Ford County, Illinois
From FamilySearch Wiki
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| building image cap = Photo courtesy [[Illinois Regional Archives Depository]], [[Illinois State Archives]] | | building image cap = Photo courtesy [[Illinois Regional Archives Depository]], [[Illinois State Archives]] | ||
| building address = '''Ford County, Illinois Courthouse'''<br>200 West State Street<br>Paxton, Illinois 60957<br>(217) 379-9400<br>[http://www.fordcounty.illinois.gov/] | | building address = '''Ford County, Illinois Courthouse'''<br>200 West State Street<br>Paxton, Illinois 60957<br>(217) 379-9400<br>[http://www.fordcounty.illinois.gov/] | ||
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''[[United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Illinois]][[Image:Gotoarrow.png]]'' '''Ford County''' | ''[[United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Illinois]][[Image:Gotoarrow.png]]'' '''Ford County''' | ||
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''A County History: Ford County History: Ford County, Illinois. ''by Ford County Historical Society, c. 1984 has a section on church records. {{FHL|121768|item|disp=FHL book 977.362 D2f}} | ''A County History: Ford County History: Ford County, Illinois. ''by Ford County Historical Society, c. 1984 has a section on church records. {{FHL|121768|item|disp=FHL book 977.362 D2f}} | ||
| − | === | + | === Court Records === |
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| − | + | 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 === | === Directories === | ||
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=== Genealogy === | === Genealogy === | ||
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| + | === History === | ||
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| + | ''History of Ford Coutny, Illinois'':''From its Earliest Settlement to 1908 ''([http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=0&db=dbatitles&ctx=%2fMercury%2fPages%2fCardCatListBoolean.aspx&hco=100&_F0003A49=1&o_iid=5910&o_lid=5910&o_sch=Web+Property&offerid=0%3a679%3a0&_F0003A49-int=1#ccat=hc%3D25%26dbSort%3D1%26title%3D%26keyword%3DFord%20County%2C%20Illinois%26 Ancestry]) | ||
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=== Mailing Lists === | === Mailing Lists === | ||
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=== Land and Property === | === Land and Property === | ||
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| + | Original land records are held in the office of the County Clerk . See [[Illinois Land and Property]] for more information about using land records | ||
:'''1885-1890''' Deed Record. IRAD-ISU | :'''1885-1890''' Deed Record. IRAD-ISU | ||
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=== Military === | === Military === | ||
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| + | For information about using Military records see [[Illinois Military Records|Illinois Military Records]] | ||
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=== Civil War === | === Civil War === | ||
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=== Naturalization and Citizenship === | === Naturalization and Citizenship === | ||
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| + | Original naturalization records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See [[Illinois Naturalization and Citizenship|Illinois Naturalization Records]] for more information about using naturalization records. | ||
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| + | The following copies of original records may be accessed through the [[The Family History Library|Family History Library]] | ||
'''1859-1906''' Naturalization Records. {{FHL|5066|item|disp=FHL film 1401895 itmes 2-4 and films 1401896-97}} | '''1859-1906''' Naturalization Records. {{FHL|5066|item|disp=FHL film 1401895 itmes 2-4 and films 1401896-97}} | ||
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=== Probate Records === | === Probate Records === | ||
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| + | 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. | ||
'''1860-1942 '''Will Record, 1859-1929 Administrator's Record, and 1859-1953 Guardian Record. Ford County Courthouse. {{FHL|4024|item|disp=FHL film 1401890-1401895}} | '''1860-1942 '''Will Record, 1859-1929 Administrator's Record, and 1859-1953 Guardian Record. Ford County Courthouse. {{FHL|4024|item|disp=FHL film 1401890-1401895}} | ||
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=== Repositories === | === Repositories === | ||
