Wayne County, Illinois Genealogy
Guide to Wayne 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
Wayne County was named for Gen. "Mad Anthony" Wayne, an officer in the Revolutionary War and Northwest Indian War. The county seat is Fairfield and the county was organized on 1819.[1] The county is located in the southeastern area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Wayne County Courthouse
301 E. Main St
Fairfield, IL 62837
Phone: 618-842-7684
Wayne County Courthouse
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Wayne County are kept, see the Wayne County Courthouse page.
Wayne 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 |
| 1886 | 1886 | 1886 | 1819 | 1865 | 1886 | 1810 |
Record Loss
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1886 A fire at the courthouse on 17 November destroyed all records. 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:[4]
| Cities | ||
| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Townships | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- 1887-1936 Physician, Accoucheur, and Dentist Registers at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Cemeteries
- 1937-1939 Cemetery Records (Fairfield) at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1937-1952 Burial and Removal Permits (Fairfield) at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1820 | 1,114 | — |
| 1830 | 2,553 | 129.2% |
| 1840 | 5,133 | 101.1% |
| 1850 | 6,825 | 33.0% |
| 1860 | 12,223 | 79.1% |
| 1870 | 19,758 | 61.6% |
| 1880 | 21,291 | 7.8% |
| 1890 | 23,806 | 11.8% |
| 1900 | 27,626 | 16.0% |
| 1910 | 25,697 | −7.0% |
| 1920 | 22,772 | −11.4% |
| 1930 | 19,130 | −16.0% |
| 1940 | 22,092 | 15.5% |
| 1950 | 20,933 | −5.2% |
| 1960 | 19,008 | −9.2% |
| 1970 | 17,004 | −10.5% |
| 1980 | 18,059 | 6.2% |
| 1990 | 17,241 | −4.5% |
| 2000 | 17,151 | −0.5% |
| 2010 | 16,760 | −2.3% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- 1850-1880 Illinois Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
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, Wayne County on page 188.
Church Records
- USGenWeb, Wayne County, Illinois (ILGenWeb), early church records and history
- Wayne County, Illinois Church Records (Genealogy Trails)
Baptist
- 1845-1874 Hopewell Baptist Church, records and registers
- 1853-1958 Pleasant Grove Baptist Church FS Library film 984189
Catholic
- 1729-1956 Illinois, Diocese of Belleville, Catholic Parish Records, 1729-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
- 1868-1934 Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Dry Fork Branch FS Library film 1954900 Item 13
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 Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Wayne County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.
- 1860-1870 Collector's and Treasurer's Accounts at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1883-1885 Collector's Books at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1915-1928 Circuit Court Records, Criminal at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
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
1953-1987 Richardson Funeral Home records, 1953-1987, Wayne County, Illinois(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
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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 Wayne County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.
- 1796-1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry ($)
- Beginning 1820 Land Patent Search See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database.
- 1851-1898 Deed Index at IRAD-EIU - index; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1851-1912 Land records - Indexes and deeds FS Library film 1391823 Item 2 (first of 19 films)
- 1915-1961 Chattel Mortgage Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1987 Land atlas and plat book FS Catalog book 977.3792 E7w
- Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
- Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence found at Ancestry ($)
- Illinois County Federal Township Plats
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
- Illinois County Federal Township Plats
- USGenWeb, Wayne County, Illinois (ILGenWeb), 1875 Township Map
- USGenWeb, Wayne County, Illiniois (ILGenWeb), Illinois County Boundaries, 1790 - Present
- Wayne County, Illinois Cemetery Map (Genealogy Trails)
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
Civil War
Regiments. Civil War service men from Wayne County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Wayne County.
- - 5th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies D and M.
- - 18th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies F and G.
- - 40th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies D and E.
- - 56th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.
- - 60th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies G and H.
- - 61st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
- - 87th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
- - 110th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
- - 111th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies C, E, and K.
- - 136th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company C.
Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1800-1998 Illinois, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1856-1991 Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 at Ancestry ($) - 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
- USGenWeb, Wayne County, Illinios (ILGenWeb), obituaries and death notices
Obituaries
- 1831-Onward Illinois Obituaries at MyHeritage — index ($)
Other Records
Almshouse Records
- 1913-1943 Blind Relief Application Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Public Records
- 1867-1946 City Ordinance Records (Fairfield) at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1884-1984 City Council Minutes (Fairfield) at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1910-1917 Stallion Registration Record at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1938-1951 Local Improvements Board Minutes (Fairfield) at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Periodicals
Probate Records
Original estates and wills are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Probate Records for more information about using probate records.
