Edgar County, Illinois Genealogy
Guide to Edgar County, Illinois ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Edgar County was named for Irishman John Edgar who was an officer in the Royal Navy; Edgar switched sides during the Revolutionary War rather than fight the colonists. He became a pioneer merchant, politician and land speculator in early Illinois.[1] The county is located in the east-central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Edgar County Courthouse
115 W Court St
Paris, IL 61944
Phone: 217-466-7447
Edgar County Courthouse
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.
Edgar County, Illinois Record Dates
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1823 | 1877 | 1823 | 1823 | 1827 | 1827 | 1810 |
Record Loss
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
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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:[4]
| Cities | ||
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| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Townships | ||
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
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.
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
For information and tips on using and accessing online census records, see Illinois Census.
Federal
- 1850-1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 found at Ancestry ($)
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1830 | 4,071 | — |
| 1840 | 8,225 | 102.0% |
| 1850 | 10,692 | 30.0% |
| 1860 | 16,925 | 58.3% |
| 1870 | 21,450 | 26.7% |
| 1880 | 25,499 | 18.9% |
| 1890 | 26,787 | 5.1% |
| 1900 | 28,273 | 5.5% |
| 1910 | 27,336 | −3.3% |
| 1920 | 25,769 | −5.7% |
| 1930 | 24,966 | −3.1% |
| 1940 | 24,430 | −2.1% |
| 1950 | 23,407 | −4.2% |
| 1960 | 22,550 | −3.7% |
| 1970 | 21,591 | −4.3% |
| 1980 | 21,725 | 0.6% |
| 1990 | 19,595 | −9.8% |
| 2000 | 19,704 | 0.6% |
| 2010 | 18,576 | −5.7% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
1840 Pensioners
- A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. Washington, D.C., 1841. FS Catalog 973 X2pc 1840; FS Catalog 2321. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Illinois, Edgar County on page 186.
Church Records
Copies of Original records
- 1899 Little Grove Church FS Library film 1305171 Item 9
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African Americans
- African American Research (US) has more information about the kinds of records
- Illinois African-American Resource Guide by the Illinois State Archives describes what records are at the State Archives with an online method for ordering records.
- African-American Resources for Illinois
Funeral Homes
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Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
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 FamilySearch 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.
Land Indexes and Records
- 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.
- 1823-1919 Deed Records and Index at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1824-1920 Edgar County (Illinois) Recorder, Deeds, 1824-1920; index to deeds, 1827-1891. FS Library Film 1301929 (First of 42 films)
- 1987 Edgar County (Illinois) land atlas and plat book, 1987 (Rockford, Illinois:Rockford Map Publishers, c1987.) FS Library Book 977.369 E7a; Other Libraries
- 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.) FS Library Book 977.369 E3a; Other Libraries
- Compiled and published by the American Atlas Co., Plat book of Edgar County, Illinois (Evansville, Indiana:Unigraphic, 1974.) FS Library Book 977.369 E3a; Other Libraries
- Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)
- Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
- Illinois Federal Township Plats, by County
- USGenWeb, Edgar County, Illinois, Public Land Records
- USGenWeb, Edgar County, Illinois, Tax Records (circa 1878)
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
- Every Name Index to History of Edgar County, Illinois. Every Name Index compiled by Cathy L. O'Connor, 2012, original text by William E. E. Baron, Jr., 1879, reproduction by Unigraphic, Inc., 1968.
- 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.
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- 1788-1940 Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
- Illinois County Federal Township Plats
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
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
Regiments. 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 and Citizenship
Original naturalization records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See Illinois Naturalization Records for more information about using naturalization records.
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1872-1908 Illinois County Court (Edgar County), Naturalization records, 1872-1908. FS Library Film 1301744 items 1–4
- 1800-1998 Illinois, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1856-1991 Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Illinois, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and EventsIndex, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
Obituaries
- 1831-Onward Illinois Obituaries at MyHeritage — index ($)
- USGenWeb, Edgar County, Illinois Obituaries
Other Records
Public Records
- 1857-1987 Road, Highway, City and Township Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Periodicals
Probate Records
Original estates and wills are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Probate Records for more information about using probate records.
