Fulton County, Illinois Genealogy
Guide to Fulton 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
Fulton County was named for Robert Fulton, the developer of the steamboat. The county is located in the west-central area of the state.[1]
County Courthouse
Fulton County Courthouse
100 N. Main St
Lewistown, IL 61542
Phone: 309-547-3041
Fulton County Courthouse
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Fulton County are kept, see the Fulton County Courthouse page.
Fulton 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 |
| 1878 | 1824 | 1878 | 1824 | 1823 | 1827 | 1810 |
Record Loss
For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
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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:[3]
| Cities | ||
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| Towns | ||
| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Townships | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
‡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 Fulton County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Fulton County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- 1877-1921 Business and Occupations Records at IRAD-WIU - 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. | %± |
| 1840 | 13,142 | — |
| 1850 | 22,508 | 71.3% |
| 1860 | 33,338 | 48.1% |
| 1870 | 38,291 | 14.9% |
| 1880 | 41,240 | 7.7% |
| 1890 | 43,110 | 4.5% |
| 1900 | 46,201 | 7.2% |
| 1910 | 49,549 | 7.2% |
| 1920 | 48,163 | −2.8% |
| 1930 | 43,983 | −8.7% |
| 1940 | 44,627 | 1.5% |
| 1950 | 43,716 | −2.0% |
| 1960 | 41,954 | −4.0% |
| 1970 | 41,890 | −0.2% |
| 1980 | 43,687 | 4.3% |
| 1990 | 38,080 | −12.8% |
| 2000 | 38,250 | 0.4% |
| 2010 | 37,069 | −3.1% |
| 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, Fulton County on page 186.
Church Records
- 1876-1877 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints record of members FS Library film 1917 Item 1, book 977.348 K2c
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
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 the FamilySearch Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Fulton County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.
Court Indexes and Records
- 1824-1923 Chancery Court record (many probate and guardian records) FS Library first film 1666580 Items 2-4, (first of 20 films) IRAD–WIU
- 1825-1934 Circuit Court Records at IRAD-WIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1843-1958 Collector's Books at IRAD-WIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1849-1857 County Court - Swampland records FS Library film 1688526 Item 1
- 1849-1932 County Court Records at IRAD-WIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1858-1961 Justice's Records at IRAD-WIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1859-1925 County Court records FS Library films 1672175 Items 2-3, and 1672176 Items 1-3
- 1889-1957 City Court Records at IRAD-WIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1898-1899 Parole Record IRAD–WIU FS Library film 1672119 Item 3
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
- Prairie Farmers Reliable Directory. Illinois, USA: Prairie Farmers Publishing Company, 1917. Ancestry ($). Covers Fulton County.
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
- 1824-1923 Chancery Court record (many probate and guardian records) FS Library first film 1666580 Items 2-4, (first of 20 films)
- 1827-1933 Probate, will, guardian, and conservator records FS Library first film 1651444 (first of 41 films
- 1837-1991 Probate Guardianship Records at IRAD-WIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1844-1923 Guardian and conservator index and packets FS Library first film 1769382 Item 2 (first of 60 films)
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 Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Fulton County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.
- Boyd, Gregory A. Family maps of Fulton County, Illinois: with homesteads, roads, waterways, towns, cemeteries, railroads, and more. Norman, Oklahoma: Arphax Pub. Co., 2008. Other libraries (WorldCat) FS Catalog book 977.348 E7b
Land Indexes and Records
- 1796-1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry ($)
- 1817-1962 Land and Property Records at IRAD-WIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1834-1894 Index to town lots FS Library film 1787436 Items 2-9
- 1849-1857 County Court - Swampland records FS Library film 1688526 Item 1
- 1851-1875 Chattel mortgage records FS Library films 1787437 Items 2-4 thru 1787440 Item 1
- 1873-1881 Index to Chattel mortgage records FS Library film 1787437 Items 2-4
- 1820-Onward Land Patent Search See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database.
- Illinois Federal Township Plats at Illinois Digital Archives - images; by County
- Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales at the Illinois State Archives - index; by purchaser's name and by legal description; Also at Ancestry ($).
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
- The 1879 History of Fulton County, Illinois : together with sketches of its cities, villages, and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens : history of Illinois, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, aborigines, French, English and American conquests, and a general review of its civil, political and military history, digest of state laws C.C. Chapman & Co Pub, Peoria, IL, 1879. Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library; also at WorldCat 20920558; Ancestry ($); or Internet Archive; or Genealogy Trails
- Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County: Together with Portraits and Biographies of All the Presidents of the United States, and Governors of the State. Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1890. Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library, also at Ancestry ($); Genealogy Trails; Internet Archive.
- Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County. Chicago: Munsell Pub. Co., 1908, c1905. Digital version at Ancestry ($)
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- 1788-1940 Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
General
- 1860s-1960s Illinois, Military Discharge Records, ca.1862 - ca.1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1861-1865 Military Records at IRAD-WIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Civil War
Regiments. Civil War service men from Fulton 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 Fulton County.
- - 3rd Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company H.
- - 7th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company K.
- - 11th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies B and G.
- - 17th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies C and H.
- - 28th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.
- - 50th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.
- - 55th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A and D.
- - 70th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
- - 72nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company I.
- - 84th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B and F.
- - 85th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, F, G, H and I.
- - 97th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
- - 103rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, all Companies.
- - 123rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company I.
- - 132nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies B, D, and E.
- - 148th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
- - 151st Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865), Companies B, D, and K.
