Edwards County, Illinois Genealogy
(Redirected from Edwards County, Illinois)
Guide to Edwards 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
Edwards County was named for Ninian Edwards, the Territorial Governor of Illinois. The county seat is Albion and the county was organized on 1814.[1] The county is located in the southeastern part of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Edwards County Courthouse
50 E Main Street
Albion, IL 62806
Phone: 618-445-2016
Edward County Courthouse
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Edwards County are kept, see the Edwards County Courthouse page.
Edwards 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 |
| 1877 | 1815 | 1877 | 1815 | 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 | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
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‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
- Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois: with illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers; J. L. McDonough Pub, Philadelphia, PA, 1883. Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- 1815-1860 Servitude Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Cemeteries
Census Records
For information and tips on accessing census records online, see Illinois Census.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1820 | 3,444 | — |
| 1830 | 1,649 | −52.1% |
| 1840 | 3,070 | 86.2% |
| 1850 | 3,524 | 14.8% |
| 1860 | 5,454 | 54.8% |
| 1870 | 7,565 | 38.7% |
| 1880 | 8,597 | 13.6% |
| 1890 | 9,444 | 9.9% |
| 1900 | 10,345 | 9.5% |
| 1910 | 10,049 | −2.9% |
| 1920 | 9,431 | −6.1% |
| 1930 | 8,303 | −12.0% |
| 1940 | 8,974 | 8.1% |
| 1950 | 9,056 | 0.9% |
| 1960 | 7,940 | −12.3% |
| 1970 | 7,090 | −10.7% |
| 1980 | 7,961 | 12.3% |
| 1990 | 7,440 | −6.5% |
| 2000 | 6,971 | −6.3% |
| 2010 | 6,721 | −3.6% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- 1817-1825 Census Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Federal
1830
- Edwards County, Illinois 1830 Federal census (heads of family only); pub. 1968, Decatur Genealogical Society
1880
- 1880 census by the United States of America of Edwards County Illinois, pub. 1981 WorldCat 8343939
State
1825
- 1825 state census of Edwards County, Illinois, Illinois State Archives FS Library Film 976178 Item 1, 980805 Item 2
- Edwards County, Illinois 1825 census record; pub. 196?, Bond, Corene FS Library Film 908855 Item 2, Book 977.3791 X2p
- Edwards County, Illinois: 1825 state census, early history, marriages, and patron list from 1813 to 1880; pub. 1973; Eberhart, Elsie Swartz FS Library 924423 Item 16, Book 977.3 A1 no. 78
Church Records
Churches of Edwards County; pub. 19??; Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
Court Indexes and Records
- 1914-1935 Justice of the Peace Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- Guardian index to files, Albion, Illinois : includes insolvents, adoption and insane persons from circuit clerk's office, Edwards County, Illinois, pub. 19??, ECHS FS Library film 2055210 Item 6, book 977.3791 P22g
- USGenWeb Archives
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
- Report of aliens, 1818-1822; filmed 1981, IRAD-EIU, FS Library film 1688799 Item 2
- Encyclopedia of American immigration, pub. 2001 WorldCat 43552479, FS Library Book 973 W26c v. 1-4
Edwards County is mentioned in this series.
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African Americans
- 1815-1860 Database of Servitude and Emancipation Records at ILGovDataBase. Also available at Ancestry ($).
- 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
Blackhawk War
Detachment of Capt. Hunter's Company, Detachment of Capt. Champion S. Mading's Company, Captain Solomon Hunter's Detachment USGenWeb Archives
Funeral Homes
1939-1971 Ingram Funeral Home records, 1939-1971, Albion, Illinois(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
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Genealogies
A History of Edwards County, Illinois; pub. 1980, 1993 FS Library Books 977.3791 H2h v. 1 and 2
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 online, through the FamilySearch Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at Eastern Illinois University - search for Edwards County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.
Unlike most Illinois counties, Edwards is divided into Road Districts, as opposed to Townships found in other counties.
- 1815-1978 Land and Deed Records and Index at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Online 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.
