Edgar County, Illinois Genealogy
Guide to Edgar County, Illinois ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
Edgar County, Illinois | |
Map | |
![]() Location in the state of Illinois, United States Genealogy | |
![]() Location of Illinois in the U.S. | |
Facts | |
Founded: | January 3, 1823 |
---|---|
County Seat | Paris |
Courthouse | |
Address | Edgar County Courthouse 115 W. Court Street Paris, Illinois 61944 (217) 466-7433 Edgar County Website |
Contents
- 1 County Organization
- 2 Historical Facts
- 3 Boundary Changes
- 4 Record Loss
- 5 Records and Resources
- 5.1 Biography
- 5.2 Cemeteries
- 5.3 Census
- 5.4 Church
- 5.5 Court Records
- 5.6 Ethnic Research
- 5.7 Genealogy
- 5.8 History
- 5.9 Land and Property
- 5.10 Maps
- 5.11 Military
- 5.12 Naturalization
- 5.13 Newspapers and Obituaries
- 5.14 Places and Localities
- 5.15 Probate Records
- 5.16 Repositories
- 5.17 Social Groups Online
- 5.18 Societies
- 5.19 Taxation
- 5.20 Vital Records
- 6 Websites
- 7 References
County Organization[edit | edit source]
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1823 | 1877 | 1823 | 1823 | 1827 | 1827 | 1810 |
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Edgar County are kept, see the Edgar County Courthouse page.
Historical Facts[edit | edit source]
The county received its name from the John Edgar who was involved in politics as a Justice of the Peace, Judge and delegate to the Legislature. He was believed to be the wealthiest man in Illinois.
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for Irishman John Edgar who was an officer in the Royal Navy who switched sides during the Revolutionary War rather than fight the colonists. He became a pioneer merchant, politician and land speculator in early Illinois. The county seat is Paris and the county was organized on 1823. [2]The County is located in the East-Central area of the state.[3]
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
Records and Resources[edit | edit source]
Biography[edit | edit source]
The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Edgar County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Edgar County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census[edit | edit source]
For information and tips on using and accessing online census records, see Illinois Census.
Federal[edit | edit source]
Historical populations | ||
---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± |
1830 | 4,071 | — |
1840 | 8,225 | 102.0% |
1850 | 10,692 | 30.0% |
1860 | 16,925 | 58.3% |
1870 | 21,450 | 26.7% |
1880 | 25,499 | 18.9% |
1890 | 26,787 | 5.1% |
1900 | 28,273 | 5.5% |
1910 | 27,336 | −3.3% |
1920 | 25,769 | −5.7% |
1930 | 24,966 | −3.1% |
1940 | 24,430 | −2.1% |
1950 | 23,407 | −4.2% |
1960 | 22,550 | −3.7% |
1970 | 21,591 | −4.3% |
1980 | 21,725 | 0.6% |
1990 | 19,595 | −9.8% |
2000 | 19,704 | 0.6% |
2010 | 18,576 | −5.7% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
1840 Pensioners[edit | edit source]
- 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. FHL 973 X2pc 1840; FHL 2321; digital version at Google Books. [See Illinois, Edgar County on page 186.]
Church[edit | edit source]
Copies of Original records
- 1899 Little Grove Church FHL film 1305171 Item 9
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Ethnic Research[edit | edit source]
African American[edit | edit source]
The following have information concerning African American research.
- African American Genealogy (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
Genealogy[edit | edit source]
History[edit | edit source]
- <a href="http://everynameindex.com/EdgarCoIL.html">Every Name Index to History of Edgar County, Illinois</a>. Every Name Index compiled by Cathy L. O'Connor, 2012, original text by William E. E. Baron, Jr., 1879, reproduction by Unigraphic, Inc., 1968. <a href="http://www.everynameindex.com">EveryNameIndex.com</a>
- The <a href="Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois">Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois</a> has a Edgar County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Edgar County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.
Land and Property[edit | edit source]
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 Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Edgar County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.
Copies of Original Records
- 1824-1920 Edgar County (Illinois) Recorder, Deeds, 1824-1920; index to deeds, 1827-1891. FHL Film 1301929 (First of 42 films)
- 1823-1919 Deed Index IRAD-EIU
- 1823-1894 Deed Record IRAD-EIU
- 1823-1838 Taxable Lands List IRAD-EIU
Abstracts
- Ogle, George A. Standard atlas of Edgar County, Illinois: including a plat book of the villages, cities and townships of the county; patrons directory (Evansville, Indiana:Unigraphic, 1974.) FHL Book 977.369 E3a; Other Libraries
- Compiled and published by the American Atlas Co., Plat book of Edgar County, Illinois (Evansville, Indiana:Unigraphic, 1974.) FHL Book 977.369 E3a; Other Libraries
- 1987 Edgar County (Illinois) land atlas and plat book, 1987 (Rockford, Illinois:Rockford Map Publishers, c1987.) FHL Book 977.369 E7a; Other Libraries
Online Resources
- Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)
- Edgar 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.