- - 54th Regiment, Enrolled Missouri Militia (Union), Company K
- - 54th Regiment, Enrolled Missouri Militia (Union), Company B
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.
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 Fulton County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.
Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1800-1998 Illinois, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1839-1955 Naturalization Records at IRAD-WIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 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 ($)
Other Records
Almshouse Records
- 1870-1955 Insanity Records at IRAD-WIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1877-1983 Almshouse Records at IRAD-WIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1887-1955 Poor Farm Records at IRAD-WIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Criminal and Punishments
- 1898-1899 Parole Records at IRAD-WIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Public Records
- 1825-1985 Public Records at IRAD-WIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Periodicals
Probate Records
Original estates and wills are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Probate Records for more information about using probate records.
The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through, the FamilySearch Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Fulton County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.
Probate Indexes and Records
- 1772-1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1819-1988 Illinois Probate Records, 1819-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
- 1821-1963 Fulton County Historical and Genealogical Society. Index to the wills of Fulton County, Illinois, 1821–1963. [Canton, Illinois]: Fulton County Historical and Genealogical Society (Illinois), 1993. Other libraries (WorldCat) FS Catalog book 977.348 P22i
- 1824-1923 Chancery Court record (many probate and guardian records) FS Library first film 1666580 Items 2-4, (first of 20 films)
- 1827-1991 Probate Records at IRAD-WIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1827-1933 Probate, will, guardian, and conservator records FS Library first film 1651444 (first of 41 films
- 1830-1922 Estate packets index FS Catalog book 977.348 P22i and films 1672117 Items 1-2 and FS Library US/CAN Film 1672186 Item 3
- 1830-1922 Estate packets FS Catalog book 977.348 P22i and first film 1672187 (first of 212 films)
- 1844-1923 Guardian and conservator index and packets FS Library first film 1769382 Item 2 (first of 60 films)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
- 1843-1978 School Records at IRAD-WIU - 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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
- 1823-1955 Tax Records at IRAD-WIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Vital Records
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the Fulton County Clerk while those recorded after 1916 are kept by theIllinois Department of Public Health. with a copy to the County Clerk. Original marriage records are usually kept by the County Clerk from the establishment of the county to the present. Original divorce records are generally in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk.
The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through online databases, the FamilySearch Library and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Fulton County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.
Birth
- 1902-1906 Birth Records at IRAD-WIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Marriage
- 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
- 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
- 1790-1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry ($)
- 1805-1985 Illinois, Church Marriages, 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1810-1940 Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1833-1889 Illinois, Civil Marriages, 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index
- 1824-1961 Johnson, Marion C., Geraldine Mayhugh, Virginia O. (Whitmore) Johnson, and Linda L. (Johnson) Pollard. Marriages, Fulton County, Illinois. [Canton, Illinois]: Fulton County Historical and Genealogical Society (Illinois), 1989-2000, 2003-2004. FS Library first book 977.348 V2j 1824–1861 (first of 8 books)
- 1829-1911 Foster, Virgil R. and Bob Harding. Fulton County, Illinois marriages, ca. 1829-1911. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1992. FS Library film 1697600 Item 4
Death
- 1749-1999 Illinois Deaths and Burials, 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1832-1976 Foster, Virgil, R. Fulton County, Illinois (with emphasis on Vermont, Illinois) funeral notices, ca. 1832-1976. Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1991. FS Library film 1597902 Item 6
- 1850-1880 Illinois Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1850-1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 found at Ancestry.com (free). Also transcribed and available at Genealogy Trails
- 1885-1986 Death Records at IRAD-WIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1916-1950 MyHeritage ($)
- 1916-1972 Illinois Death Certificates, 1951–1971 at Illinois State Archives - index
Divorce
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Fulton County. For state-wide facilities, see Illinois Archives and Libraries.
Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD-WIU)
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 Fulton County.
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
- Peoria Illinois FamilySearch Center
- McDonough County Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Fulton County. For state-wide library facilities, see Illinois Archives and Libraries.
Astoria Public Library District
220 West Broadway
Astoria, IL 61501
Phone: 309-329-2423
Fax: 309-329-2842
Email: astorlib@atorial.net
Website
Farmington Area Public Library District
266 E. Fort Street
Farmington, IL 61531
Phone: 309-245-2175
Fax: 309-245-2294
Website
Lewistown Carnegie Public Library District
321 W. Lincoln Avenue
Lewistown, IL 61542
Phone: 309-547-2860
Parlin Ingersoll Library
205 W. Chestnut Street
Canton, IL 61520
Phone: 309-647-0328
Fax: 309-647-8117
Email: parlin@parliningersoll.org
Website
Spoon River Public Library District
201 South Third Street
Cuba, IL 61427
Phone: 309-785-5496
Website
Vermont Public Library
East 4th & Main Streets
Vermont, IL 61484
Phone: 309-784-6291
Village of Avon Public Library
105 S. Main
Avon, IL 61415
Phone: 309-465-3933
Viola Public Library District
1705 14th St.
Viola, IL 61486
Phone: 309-596-2620
Fax: 309-596-2822
Website
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Fulton County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Illinois Societies.
Fulton County Historical and Genealogical Society
PO Box 583
205 West Chestnut Street
Canton, IL 61520-0583
Facebook
The Society's collection is housed at the Parlin-Ingersoll Library.
Websites
- Fulton Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Fulton ILGenWeb
- 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
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Fulton County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulton_County,_Illinois 04/013/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Fulton 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, "Fulton County, Illinois," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulton_County,_Illinois, Last accessed 3 January 2020.