- 1814-Onward Edwards County Historical Society. Original Land Sales, Edwards County, Illinois, beginning 1814. Albion, Illinois: Edwards County Historical Society (IL), 1983. WorldCat 13860466, FS Catalog book 977.3791 R2
- 1815-1888 Deed Indexes, Deed Record 1815-1890 FS Library 16 films; Grantees, Grantor, Deed records and Warranty deeds
- 1816-1865 Deed Grantee Index at Genealogy Trails
- 1855-1874 Land Records, 1855-1874 FS Library film 1688788 Item 1 Record of swamp and overflow lands
- 1888-1900 Grantee and Grantor Index FS Library film 1418412 Items 2-3
- 1890-1902 Land and Deed Records FS Library films 1418412-1418414; Grantees, Grantors, Deed records
- Illinois Federal Township Plats, by County
- Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database. See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
- Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois: with illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, pub. 1883, reprint 2001 WorldCat, Internet Archive, HathiTrust Digital Library, FS Library film 924407 Item 2, FS Library Book 977.37 H2co
- Edwards County sesquicentennial 1814-1964, WorldCat, FS Library Book 977.3791 H2e
- Edwards County, Illinois, 1825 census with additions, early history beginnings of pioneers, marriages and patrons lists from 1813 to 1880; pub. 1973; WorldCat, FS Library Film 924423 Item 16, book 977.3 A1 no. 78
- A History of Edwards County, Illinois, pub. 1980, 1983 WorldCat 7402093, FS Library Book 977.3791 H2h v. 1 & 2
- History of the English settlement in Edwards County, Illinois, founded in 1817 and 1818; pub. 1882, Birkbeck and Flower; (alternative title: Prairie Albion: an English settlement in pioneer Illinois), Ebookee, Questia, WorldCat 45843670, FS Library 5 fiches 6078649, FS Library Film 934982 Item 7, book 977.3791 H2f
- Yester years in Edwards County, Illinois: a simple tale for simple people; pub. 1948-1950; WorldCat FS Library film 962424 Item 2, books 977.3791 H2d vol 1 and 2
- A history of southern Illinois: a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests; Internet Archive, WorldCat
Volume 1 FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Digitized Books,
Volume 2 FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Digitized Books,
Volume 3 FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Digitized Books.
Maps and Gazetteers
Click a neighboring county
for more resources
for more resources
- 1788-1940 Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
- Illinois County Federal Township Plats
- Federal township plats of Illinois (1804-1891). Edwards County
- Edwards County (Ill.)--Maps - pamphlet
- Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Edwards County, Illinois. Norman, Oklahoma: Arphax Pub. Co., 2007. WorldCat 166255924, FS Catalog book 977.3791 E7
- W. W. Hixson Map, 1919, showing schools, churches and cemeteries WorldCat 48459409
- W. W. Hixson Map, 1926 WorldCat 191736240
- Land atlas and plat book, Edwards - Wabash County, Illinois, 1970, FS Library Book 977.37 E7e
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
- 1860s-1960s Illinois, Military Discharge Records, ca.1862 - ca.1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1866-1967 Military Discharge Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Pensions
- 1883 1883 Pension Roll USGenWeb Archives
War of 1812
Some Military Land Grants USGenWeb Archives
Indian Wars
Some Military Land Grants USGenWeb Archives
Civil War
Regiments. Civil War service men from Edwards 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 Edwards County.
- - 6th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company E.
- - 7th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company E.
- - 26th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
- - 38th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company I.
- - 40th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company I.
- - 56th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.
- - 63rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
- - 87th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B and H.
- - 136th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company H.
- - 152nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865), Company F.
World War II
Army Enlistment Records USGenWeb Archives
Naturalization and Citizenship
- 1819-1917 Naturalization Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 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 ($)
- Index to the newspapers, Albion Journal and Albion Pioneer, 1869-1906, filmed 1975 FS Library film 983671 Item 1
- Gleanings of old newspapers, pub. 2009 WorldCat 672352608
Newspaper clippings from various newspapers in Clay, Richland, Edwards, Lawrence, Wabash and Wayne Counties in Illinois. Include obituaries, birth announcements, weddings, court news and articles of general interest on those counties. - USGenWeb Archives
Obituaries
- 1831-Onward Illinois Obituaries at MyHeritage — index ($)
- Edwards County, Il obituaries; DAR, pub 1994; from the Albion journal-register, Albion, Illinois, 1941; More libraries
- Edwards Co., Illinois, obituaries, filmed 1975, manuscript FS Library film 983676 Item 29
- Obituaries from Richland & Edwards Counties; pub. 2001 WorldCat 48716554
- USGenWeb Archives
Other Records
Public Records
- 1815-1981 City and County Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Periodicals
- Edwards County Historical Society journal FS Library Book 977.3791 D25k
- Edwards County Historical Society newsletter FS Library films 1927936 Items 64-79, 1927937 Items 1-7, 8 fiches 6007312-14
- Edwards County Historical Society quarterly FS Library Book 977.3791 D25e
Probate Records
- 1815-1916 Probate Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1772-1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1815-1869 Probate Court Files Guardian Index FS Library Film 978630
- 1815-1922 Will RecordsFS Library Film 977995
- 1815-1869 Probate Court Files Index to administrations FS Library Film 978630
- 1815-1869 Probate Court Files Index FS Library Film 978630 (first of 64)
- 1819-1988 Illinois Probate Records, 1819-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
- USGenWeb Archives
- Illinois Probate Records for more information.
