Knox County, Illinois Genealogy

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

Knox County, Illinois
Map
Map of Illinois highlighting Knox County
Location in the state of Illinois
Map of the U.S. highlighting Illinois
Location of Illinois in the U.S.
Facts
Founded: January 13, 1825
County Seat Galesburg
Courthouse
Knox County Courthouse.gif
Photo courtesy Illinois Regional Archives Depository, Illinois State Archives
Address Knox County Courthouse
200 S. Cherry Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
309-345-3815
Knox County Website


County Organization[edit | edit source]

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records[1]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1878 1830 1878 1836 1818 1830 1810
Statewide registration for births and deaths started 1916. General compliance by 1922.

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

Historical Facts[edit | edit source]

Henry Knox

The county is named for General Henry Knox (1750-1806), Revolutionary War hero, and the nation's first Secretary of War.[2]

Parent County[edit | edit source]

  • 1825--Knox County was created 13 January 1825 from Fulton County. County seat: Galesburg [3]

Description[edit | edit source]

The county was named for Henry Knox, a soldier of the American Revolution who commanded the storming party at Stony Point, was later a Major General and Washington’s Secretary of War. The county seat is Galesburg and the county was organized on January 13, 1825.[4] The County is located in the West central part of the state.[5]

Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]

1810 - Knox County was part of St. Clair County.
1820 - Knox County was part of Madison County.
1825 - Knox County was created.

A part of Knox County was taken to create Stark County 2 March 1839.

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.

Places / Localities[edit | edit source]

Populated 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:[6]

Cities
Villages
Unincorporated communities
Census-designated places
Townships
Ghost towns


Neighboring Counties[edit | edit source]

Records and Resources[edit | edit source]

Biography[edit | edit source]

  • Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Illinois, (Chicago : Biographical Pub., 1886). 1108 pages. BYU Archives.
  • The Family History Library has several other books and films with biographies and indexes to the biographies of people in Knox County.
  • The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Knox County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Knox County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries of Knox, Illinois online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
TombstoneTranscriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See Illinois Cemeteries for more information

The following web sites have additional information on Knox county cemeteries.

  • Linkpendium links to Knox County Cemeteries web sites and databases.

Census[edit | edit source]

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1830 274 —
1840 7,060 2476.6%
1850 13,279 88.1%
1860 28,663 115.9%
1870 39,522 37.9%
1880 38,344 −3.0%
1890 38,752 1.1%
1900 43,612 12.5%
1910 46,159 5.8%
1920 46,727 1.2%
1930 51,336 9.9%
1940 52,250 1.8%
1950 54,366 4.0%
1960 61,280 12.7%
1970 61,280 0.0%
1980 61,607 0.5%
1990 56,393 −8.5%
2000 55,836 −1.0%
2010 52,919 −5.2%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

1800 - First federal census taken for Illinois. Unfortunately it was lost.
1810 - Knox County was part of St. Clair County. Unfortunately the census was lost.
1820 - Knox County was part of Madison County.  Census exists.
1830 - All federal censuses for Illinois were lost.
1840 through 1930 - Knox was its own county, and all censuses still exist.[7]

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, Knox County on page 187.]

Church Records[edit | edit source]

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Records

  • To see a list of church records and histories available through the Family History Library for Knox County and its communities, see the FamilyHistory Library Catalog.
  • Doubet, Mildred Cadwell, Church Records, Victoria, Knox County, Illinois: Copied from the Original Churches [sic] Records, (Galesburg, Ill.: Knox County Genealogical Society, 1992). Libraries with book (World Cat).
  • First Presbyterian Church (Knoxville, Ill.), Membership and Baptism Records of FIrst Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, Knox County, Illinois, 1835 to 1900: Copied from Original Church Records, (Williamsfield, Ill.: Spoon River Chapter NSDAR, 1983). Libraries with book (World Cat).


Histories

  • The Churches section of the Knox County, Illinois Genealogy and History site has pictures of the churches usually with brief histories.
  • Ontario Congregational Church, Ontario Township, Knox County, Ill., Ontario Congregational Church, Ontario Township, Knox County, Illinois. Centennial Celebration, 1848-1948, (n.p., 1948). Libraries with book (World Cat).