- USGenWeb, Edgar County, Illinois, Public Land Records
- USGenWeb, Edgar County, Illinois, Tax Records (circa 1878)
Maps[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
Military[edit | edit source]
The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has an Edgar County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Edgar County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Civil War service men from Edgar 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 Edgar County.
- - 7th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company A.
- - 12th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.
- - 12th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861), Company E.
- - 21st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.
- - 25th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.
- - 29th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.
- - 34th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
- - 54th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies F and K.
- - 59th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B and H.
- - 62nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
- - 64th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (Yates’ Sharpshooters), Company H.
- - 66th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.
- - 70th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
- - 79th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, C, D and H.
- - 130th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.
- - 135th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company C.
- - 150th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865), Company C.
- - 14th Regiment, Missouri Infantry (Union), Company E
- - Engineer Regiment of the West, Missouri Volunteers (Union), Company B
- - Engineer Regiment of the West, Missouri Volunteers (Union), Company H
- Parkinson, Scott, Edgar County Illinois in the Civil War, 1861-1865 (1988). (Thesis [M.A.]-- Eastern Illinois University, 1988). View online at Internet Archives. (accessed 2 Jun 2010)
Naturalization[edit | edit source]
Original naturalization records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See Illinois Naturalization Records for more information about using naturalization records.
The following copies of original records may be accessed through the Family History Library.
- 1872-1908 Illinois County Court (Edgar County), Naturalization records, 1872-1908. FHL Film 1301744 items 1–4
Online Records
- 1800-1998 - Illinois, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — index and images
Newspapers and Obituaries[edit | edit source]
USGenWeb, Edgar County, Illinois Obituaries
Places and Localities[edit | edit source]
Populates Places[edit | edit source]
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:[5]
Cities | ||
|
||
Villages | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
Townships | ||
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Records
- 1772 - 1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
- 1819 - 1988 Illinois Probate Records 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.
Indexes
- 1823-1963 A. Joyce Brown, Index to Edgar Co., IL estates and wills, 1823-1963. FHL Book 977.369 P22a; Other Libraries
- 1823-1963 A. Joyce Brown, Index to miscellaneous probate records, 1823-1963, in Edgar County, Illinois. FHL Book 977.369 P22b; Other Libraries
Copies of Original Records
- 1829-1927 Illinois Probate Court (Edgar County), Will records, 1829-1927; index to estates. FHL Film 1301744 items 5–7 (first of 5 films)
- Edgar County (Illinois) County Clerk, Unprobated wills. FHL Film 1301749
Abstracts
- Hammond, Barbara L. Hammond, Echos [i.e. Echoes] from the past, vol. 1 : estate packets [drawers] 1-23, Edgar County, Illinois (Paris, Illinois:Tresearch,c2002) FHL Book 977.369 P2h; Other Libraries
Repositories[edit | edit source]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Edgar County are kept, see the Edgar County Courthouse page.
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
There are over 4500 Introduction to 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. Some microfilm may be available at various family history centers. 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 Edgar County, Illinois:
Champaign Illinois Family History Center
604 W Windsor Rd
Champaign, Champaign, Illinois
Phone: 217-352-8063
Hours: Thur-Sat 9:30-12:30pm; Thur 7pm-9pm; or by appt
Danville Illinois Family History Center
1941 N Bowman Ave
Danville, Vermilion, Illinois
Phone: 217-446-5887
Hours: Sat 9:30am-2pm
Terre Haute Indiana Family History Center
1845 N 6 1/2 St
Terre Haute, Vigo, Indiana
Phone: 812-234-0269
Hours: Tue 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Closed: Mondays after 6:00 p.m., all major holidays, inclement weather, whenever Vigo schools are on delays or early dismissals.
Attention: The Center is also available by appointment.
