Monroe County, Illinois Genealogy

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

Monroe County, Illinois
Map
Boundary map of Monroe County, Illinois
Map of the U.S. highlighting Illinois
Location of Illinois in the U.S.
Facts
Founded: January 6, 1816
County Seat Waterloo
Courthouse
Monroe County Courthouse.gif
Photo courtesy Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD), Illinois State Archives
Address Monroe County Courthouse
100 South Main Street
Waterloo, Illinois 62298
(618) 939-8681
Monroe County Website


Monroe County Organization[edit | edit source]

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records[1]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1878 1816 1878 1843 1816 1845 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 Monroe County are kept, see the Monroe County Courthouse page.

Historical Facts[edit | edit source]

James Monroe

Monroe County is named for James Monroe who was the fifth president of the United States.

Parent County[edit | edit source]

  • 1816--Monroe County was created 6 January 1816 from Randolph and St. Clair Counties.  County seat:  Waterloo [2]

Description[edit | edit source]

The county was named for James Monroe, who had just served as United States Secretary of War and who was elected President later that same year. The county seat is Waterloo and the county was organized on 1816. The County is located in the Southwest area of the state.[3]

Neighboring Counties[edit | edit source]

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.

Records 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]

  • All of the Monroe County, Illinois family biographies from The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois (1894) published by Biographical Publishing Co. are available free online at My Genealogy Hound.[1]

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries of Monroe, 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

Census[edit | edit source]

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1820 1,537 —
1830 2,000 30.1%
1840 4,481 124.1%
1850 7,679 71.4%
1860 12,832 67.1%
1870 12,982 1.2%
1880 13,682 5.4%
1890 12,948 −5.4%
1900 13,847 6.9%
1910 13,508 −2.4%
1920 12,839 −5.0%
1930 12,369 −3.7%
1940 12,754 3.1%
1950 13,282 4.1%
1960 15,507 16.8%
1970 18,831 21.4%
1980 20,117 6.8%
1990 22,422 11.5%
2000 27,619 23.2%
2010 32,957 19.3%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

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

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, Monroe County on page 187.]

Church Records[edit | edit source]

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Copies of Original records

  • 1875–1972 Yankeetown Presbyterian Church records of baptisms, marriages, and deaths. FHL film 1006673

Catholic[edit | edit source]

FamilySearch has made parish records from seven Belleville Diocese Catholic churches in Monroe County available online (free registration is required). The records include first communions, confirmations, marriages, and deaths:

Evangelical[edit | edit source]


Additional Resources[edit | edit source]

Additional resources for Monroe County church records may be found in the FamilySearch Catalog - church records. Histories of area churches may be found in the FamilySearch Catalog - church histories section. Online microfilm are indicated by the camera icon in the catalog entry. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the WorldCat Online Catalog.

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 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 Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Monroe County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

General Abstracts

Abstracts from the Chancery Court

Abstracts from the Justice Court

Ethnic Research[edit | edit source]

African American[edit | edit source]

The following have information concerning African American research.

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

History[edit | edit source]

Local Histories[edit | edit source]

  • Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the Counties: Together with Biographies and Portraits of All the Presidents of the United States, and the Governors of the State of Illinois. Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1894. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Internet Archive. FHL Film 825600 For additional access, see WeRelate.


Land and Property[edit | edit source]

Original land records are held in the office of the County Recorder. See Illinois Land and Property for more information about using land records.

The following abtracts 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 Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Monroe County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

Online Resources

Abstracts

  • 1848–1872 Miles, Stephen W., Pat Vseska, Elma Baumann, and Janet M. Flynn. S.W. Miles journal and land lease records. FHL book 977.391 U3m v. 1–2

Copies of original records are available

Maps[edit | edit source]

St. Louis CountyJefferson CountySte. Genevieve CountyRandolph CountySt. Clair CountyIL MONROE.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources



Military Records[edit | edit source]

Civil War[edit | edit source]

Civil War service men from Monroe County served in various regiments. Men often joined a regiment or a company (within a regiment)that originated in their county. Listed below are the military units that were formed in or had many men from Monroe County.

- 22nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.
- 130th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.
- 155th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.

Naturalization[edit | edit source]

Online Records

Newspapers and Obituaries[edit | edit source]

Periodicals[edit | edit source]

Private Papers[edit | edit source]

Bertille Brand Klein kept a diary or "news book" of her daily life in Hecker, Illinois from January 1930 (age 15 1/2) until December 1939 (age 25). She mentions many local family names with some birth and death dates. Her granddaughter Angie Kelly is digitizing this valuable resource. Visit Tillie's Tales to read this interesting journal (work in progress).

Probate Records[edit | edit source]

Online Probate Indexes and 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 copies of original records may be accessed through the Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Monroe County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

Abstracts

Copies of original records

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 Monroe County are kept, see the Monroe 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 Affiliate Libraries

There are many Family History Centers in or near Monroe County, please check here for one close to you. For more information on Family History Centers and how they can assist you in your research, check out this page. 

  • O’Fallon Illinois Family History Center
    255 Fairwood Hills Rd.
    O’Fallon,, IL
    Phone: 618-632-0210
  • Alton Illinois Family History Center
    6500 Humbert Rd
    Godfrey, IL
    Phone: 618-446-4352
  • St. Louis Missouri Family History Center
    10445 W. Clayton Rd.
    Frontenac, Missouri 63131
    Phone: 314-993-2328

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. Southern Illinois University houses the records for Monroe County.

Public Libraries[edit | edit source]

Columbia Public Library
106 North Metter Avenue
Columbia, IL 62236
(618) 281-4237

Hecker Public Library
151 West Monroe
Hecker, IL 62248
(618) 473-3022

Morrison-Talbott Library
215 Park Street
Waterloo, IL 62298
(618)939-6232 Has genealogical resources

Valmeyer Public Library District
300 S. Cedar Bluff Drive
Valmeyer, IL 62295
(618) 935-2626

Social Groups Online[edit | edit source]

Rootsweb message board for Monroe county has many information threads about families that resided in that county. There is a search engine that allows you to search by surname and topic. You can also post inquiries into ancestors that lived there.

Societies[edit | edit source]

Monroe County Genealogical Society
PO Box 381
Columbia, IL 62236
Website

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 Monroe 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 vital records may be accessed through online databases, the Family History Library and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Monroe County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

General[edit | edit source]

  • Las Vegas Family History Center. Index, marriage, birth and death records for the surname of Heller thru Henfling, Monroe County, Illinois. Las Vegas, Nevada: Las Vegas Family History Center, 1986. FHL films 2243294 Item 12
  • Buecher, Robert. Salem Evangelical Church, Bluff Precinct, Monroe County, Illinois: baptism index, 1877–1932; confirmation index, 1878–1926; marriage index, 1877–1930, death index, 1877–1948. St. Louis, Missouri: R. Buecher, [2005?]. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.391 V22b

Birth[edit | edit source]

Abstracts

Copies of Original Records

Marriage[edit | edit source]

Online Resources

Abstracts

Copies of Original Records

Deaths:[edit | edit source]

Online Resources

Abstracts

Copies of Original Records

Websites[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Monroe 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. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002), 197. (FHL Collection Ref Book 973 D27e 2002). WorldCat entry.
  3. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Monroe County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_County,_Illinois 04/19/2017.

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