Lists of Churches

From Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Knox County, the section on churches, starting on page 672, has short histories of the churches in Knox County as of 1899:

Baptist
-First Baptist Church, organized January 15, 1848
-Cherry Street Church, split from First Baptist in 1857; reunited November 9, 1864
-Second Baptist Church (African), organized in the fall of 1865
-Swedish Baptist Church, organized November 1888
Catholic
-St. Patrick's Church, started in 1857
Christian Church, organized April 11, 1872
Christian Scientist, meetings in Carr Hall
Congregational
-Old First Church, started about when Galesburg was founded; reunited January 1, 1895 with the First Congregational Church
-First Congregational Church, organized November 9, 1855
-Knox Street Church, organized August 1894
-East Main Street Church, organized August 8, 1894 as the Union Congregational Church of Galesburg; adopted name of East Main Street Church September 1895
-Central Church, organized January 1, 1895 by the reunion of the First and First Congregational Churches
Episcopal
-St. John's Church, organized in 1889 with about 250 members of the First Luthern Church of Gales burg
-Grace Church, organized spring of 1858
Lutheran
-First Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church, organized August 24, 1851
-Zion Lutheran, members started in first Lutheran Church, then went to St. John's Episcopal Church, then formed the Zion Lutheran Church
-German Lutheran Church, organized 1864
Methodist Episcopal
-First Methodist Episcopal, formed in 1847
-African Methodist Episcopal, edifice erected in 1876
-Swedish Methodist Episcopal, organized in 1851
-Swedish Mission, organized in August 1868 by members of the Lutheran Church
Presbyterian
-First Presbyterian Church - See Old First Church under Congregational
-Second Presbyterian Church, organized May 29, 1851; merged with Presbyterian Church March 1, 1870
-Presbyterian Church, organized December 30, 1894; merged with Second Presbyterian Church March 1, 1870
-Presbyterian Church of Galesburg, formed by union of the last two churches March 1, 1870
Salvation Army, in Galesburg
Universalist, organized in January 1855
Volunteers of America, organized in early part of 1896, when there was a split in the Salvation Army
Galesburg Mission Sunday School, founded in 1858 by members of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches
  • For a list of churches within 25 miles of Galesburg with addresses, phone numbers and maps, with many links to web sites, see Searchbug or Switchboard.

Court Records[edit | edit source]

Original court records are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Court Records for more information about using court records.

The following copies of original records may be accessed through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Knox County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

  • 1857–1956 Justice of the Peace Dockets IRAD–WIU

Ninth Judicial Circuit Court, Knox County[edit | edit source]

Knox County Circuit Court
Knox County Courthouse
200 South Cherry Street, Galesburg, IL 61401
Phone: 309-345-3859 Fax: 309-345-0098 report corrections here

The Circuit Clerk is usually the person who genealogists would contact for historical Circuit Court records.

Knox County Clerk[edit | edit source]

Office of the Knox County Clerk
Knox County Courthouse
200 S. Cherry St.
Galesburg, IL 61401-4992
309/345-3815 (voice)
309/345-3801 (fax)
info@knoxclerk.org (e-mail)

The County Clerk has birth, marriage, and death records for Knox County. See the Genealogy page for specific information for genealogist about these records.

Ethnic Research[edit | edit source]

African American[edit | edit source]

The following have information concerning African American research.

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

To see a list of genealogical books available through the Family History Library for Knox County and its communities, see the FamilyHistory Library Catalog.

History[edit | edit source]

1809, Illinois became a territory. Until that time, the area of Knox County was Indian land.[8]
1809, Knox County land was part of St. Clair County.[9]
1812 (September 14), Madison County was created and included what is now Knox County.[10]
1818, Illinois became a state.[11]
1821 (January 31), Pike County split from Madison County and took the part with Knox County land.[12]
1823 (January 28), Fulton County split from Madison County and included the Knox County land.[13]
1825 (January 13), Knox County was created.[14]
1839 (March 2), part of Knox County was taken to create Stark County.[15]

See an interactive map of Knox County boundary changes.

Local Histories[edit | edit source]

County and town histories often have short biographies of people in their area.

  • Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Knox County. (Chicago: Munsell Pub. Co., 1899), includes many short biographies and descriptions of places in alphabetical order. The Knox County section begins on page 665. Digital version at Internet Archive; Ancestry ($); USGenNet.
  • Perry, Albert J. History of Knox County, Illinois: Its Cities, Towns and People. (Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1912). Digital version at Ancestry ($); Google Books; Internet Archive.
  • Knox County, Illinois, the Honor Roll, 1917-1918-1919: Being a Record of What was Done in Knox County in Those Three Eventful Years and Who Did It. (Galesburg, Ill.: Wagoner Print. Co., 1920). Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  • For a list of histories for the Knox County area available through the Family History Library, click here.

