Mercer County, Illinois Genealogy
Guide to Mercer 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
Mercer County was named for Hugh Mercer (1726–1777), a physician and general during the American Revolution; Mercer died from wounds suffered at the Battle of Princeton. The county was organized on January 13, 1825 and its seat is Aledo.[1] The county is located in the western area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Mercer County Courthouse
100 SE 3rd St
Aledo, IL 61231
Phone: 309-582-7711
Mercer County Courthouse
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Mercer County are kept, see the Mercer County Courthouse page.
Mercer 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 |
| 1857 | 1835 | 1877 | 1835 | 1833 | 1835 | 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:[5]
| Cities | ||
| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Townships | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
- The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Mercer County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Mercer County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1830 | 26 | — |
| 1840 | 2,352 | 8946.2% |
| 1850 | 5,246 | 123.0% |
| 1860 | 15,042 | 186.7% |
| 1870 | 18,769 | 24.8% |
| 1880 | 19,502 | 3.9% |
| 1890 | 18,545 | −4.9% |
| 1900 | 20,945 | 12.9% |
| 1910 | 19,723 | −5.8% |
| 1920 | 18,800 | −4.7% |
| 1930 | 16,641 | −11.5% |
| 1940 | 17,701 | 6.4% |
| 1950 | 17,374 | −1.8% |
| 1960 | 17,149 | −1.3% |
| 1970 | 17,294 | 0.8% |
| 1980 | 19,286 | 11.5% |
| 1990 | 17,290 | −10.3% |
| 2000 | 16,957 | −1.9% |
| 2010 | 16,434 | −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 ($). See Illinois, Mercer County on page 187.
Church Records
Church records may give birth, death and marriage information as well as indicate family relationships. See Illinois state wiki article Church Records for more ideas about how to use church records in your research.
- The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Mercer County edition. Church information can be found in the township histories beginning on page 658. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
Original court records are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Court Records for more information about using court records.
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African Americans
- African American Research (US) has more information about the kinds of records
- Illinois African-American Resource Guide by the Illinois State Archives describes what records are at the State Archives with an online method for ordering records.
- African-American Resources for Illinois
Funeral Homes
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Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Original land records are held in the office of the County Clerk . See Illinois Land and Property for more information about using land records.
The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through online sources, the FamilySearch Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Mercer County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1796-1907 U.S. General Land Office Records at Ancestry ($)
- 1820-Onward Land Patent Search See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database.
- 1834-1901 Deed Records and Index at IRAD-Western Illinois University - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1935 Thomas, Clarence C. Township plat book of Mercer County, Illinois: supplement of the official directory of Mercer County 1935. [S.l. s.n., 19--]. Other libraries (WorldCat) FS Catalog book 977.3395 R2t
- 1979 Land atlas and plat book Other libraries (WorldCat) FS Library book 977.3395 R2m
- 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 ($).
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
- History of Mercer and Henderson Counties Together with Biographical Matter, Statistics, Etc. Chicago, Illinois: H.H. Hill and Company, 1882. FS Library fiche 6071026; digital versions at Ancestry ($), and Internet Archive (free)
- Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Mercer County. Chicago: Munsell Pub. Co., 1903. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- 1788-1940 Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
Civil War
Regiments. Civil War service men from Mercer County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Mercer County.
- - 9th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.
- - 17th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company I.
- - 26th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
- - 27th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
- - 30th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A and G.
- - 37th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.
- - 45th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company I.
- - 65th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (Scotch Regiment), Company B.
- - 83rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
- - 84th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.
- - 102nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, C, E, G and K.
- - 124th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
- - 126th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
- - 140th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company F.
World War II
Naturalization and Citizenship
Original naturalization records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See Illinois Naturalization Records for more information about using naturalization records.
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1800-1998 Illinois, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1856-1991 Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Illinois, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and EventsIndex, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- NewspaperArchive.com ($) has historical newspapers online including Burlington, Iowa newspapers dating back to the mid 1800's that may have included Mercer County residents. This database is free at some libraries.
Obituaries
- 1831-Onward Illinois Obituaries at MyHeritage — index ($)
Other Records
Almshouse Records
- 1859-1986 Almshouse Registers at IRAD-Western Illinois University - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Periodicals
Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1772-1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1819-1988 Illinois Probate Records, 1819-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Original estates and wills are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Probate Records for more information about using probate records.
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — 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
- 1834-1954 Tax Records at IRAD-Western Illinois University - 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 Mercer 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.
Birth
Marriage
- 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
- 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1790-1860 Illinois Marriage index at Ancestry ($)
- 1805-1985 Illinois, Church Marriages, 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1810-1940 Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
Death
- 1749-1999 Illinois Deaths and Burials, 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1850-1880 Illinois Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1850-1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 at Ancestry ($)
- Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage($)
- 1916–1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index ($)
- 1916-1972 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1972 - index
Divorce
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Mercer County. For state-wide facilities, see Illinois Archives and Libraries.
Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)
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 Mercer 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
- Burlington Iowa FamilySearch Center
- Davenport Iowa FamilySearch Center
- Burlington Public Library - an affiliate library
- Davenport Public Library - multiple locations - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Mercer County. For state-wide library facilities, see Illinois Archives and Libraries.
Aledo Mercer Carnegie Public Library District
200 N. College Av.
Aledo, IL 61231
Phone: 309-582-2032
Fax: 309-582-5155
Email: mercer.carnegie@mchsi.com
Website
New Windsor Public Library District
412 Main Street
New Windsor, IL 61465
Phone: 309-667-2515
Sherrard Library District
200 5th Avenue
Sherrard, IL 61281
Phone: 309-593-2178
Fax: 309-593-2179
Website
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Mercer County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Illinois Societies.
Mercer County Historical Society
PO Box 269
1406 South 2nd Avenue
Aledo, IL 61231-2504
Phone: 309-582-2280
Email: mcmuseum@frontier.com
Website
Websites
- Mercer County ILGenWeb
- Mercer County IL Genealogy
- Mercer 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, “Mercer County, Illinois Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ill/mercer/, accessed 04/18/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Mercer County, Illinois" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercer_County,_Illinois, accessed 04/18/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Mercer 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.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FSC Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Mercer County, Illinois," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercer_County,_Illinois, accessed 21 March 2020.