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| + | [[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. [[IRAD - Illinois State University|Illinois State University]] houses the records for Ford County. | ||
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*'''County Courthouse''' | *'''County Courthouse''' | ||
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*'''Family History Center''' | *'''Family History Center''' | ||
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| + | Family History Centers (FHCs) are branches of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah (United States) and are located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources to assist you in the research and study of your genealogy. Currently there are no Family History Centers located directly in Ford County. | ||
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| + | You may search your address for a center near you on the FamilySearch site. The following centers are located in surrounding counties. Their wiki pages may supply hours and other information. | ||
[https://www.familysearch.org/locations/centerlocator?search_fs_center_form=Ford+Illinois Find a FamilySearch Center] | [https://www.familysearch.org/locations/centerlocator?search_fs_center_form=Ford+Illinois Find a FamilySearch Center] | ||
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=== Vital Records === | === Vital Records === | ||
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| + | See [[Illinois Vital Records]] for more information about Vital records in Illinois. | ||
IDPH Registrar of Vital Records<br>Room 101 Courthouse<br>200 West State Street<br>Paxton, IL 60957<br>1-217-379-2721 | IDPH Registrar of Vital Records<br>Room 101 Courthouse<br>200 West State Street<br>Paxton, IL 60957<br>1-217-379-2721 | ||
Revision as of 16:10, 1 September 2011
Coordinates: 40.59°0′N 88.22°0′W / 40.59°N 88.22°W
| Ford County, Illinois | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Illinois | |
 Location of Illinois in the U.S. | |
| Facts | |
| Founded: | February 17, 1859 |
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| County Seat | Paxton |
| Courthouse | |
 | |
| Address | Ford County, Illinois Courthouse 200 West State Street Paxton, Illinois 60957 (217) 379-9400 [1] |
United States 
Illinois Ford County
County Organization
Ford County's civil records start the following years:
| | |||||
| Birth | Marriage | Death | Census | Land | Probate |
| 1878 | 1859 | 1878 | 1860 | 1834 | 1850 |
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Ford County are kept, see the Ford County Courthouse page.
Historical Records
Boundary Changes
- 17 February 1859: Ford County was created from Clark County. [1]
Note:An earlier attempt to create Holmes County (proposed), on 31 January 1857 in the same general area, was unsuccessful. (Ill. Laws 1859, pub., pp. 29-33) (source:Newberry Library}
See an interactive map of Ford County boundary changes.
Record Loss
Records and Resources
Biography
Portrait and Biographical Record of Ford County.1892.FHL film 825571 another filming 934983 tiem 3
History of Ford County, by E.A. Gardner. FHL Collection another filming 934983 items 4-5
Cemeteries
Find A Grave, list of cemeteries. Additional information can be found at local level (city, township, etc.)
- Ford Co. IL USGenWeb Tombstone Project usually gives the names of the deceased in alphabetical order by last name with birth and death dates plus any remarks.
- Illinois Cemeteries by county.
- Cemetery Records of Ford County. Daughters of the American Revolution. FHL film 848587 items 1-2
Census
For information and tips on using and accessing online census records, see Illinois Census.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 18,359 | ||
| 1910 | 17,096 | −6.9% | |
| 1920 | 16,466 | −3.7% | |
| 1930 | 15,489 | −5.9% | |
| 1940 | 15,007 | −3.1% | |
| 1950 | 15,901 | 6.0% | |
| 1960 | 16,606 | 4.4% | |
| 1970 | 16,382 | −1.3% | |
| 1980 | 15,265 | −6.8% | |
| 1990 | 14,275 | −6.5% | |
| 2000 | 14,241 | −0.2% | |
| 2010 | 14,081 | −1.1% | |
| IL Counties 1900-1990 | |||
Church Records
The Farmersville Settlement, by Shirley Hildman Johnson. FHL Book 977.362 Kej
A County History: Ford County History: Ford County, Illinois. by Ford County Historical Society, c. 1984 has a section on church records. FHL book 977.362 D2f
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.
Directories
Ethnic Research
African American
The following have information concerning African American research.