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 Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Knox County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

Online Resources

Maps[edit | edit source]

Mercer CountyHenry CountyStark CountyPeoria CountyFulton CountyWarren CountyIL KNOX.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources


Military[edit | edit source]

Civil War, 1861-1865[edit | edit source]

Civil War service men from Knox 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 Knox County.

- 1st Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company D.
- 7th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies D and K.
- 10th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
- 11th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company C.
- 14th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company A.
- 17th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies D and E.
- 33rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies E and H.
- 42nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
- 45th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
- 51st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies C.
- 55th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
- 58th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
- 59th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.
- 64th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (Yates’ Sharpshooters), Company D.
- 66th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.
- 71st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.
- 72nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company I.
- 77th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.
- 83rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies E, G, I and K.
- 84th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
- 86th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.
- 89th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
- 102nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, D, F, H, and I.
- 132nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company G.
- 137th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company C.
- 138th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies B and E.
- 139th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company D.
- 148th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.

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 Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Knox County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

  • 1848–1906 Naturalization Papers IRAD–WIU
  • 1856–1954 Naturalization Index Card File IRAD–WIU
  • 1856–1906 Naturalization RecordIRAD–WIU
  • 1859–1906 Naturalization Index Card FileIRAD–WIU
  • 1860–1890 Naturalization RecordIRAD–WIU
  • 1861–1899 Naturalization Record, FinalIRAD–WIU
  • 1865–1876 Naturalization Record of Soldiers and MinorsIRAD–WIU
  • 1866–1892 Naturalization Record of SoldiersIRAD–WIU
  • 1876–1897 Naturalization Declarations of Intent IRAD–WIU
  • 1876–1898 Naturalization Record of MinorsIRAD–WIU
  • 1876–1909 Naturalization Declarations of Intent IRAD–WIU
  • 1890–1906 Naturalization Record, final IRAD–WIU
  • 1891–1906 Naturalization Record of MinorsIRAD–WIU

Online Records

Newspapers and Obituaries[edit | edit source]

  • The Galesburg Republican-Register started in the mid-1800s. In 1928, it merged with the Galesburg Daily Mail to become the Galesburg Register-Mail.
  • The Galesburg Daily Mail started in the mid-1800s. In 1928, it merged with the Galesburg Republican-Register to become the Galesburg Register-Mail.
  • The Zephyr started in 1989 and was published on Thursdays. It ended December 9, 2010. The archive of past articles is still available. Some of the articles are about historical events.

Poor House Records[edit | edit source]

  • 1932–1936 Poor relief emergency committee files IRAD–WIU

Probate Records[edit | edit source]

Online 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 Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Knox County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

  • 1832–1959 Probate Case Files Index IRAD–WIU
  • 1832–1922 Probate WillsIRAD–WIU
  • 1832–1922 Probate Wills, Non-Probated IRAD–WIU
  • 1960–1972 Probate Guardian's and Conservator's Case Files Index IRAD–WIU
  • Doubet, Mildred Cadwell, General Index to Estates, 1832-1900: as recorded in Knox County Courthouse, Galesburg, Illinois, (Galesburg, Illinois : Knox County Genealogical Society (Illinois), [19--?]), 85p. FHL book 977.349 R22d, other libraries with book (WorldCat).
  • Illinois. Probate Court (Knox County), Wills, 1830-1922. Microfilm copy of original records located at the Knox County courthouse, Galesburg, Illinois. Wills are filed alphabetically in each box but also includes indexes. On 22 FHL microfilms starting with 1403705 Items 2-3.

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 Knox County are kept, see the Knox County Courthouse page.

Family History Center[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 Libraries

There are over 4500 Family History Centers in more than 80 countries offering public access to genealogical records from all over the world. Family History Centers provide patrons with access to over a billion online records and approximately 2.5 million circulating microfilms. Centers are staffed by local volunteers who are eager to provide genealogical research assistance. Currently there are no Family History Centers located directly in Knox County. To find the nearest Family History Center, check out the Family Search Centers page on the FamilySearch.org website.

The Family History Library has many books and filmed records about Knox County. Click on one of the types of records to see a list of specific records. Click on one of the titles to see the catalog entry describing the record with the book or microfilm numbers that are needed to use the book or film.

Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)[edit | edit source]

IRAD is a system of Illinois Regional Archives Depositories managed by the Illinois State Archives, housing 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. Western Illinois University houses the records for Knox County.

Knox County, Illinois, USGenWeb[edit | edit source]

Knox County, Illinois, section of USGenWeb, provides histories, biographies, records, maps, lookups, queries and a connection to the Knox County WorldConnect Database.