The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through the FamilySearch Library.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1772-1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1819-1988 Illinois Probate Records 1819-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
- 1823-1963 A. Joyce Brown, Index to Edgar Co., IL estates and wills, 1823-1963. FS Library Book 977.369 P22a; Other Libraries
- 1823-1963 A. Joyce Brown, Index to miscellaneous probate records, 1823-1963, in Edgar County, Illinois. FS Library Book 977.369 P22b; Other Libraries
- 1829-1927 Illinois Probate Court (Edgar County), Will records, 1829-1927; index to estates. FS Library Film 1301744 items 5–7 (first of 5 films)
- Edgar County (Illinois) County Clerk, Unprobated wills. FS Library Film 1301749
- 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) FS Library Book 977.369 P2h; Other Libraries
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
- 1913-1957 School Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
- 1823-1962 Tax Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Vital Records
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the Edgar County Clerk while those recorded after 1916 are kept by the Illinois Department of Public Health with a copy to the County Clerk. Original marriage records are usually kept by the County Clerk from the establishment of the county to the present. Original divorce records are generally in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk.
The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through online databases, the FamilySearch Library and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Edgar County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.
Birth
- 1857-1908 Birth Records and Index at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1857-1899 Birth Certificates, Delayed - IRAD-EIU; FS Library Film 1301885–1301888
- 1877-1908 Edgar County (Illinois) County Clerk, Birth records. FS Library Film 1301743, 1301880 item 1
Marriage
- 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
- 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
- 1790-1860 Illinois Marriage index at Ancestry ($)
- 1805-1985 Illinois, Church Marriages, 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1810-1940 Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1823-1851 Marriage records in Edgar County, Illinois. FS Library Film 201398
- 1823-1904 Marriage Records and Index at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1823-1904 Edgar County (Illinois) County Clerk, Marriage records. FS Library Film 1301880–1301882
- 1823-1914 Cary, Linda Perkinson Edgar County, Illinois marriages (Paris, Illinois:Edgar County Genealogical Society, 1988-1998.) FS Library 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.) FS Library 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.) FS Library 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.) FS Library 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. FS Library 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.) FS Library Film 924006 item 10
- 1833-1889 Illinois, Civil Marriages, 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index
Death
- 1749-1999 Illinois Deaths and Burials, 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1850-1880 Illinois Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1877-1915 Death Records and Index at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1877-1915 Edgar County (Illinois) County Clerk, Death records. FS Library Film 1301882 items 3–4; 1301883 items 1–2
- 1877-1925 Shutt, Philip L. Edgar Co., Illinois deaths and some burials (Paris, Illinois:Edgar County Genealogy Library, 19--.) FS Library Book 977.369 V3s; Other Libraries
- 1916-1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index ($)
- 1916-1972 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1972 - index
Divorce
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Edgar County. For state-wide facilities, see Illinois Archives and Libraries.
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 Edgar County come under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) regional depository.
- 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.
- 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.
- Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)
Booth Library
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch 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 FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Terre Haute Indiana FamilySearch Center
- Marshall Public Library - an affiliate library
- Vigo County Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Edgar County. For state-wide library facilities, see Illinois Archives and Libraries.
- Chrisman Public Library
108 North Illinois St
Chrisman, IL 61924-1001
Phone: (217) 269-3011 - Edgar County Genealogy Library
408 N Main St
Paris, IL 61944-1549
Phone: (217) 463-4209
Website - Kansas Community Memorial Library
107 N Front St
Kansas, IL 61933
Phone: (217) 948-5484
Website - Paris Carnegie Public Library
207 S Main St
Paris, IL 61944
Phone: (217) 463-3950
Website
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Edgar County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Illinois Societies.
- Edgar County Genealogical Society
PO Box 304
408 N. Main Street
Paris, Illinois 61944-1549
Phone 217-463-5305
Email: echs1900@gmail.com
Website
Websites
- Edgar County IL Genealogy
- Edgar ILGenWeb
- Edgar County, IL Linkpendium
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides
References
- ↑ 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), Edgar County, Illinois. Page 192-199 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library 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.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Edgar County, Illinois," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_County,_Illinois, Last accessed 2 January 2020.