The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through, the FamilySearch Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Wayne County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1772-1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry ($) — index & images
- 1819-1988 Illinois Probate Records, 1819-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
- 1852-1865 Miscellaneous newspapers (includes probate) FS Library film 1769730 Item 2
- 1861-1950 Will index FS Catalog book 977.3792 P22b
- 1880-1932 Wills FS Library first film 1409190 Item 4 (first of 2 films)
- 1886-1925 Probate records FS Library first film 1409168 Items 2–3 (first of 4 films)
- No probate record holdings noted in IRAD-EIU Wayne County Listing. Search for Wayne County records. Information about how to use IRAD
- USGenWeb, Wayne County, Illinois (ILGenWeb), will index books C and D
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
- 1836-1854 School Land Sale Petitions and Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1858-1954 School Trustees' Minutes at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1869-1882 School Superintendent's Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1897-1993 School Board Minutes (Fairfield) at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1899-1914 School Teachers' Certificate Examination Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1907-1931 School Teachers' Institute Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1917-1941 School Board Minutes, Non-High School at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1926-1968 School Teachers' Daily Registers 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
- 1875-1876 State Tax Revolving Fund Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1884-1901 Tax Lists, Delinquent at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1899-1899 Tax Assessment Abstracts 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the Wiki article IRAD - Eastern Illinois University.
- 1929-1946 Vital Records Incoming Correspondence (Fairfield) at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1930-1953 Vital Records Corrections (Fairfield) at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Birth
- 1800s-Onward Wayne County, Illinois birth records at ILGenWeb
- 1815-1952 Birth Certificates, Delayed, and Local Registrars Records (Fairfield) at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1860-1910 Birth Records Index and Delayed at IRAD-EIU - images and index; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1861-1905 Birth Records FS Library film 1426347 Item 2
- 1867-1905 Birth records FS Library film 1307970 Item 1–4
- 1867-1908 Birth Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1870-1906 Delayed birth record books FS Library first film 1307970 Item 5 (first of 3 films)
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($)
- 1790-1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry ($)
- 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
- 1855-1886 Marriage Certification Records, Pre-Fire at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1879-1976 Marriage Records and Index at IRAD-EIU - images and index; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1886-1930 Index to marriages FS Library film 1391819 Item 4
- 1886-1930 Marriage records FS Library first film 1391819 Item 5 (first of 2 films)
- Wayne County, Illinois marriage records at ILGenWeb
Death
- Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage($)
- 1749-1999 Illinois Deaths and Burials, 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1880-1955 Death records FS Library film 1426346 (first of 2 films)
- 1886-1955 Death Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1888-1960 Coroner's Inquest Records at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1888-1960 Wayne County Coroner's Inquest Record Index at Illinois State Archives.
- 1916-1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage ($) - index
- 1916-1972 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1972 at Illinois State Archives - index
- 1939-1952 Death Certificates and Stillbirths (Fairfield) at IRAD-EIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1951-1971 Illinois Death Certificates, 1951–1971 at Illinois State Archives - index
- Wayne County, Illinois death records at ILGenWeb
Divorce
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Wayne 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 Wayne County come under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) regional depository.
Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)
Booth Library
600 Lincoln Avenue
Charleston, IL 61920
Phone: 217-581-6093
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
- Centralia Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Eldorado Illinois FamilySearch Center
- C.E. Brehm Memorial Public Library District - an affiliate library
- Richland County Genealogy Society - Illinois - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Wayne County. For state-wide library facilities, see Illinois Archives and Libraries.
Fairfield Public Library
300 South E Second St
Fairfield IL 62837
Phone: 618-842-4516
Website
Wayne City Public Library
103 East Mill St
Wayne City, IL 62895
Phone: 618-895-2661
Brehm Memorial Library
101 S. 7th Street
Mt. Vernon, IL
Phone: 618-242-6322
Website
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Wayne County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Illinois Societies.
Wayne County Historical Society Museum
300 Southeast 2nd Street
Fairfield, IL 62837
Phone: 618-842-3544
Email: wayneillinoishistory@gmail.com
Website
Illinois Daughters of the American Revolution (IDAR)
Website
Websites
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- Wayne County Illinois Genealogy - ILGenWeb
- Wayne County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History Linkpendium
- Wayne County IL Genealogy - LDS Genealogy
- 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, “Wayne County, Illinois Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ill/wayne/ accessed 04/20/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Warren County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_County,_Illinois 04/20/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Wayne 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, "Wayne County, Illinois," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_County%2C_Illinois, accessed 10 March 2020.