- African American Research (US) has more information about the kinds of records
- Illinois State Archives pamphlet on African American Research describes what records are at the State Archives with an online method for ordering records.
- African-American Resources for Illinois
Genealogy
History
History of Ford Coutny, Illinois:From its Earliest Settlement to 1908 (Ancestry)
Mailing Lists
Message Boards
Land and Property
Original land records are held in the office of the County Clerk . See Illinois Land and Property for more information about using land records
- 1885-1890 Deed Record. IRAD-ISU
- 1888-1897 Chattel Mortgage Extensions. IRAD-ISU
- 1938-1952 Chattel Morgage Record. IRAD-ISU
Index
1860-1941 Chattel Mortgage Index. IRAD-ISU
Available through the Family History Library
1837-1901 Grantor and Grantee Indexes, and Deed Records 1859-1904. FHL film 1401811 first film of eighteen
Maps
Military
For information about using Military records see Illinois Military Records
Civil War
Civil War service men from Ford 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 Ford County.
List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883 (Source: Internet Archives)
World War I
World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 (Source: Ancestry)
World War II
World War II Casualities, Army and Army Air Corps (Source: Access Genealogy)
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 Family History Library
1859-1906 Naturalization Records. FHL film 1401895 itmes 2-4 and films 1401896-97
Newspapers
Newspapers Published in Ford County (Source: Illinois Newspaper Project)
Chronicling America Ford County (Source: The Library of Congress)
Cataloged Titles (Source: Illinois Newspaper Project)
Obituaries
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.
1860-1942 Will Record, 1859-1929 Administrator's Record, and 1859-1953 Guardian Record. Ford County Courthouse. FHL film 1401890-1401895
Guardianships
Repositories
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. Illinois State University houses the records for Ford County.
- County Courthouse
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Ford County are kept, see the Ford County Courthouse page.
- Family History Center
Family History Centers (FHCs) are branches of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah (United States) and are located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources to assist you in the research and study of your genealogy. Currently there are no Family History Centers located directly in Ford County.
You may search your address for a center near you on the FamilySearch site. The following centers are located in surrounding counties. Their wiki pages may supply hours and other information.
- Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)
Illinois State Universtiy (ISU)
2016 Warehouse Road Campus
Box 1520
Normal, Illinois 61802
Phone: 309-452-6027
Illinois Regional Archives Depository System Illinois State University Region
- Public Libraries
Schools
Social Groups Online
Societies
Ford County Historical Society
Taxation
1833-1876 Taxable Lands Lists. IRAD-ISU
Vital Records
See Illinois Vital Records for more information about Vital records in Illinois.
IDPH Registrar of Vital Records
Room 101 Courthouse
200 West State Street
Paxton, IL 60957
1-217-379-2721
Order Birth and Death Certificates Online
Births
- 1878-1909 Birth Record Index
- 1878-1901 Birth Records. IRAD-ISU
Available through the Family History Library
1870-1909 Index to birth records, birth records, 1878-1909 FHL film 1401878 items 2-3
Marriages
- 1859-1983 MarriageRecord Index. IRAD-ISU. Available throught the Family History Library FHL film 1401876 item3
- 1859-1927 Marriage Record. IRAD-ISU. Available through the Family History Library FHL films 1401877 - 1401878
Deaths
- 1878-1915 Death Record Index. IRAD-ISU
- 1878-1901 Death Record. IRAD-ISU
Available through the Family History Library
1878-1901 Index to deaths, Register of deaths, 1878-1901 FHL film 1401878 items 4-5
Web Sites
- USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
- Ford County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
Databases Pertinent to Ford County
Local Governmental Records Database
Name Index to Illinois Local Governments
Illinois Statewide Marriage Index
Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916–1950
Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
Federal Township Plats of Illinois
References
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed.; Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002 WorldCat 50140092, FHL Book 973 D27e 2002
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