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)[edit | edit source]
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 Edgar 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[edit | edit source]
Chrisman Public Library
108 North Illinois Street, Chrisman, IL 61924-1001
(217) 269-3011
Edgar County Genealogy Library
408 N Main St
Paris, IL 61944-1549
(217) 463-4209
Kansas Community Memorial Library
107 N Front St
Kansas, IL 61933
(217) 948-5484
Paris Carnegie Public Library
207 S. Main St
Paris IL 61944
(217) 463-3950
Social Groups Online[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Edgar County Genealogical Society
408 N. Main Street
PO Box 304
Paris, Illinois 61944-0304
Telephone Number: 217-463-4209
E-mail: ecgl@comwares.net
Website
Hours:
9 a.m. - 4p.m. Wed, Thur, Fri
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. 1st Sat of each month
Closed Holidays
Taxation[edit | edit source]
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
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 Edgar 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 Edgar County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.
Births[edit | edit source]
Copies of Original Records
- 1857-1899 Birth Certificates, Delayed - IRAD-EIU; FHL Film 1301885–1301888
- 1877-1908 Birth Record - IRAD-EIU
- 1877-1908 Birth Record Index – IRAD-EIU
- 1877-1908 Edgar County (Illinois) County Clerk, Birth records. FHL Film 1301743, 1301880 item 1
Marriages[edit | edit source]
Copies of Original Records
- 1823-1904 Edgar County (Illinois) County Clerk, Marriage records. FHL Film 1301880–1301882
- 1823-1903 Marriage Record, Licenses Issued IRAD-EIU
- 1823-1904 Marriage Record IRAD-EIU
- 1823-1851 Marriage records in Edgar County, Illinois. FHL Film 201398
- 1855–1855 Marriage Licenses IRAD-EIU
- 1878-1903 Marriage Record Index IRAD-EIU
Abstracts
- 1587-1959 - Illinois, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
- 1823-1914 Cary, Linda Perkinson Edgar County, Illinois marriages (Paris, Illinois:Edgar County Genealogical Society, 1988-1998.) FHL Book 977.369 V22e v. 1–8
- 1870-1874 Stephens, Edythe Edgar County, Illinois, marriages January 1870 thru March 1874 (Salt Lake City, Utah:Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1978.) FHL Film 1036193 item 1
- 1823-1866 Selby, Robert E. and Phyllis J. Selby Edgar County, Illinois marriage records, 1823-1866 (Kokomo, Indiana:Selby Publishing and Printing, c1981.) FHL Book 977.369 V2se; Other Libraries
- 1874-1877 Powell, Waunita, Arthur A. Hand, and A. Joyce Brown Edgar County, Illinois marriages, April 1874-1877 (Paris, Illinois:Edgar County Illinois Genealogical Society, 1986.) FHL Book 977.369 V2p; Other Libraries
- Sargent, Samuel S. Genealogies of families of Coles County, Illinois, and miscellaneous cemetery, marriage, and probate records (Salt Lake City, Utah:Genealogical Society of Utah, 1948.) Includes miscellaneous marriage records. FHL Film 7699
- Wheeler, Gertrude Genealogical records of Illinois, marriage record, cemetery records, probate court records, will, and family histories : from Edgar, Peoria, Tazewell, and Vermilion Counties (Salt Lake City, Utah:Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1973.) FHL Film 924006 item 10
Online Resources
- 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
- 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry.com ($)
- 1805-1985 Illinois, Church Marriages, 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — index
- 1810–1934 Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1934 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1833-1889 Illinois, Civil Marriages, 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index
Deaths[edit | edit source]
Copies of Original Records
- 1877-1901 Death Record IRAD-EIU
- 1877-1915 Death Record Index IRAD-EIU
- 1877-1915 Edgar County (Illinois) County Clerk, Death records. FHL Film 1301882 items 3–4; 1301883 items 1–2
Abstracts
- 1877-1925 Shutt, Philip L. Edgar Co., Illinois deaths and some burials (Paris, Illinois:Edgar County Genealogy Library, 19--.) FHL Book 977.369 V3s; Other Libraries
Online Resources
- 1749-1999 Illinois Deaths and Burials, 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — index, some images
- 1850-1880 Illinois Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950
- Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916
- 1850-1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 found at Ancestry.com ($)
Websites[edit | edit source]
Databases pertinent to Edgar County
- Edgar County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- Edgar County IL Genealogy
- Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- Local Governmental Records Database IRAD
- Name Index to Illinois Local Governments IRAD
- USGenWeb Project, Edgar County, Illinois (ILGenWeb)
- Edgar County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Edgar County, Illinois. Page 192-199 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 194-197.
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Edgar County, Illinois Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ill/edgar/ accessed 04/12/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Edgar County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_County,_Illinois 04/012/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed.; Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002 WorldCat 50140092, FHL Book 973 D27e 2002
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Edgar County, Illinois," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_County,_Illinois, Last accessed 2 January 2020.