Newberry Library[edit | edit source]

Newberry Library
60 West Walton Street
Chicago, IL 60610
Telephone: 312-943-9090
Telephone to reference desk: 312-255-3512

The Newberry Library has many records for Knox County, as well as other Illinois counties, Illinois, other states and other countries.

Public Libraries[edit | edit source]

Galesburg Public Library
40 East Simmons Street
Galesburg, Illinois 61401
Telephone: 309-343-6118
Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 9AM-8PM, Fri. 9AM-5PM, closed Sun.

The Galesburg Public Library has a fine collection of local and state histories, censuses, city directories, cemetery records, county plat books, maps, newspapers, journals, yearbooks, and photographs that reflect the history and heritage of Galesburg and the surrounding area. The collection includes many rare books and original manuscripts. The Library also houses the records of the Knox County Genealogical Society.

School Records[edit | edit source]

Social Groups Online[edit | edit source]

Societies[edit | edit source]

Knox County Genealogical Society
40 East Simmons Street
Galesburg, IL 61401-0013
Website

The Knox County Genealogical Society research collection is currently housed in the Galesburg Public Library

Knox County Historical Society]
PO Box 1757
Galesburg, IL 61402-1757
Email:jward@knox.edu
Website

Taxation[edit | edit source]

  • 1902–1959 Tax Levy, Sale and Redemption Certificates IRAD–WIU
  • 1958–1962 Taxable Lands Lists IRAD–WIU

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 Knox 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 Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Knox County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

Birth Records[edit | edit source]

  • Knox County (Illinois). Clerk of the County Court, Birth and Delayed Birth Records, 1877-1900. Microfilm copy of original records located at the Knox County courthouse, Galesburg, Illinois. On 13 FHL films starting with 1412074. Includes indexes.

Marriage Records[edit | edit source]

Internet Sites

Books and Microfilms

  • Knox County Genealogical Society (Galesburg, Illinois),Index to Marriage Records, Knox County, Illinois, (Galesburg, Illinois : Knox County Genealogical Society (Illinois), [198-?]-1990), copied from original record books in Knox County courthouse, Galesburg, Illinois by members of Knox County Genealogical Society, Contents: v. 1. 1830-1878 -- v. 2. 1879-1904. FHL book 977.349 V22m, other libraries (WorldCat)
  • Knox County (Illinois). Clerk of the County Court, Knox County, Illinois Marriage Certificates, 1830-1922. Microfilm copy of original records located at the Knox County courthouse, Galesburg, Illinois. 46 FHL films starting with film 1404969

Death Records[edit | edit source]

Internet Sites

Books and Microfilms

  • Knox County Genealogical Society (Galesburg, Illinois), Index, Death Records, Knox County, Illinois 1878 through 1910, (Galesburg, Illinois : Knox County Genealogical Society [Illinois], [198-?]), copied from original records books in Knox County courthouse, Galesburg, Illinois by Ruth Herrick ... [et al.], 136 p. FHL book 977.349 V22i and FHL microfiche 6049238, other libraries (WorldCat)
  • Knox County (Illinois). Clerk of the County Court, Knox County, Illinois Death Records, 1877-1900; Index, 1878-1935. Microfilm copy of original records located at the Knox County courthouse, Galesburg, Illinois. On 4 FHL microfilms starting with 1412143 Item 20.

Websites[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Knox 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.
  2. ↑ "Henry Knox," Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Knox.
  3. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002), 195. (FHL Collection Ref Book 973 D27e 2002). WorldCat entry.
  4. ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Knox, Illinois Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ill/knox/ accessed 04/17/2017.
  5. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Knox County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knox_County,_Illinois 04/17/2017.
  6. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Knox County, Illinois," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knox_County,_Illinois, accessed 19 March 2020.
  7. ↑ William Thorndale and William Dollarhide. Map Guide to the U.s. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920. (Gnealogical Publishing Co.: Baltimore, c1987), p. 99-105.
  8. ↑ William Thorndale and William Dollarhide. Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920, (Baltimore:Genealogical Publishing Co., 1987), p. 100.
  9. ↑ Thorndale, p. 100.
  10. ↑ The Handy Book for Genealogists, Ninth ed., (Logan, Utah: Everton Publishers, 1999), p. 112.
  11. ↑ Handy Book for Genealogists, p. 103.
  12. ↑ Handy Book for Genealogists, p. 113.
  13. ↑ Handy Book for Genealogists, p. 110.
  14. ↑ Handy Book for Genealogists, p. 111.
  15. ↑ Handy Book for Genealogists, p. 113.

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