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
- 1840-1983 School Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — 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
Vital Records
See also: Illinois Vital Records have more information.
Birth
1877–present The original Edwards County birth records 1877-present are housed at the County Clerk's office. The following copies are available:
- 1877-1933 Birth Records and Index at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1877-1933 Birth index FS Library Film 1401778 Item 1
- 1877-1900 Births FS Library Film 1401778 Items 2-4
- 1877-1900 Delayed births FS Library Film 1401781 Items 2-3
- 1886-1900 Delayed births FS Library Film 1401782 Item 1
Marriage
- 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
- 1805-1985 Illinois, Church Marriages, 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1810-1940 Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1815-1820 Oldest county marriage records FS Library film 982051 Item 11
- 1815-1844 Early marriages, includes index to 1831, and bride's index to 1844 FS Catalog book 977.3791 V29
- 1815-1900 Edwards County Marriages Index A–G, H–Z at Genealogy Trails
- 1815-1936 FS Library 4 Films
- 1815-1968 Marriage Records and Index at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1832-1910 Index FS Library Film 1401778 Item 5
- 1833-1889 Illinois, Civil Marriages, 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index
- 1845-1855 Goodson, Lois Jean. Marriage Book B, Edwards County Illinois, 1845–1855: Complete Alphabetical Listing of Males and Females. Albion, Illinois: Edwards County Historical Society, 1992. FS Catalog book 911.3791 V29
- USGenWeb Archives
Death
- 1749-1999 Illinois Deaths and Burials, 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1850-1880 Illinois Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1877-1901 Register of deaths FS Library Film 1401831, book 977.3791 V22i. May be included in 1877-1950 Death Record, too.
- 1877-1933 Death index; IRAD-EIU, FS Library film 1401831, book 977.3791 V22i
- 1877-1950 Death Records and Index at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1880 Mortality Schedule Index listed by Road District (Genealogy Trails)
- 1916-1947 Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1916-1972 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1972 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1951-1971 Illinois Death Certificates, 1951–1971 at Illinois State Archives - index
- USGenWeb Archives
Divorce
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Edwards County. For state-wide facilities, see Illinois Archives and Libraries.
Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)
The Eastern Illinois Regional Archives Depository is located at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. See the IRAD–EIU wiki page for more about this depository and its holdings.
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
- Eldorado Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Evansville Indiana FamilySearch Center
- Vincennes Indiana FamilySearch Center
- Lawrence County Historical Society - an affiliate library
- Richland County Genealogy Society - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Edwards County. For state-wide library facilities, see Illinois Archives and Libraries.
- Albion Public Library
6 North 4th Street
Albion, IL 62806
Phone: (618) 445-3314 - West Salem Public Library
112 West South Street
West Salem, IL 62476
Phone: (618) 456-8970 - SILNET (Southern Illinois Library Network)
Website - Allen County Public Library
- C. E. Brehm Memorial Library District
Website - Fairfield Public Library
Website - John A. Logan Library
Website - Marion Carnegie Library
Website - Mascoutah Public Library
Website - Metropolis Public Library
Website - Mount Carmel Public Library
Website - Olney Public Library
Website - Steeleville Area Public Library
Website
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Edwards County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Illinois Societies.
- Edwards County Historical Society
9 North 5th Street
Albion, IL 62806
Phone 618-445-3433
Email: edwardscountyhistory@frontier.com
Websites
- Edwards County IL Genealogy
- Edwards ILGenWeb
- Genealogy Village
- Edwards 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, “Edwards County, Illinois Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ill/edwards/ accessed 04/12/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Edwards County, Illinois" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwards_County,_Illinois, accessed 04/012/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Edwards 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, "Edwards County, Illinois," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwards_County,_Illinois, Last accessed 2 January 2020.