township. Greenup, Illinois : Cumberland County Genealogical Society (Illinois), 1972.

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

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
for more information.


 * [No land and property record holdings noted in IRAD-EIU Cumberland County Listing.] Search for Cumberland County records. Information about how to use IRAD
 * Family Maps. Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Cumberland County, Illinois.  Norman, Oklahoma: Arphax Pub. Co., c2006.

Online Resources


 * 1796-1907 - U.S General Land Office Records at Ancestry–($)
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)
 * [lhttp://landplats.ilsos.net/Cumberland.html Cumberland County Federal Township Plats]
 * Federal Township Plats of Illinois
 * 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.

Maps

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)


 * Cumberland County Federal Township Plats
 * USGenWeb, Cumberland County, Illinois (ILGenWeb), plat map


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

Civil War
Civil War service men from Cumberland 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 Cumberland County.


 * - 5th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies A and I.
 * - 21st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 59th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.
 * - 97th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B and D.
 * - 123rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 135th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company I.


 * Illinois Trails History and Genealogy. 1862-1863 military census of males aged 18 to 45 in various towns of Cumberland County, who were eligible for Civil War military duty (accessed 2 Jun 2011).

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Records
 * 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1856-1991 Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 at Ancestry - index and images, ($)

Newspapers
Toledo Democrat 802 Court House Square P.O. Box 7 Toledo, IL 62468 (217) 849-2000 Greenup Press 104 W. Cumberland St. P.O. Box 127 Greenup, IL 62428 (217) 923-3704  Neoga News 577 Chestnut Ave. P.O. Box 250 Neoga, IL 62447 (217) 895-2234
 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

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

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


 * See Illinois Probate Records for more information.

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

Family History Centers

 * Champaign Illinois Family History Center
 * Danville Illinois Family History Center
 * Mattoon Illinois Family History Center
 * Terre Haute Indiana Family History Center


 * Marshall Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Sullivan County Public Library - an affiliate library

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 Cumberland County come under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) regional depository.

Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)

Eastern Illinois University Booth Library 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
Sumpter Township Library Court House Square P.O. Box 67 Toledo, IL 62468 (217) 849-2072 Greenup Carnegie Library 101 N. Mill P.O. Box 275 Greenup, IL 62428 (217) 923-3616 Neoga District Library 550 Chestnut Ave. Neoga, IL 62447 (217) 895-3944

Societies

 * Cumberland County Historical and Genealogical Society Box 582 213 W. Cumberland St Greenup, Illinois 62428 Phone 217-923-9306 Email:[mailto:historic1895@gmail.com historic1895@gmail.com] Facebook Website

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

Marriages

 * 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index
 * 1790-1860 Illinois Marriages, 1790-1860 at Ancestry–($);Index, INCOMPLETE
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1810–1934 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index
 * To-1850 Illinois Marriages to 1850 at Ancestry–($);Index, INCOMPLETE
 * 1851-1900 Illinois Marriages, 1851-1900 at Ancestry–($);Index, INCOMPLETE
 * 1878-1888 State Board of Health returns of marriages

Deaths

 * 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — index, some images
 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHertitage($)
 * 1916-1947 
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates

Online Resources
 * 1916-1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index, ($)

Websites
Databases pertinent to Cumberland County


 * Cumberland County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Cumberland County IL Genealogy
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Local Governmental Records Database IRAD
 * Name Index to Illinois Local Governments IRAD
 * USGenWeb Project, Cumberland County, Illinois
 * Cumberland County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Genealogy Trails, Cumberland County, Illiniois