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United States Illinois Pope County

Pope County, Illinois
Map
Location of Illinois in the U.S.
Facts
Founded:	January 10, 1816
County Seat	Golconda
Courthouse
Photo courtesy Illinois Regional Archives Depository, Illinois State Archives
Address	Pope County Courthouse P.O. Box 216 Golconda, Illinois 62938 (618) 683-4466 Pope County Website

Contents 1 Pope County Organization 1.1 Historical Facts 1.2 Parent County 1.3 Boundary Changes 2 Records and Resources 2.1 Biography 2.2 Cemeteries 2.3 Census 2.3.1 1840 Pensioners 2.4 Church Records 2.4.1 Baptist 2.4.2 Disciples of Christ 2.4.3 Methodist 2.4.4 Presbyterian 2.5 Court Records 2.6 Ethnic Research 2.6.1 African American 2.7 Genealogy 2.8 History 2.8.1 Local Histories 2.9 Land and Property 2.10 Maps 2.11 Military Records 2.11.1 Civil War 2.12 Naturalization 2.13 Newspapers and Obituaries 2.14 Periodicals 2.15 Probate Records 2.16 Repositories 2.16.1 County Courthouse 2.16.2 Family History Center 2.16.3 Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) 2.16.4 Public Libraries 2.17 Social Groups Online 2.18 Societies 2.19 Taxation 2.20 Vital Records 2.20.1 Births: 2.20.2 Marriages: 2.20.3 Deaths: 3 Places / Localities 4 Web Sites 5 References

Pope County Organization

Pope County's civil records start the following years:

Beginning Dates for Pope County Records
Birth	Marriage	Death	Census	Land	Probate
1877	1813	1877	1820	1816	1816

County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Pope County are kept, see the Pope County Courthouse page.

Historical Facts

Pope County is named for Nathaniel Pope who was the first Territorial Secretary of State.

Parent County

• 1816--Pope County was created 10 January 1816 from Gallatin and Johnson Counties.County seat:Golconda ^[1]

Boundary Changes

See an interactive map of Pope County boundary changes.

Records and Resources

Biography

Cemeteries

The Illinois Cemeteries page provides general explanations of the following online Pope County resources:

Bibliography	Online Gravestone Transcriptions	Cemetery Gazetteers
FHLC	Find A Grave | national search | county list	ePodunk
WorldCat	USGenWeb Tombstone Transcription Project
	Illinois Cemeteries
	ILGenWeb
	USGenWeb Archives Illinois

• Blackman Cemetery

Census

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	13,585		—
1910	11,215		−17.4%
1920	9,625		−14.2%
1930	7,996		−16.9%
1940	7,999		0%
1950	5,779		−27.8%
1960	4,061		−29.7%
1970	3,857		−5.0%
1980	4,404		14.2%
1990	4,373		−0.7%
2000	4,413		0.9%
IL Counties 1900-1990

For tips on accessing census records online, see Illinois Census.

1840 Pensioners

• A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. Washington, D.C., 1841. FHL 973 X2pc 1840; FHL 2321; digital version at Google Books. [See Illinois, Pope County on page 187.]

Church Records

A chapter on Pope County, Illinois church history appears in a local history, available online at Ancestry.com ($), beginning on page 27.

Baptist

• Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. Minutes of Meetings and Lists of Members, 1864-1972. MSS. Copy: FHL Film 986485. WorldCat (Other Libraries)
  
• Brownfield Baptist Church. Record, 1860-1952. MSS. Copy: FHL Film 965608 Item 1. WorldCat (Other Libraries)
  
• Church and Family History Research Assistance for Primitive Baptist Churches in Pope County, Illinois
• History of Dixon Springs Baptist Church: Compiled for the Homecoming, September 10, 2000. 2000. WorldCat (Other Libraries)
• United Baptist Church (New Liberty, Ill.). Church Records, 1896-1957. MSS. Copy: FHL Film 965609 Item 19.
  

Disciples of Christ

• History of the Disciples of Christ in Illinois, Pope County section begins on page 363, courtesy: Internet Archive.

Methodist

• Blatter, Robert K. The History of Waltersburg: The Peaceful Nineteenth Century Invasion of Pope County in Southern Illinois. 1998. FHL Book 977.3991/W1 D2b. Includes membership list (1860-1899) & baptisms (1881-1914, 1953) for a church which is referred to as the Waltersburg Methodist Church, Waltersburg German Methodist Church & the Immanuel Church.
  
• Zion Methodist Episcopal Church. A History of the Church and Cemeteries with a Directory of Cemeteries at Zion, Pope County, Illinois. 1978. FHL Book 977.3991 K2h. FHL Book 977.3991 K2h.

Presbyterian

• Michael Hillegan Chapter D.A.R. (Harrisburg, Ill.). Church Records Presbyterian Church of Golconda, Pope County, Illinois Founded 1819. Reputed to be the Oldest Presbyterian Church in Illinois. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); ILGenWeb (baptisms); ILGenWeb (deaths).^[2] FHL Book 977.3991 V2d.
• History of the First Presbyterian Church, Golconda, Illinois. Golconda, Ill.: The Session of the Church, 1937. FHL Film 965608 Item 2.
  
• Thompson, Mrs. Scerial et al. Records of Presbyterian Church of Golconda, Pope County, Illinois. FHL Film 964988 Item 3. Baptisms, 1818-1937 -- Session book containing members admitted, dismissed, died, 1824-1911 -- Marriages, 1911-1935 -- List of pastors, 1819-1932.
  
• Bannon, Marie et al. Pope County, Illinois, Genealogical Materials. Includes information about the First Presbyterian Church (Golconda, Ill.). WorldCat (Other Libraries)

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 Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Pope County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

Abstracts

• 1860–1960 Lee, Judy Foreman and Carolyn Cromeenes Foss. Pope County, Illinois chancery index : approximately 1860-1960. [S.l. : s.n.], c1997. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3991 P22L
• 1886–1920 Bear, Elizabeth Woodworth and Saline county Genealogical Society. Justice docket, Pope County, 1886-1920. [Harrisburg, Illinois] : Saline County Genealogical Society (Illinois), 1994.Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3991 P2b
• 1816–1831 Foss, Carolyn Cromeenes and Judy Foreman Lee. Pope County, Illinois county court record Book A, 1816-1831. [S.l.: s.n.], 1994. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3991 P2f

Copies of original records

• 1816–1850 Court record FHL films 964530–1
• 1818–1851 Circuit Court record FHL films 965696-7
• 1824–1860 Circuit Court records FHL film 965697 Item 3
• 1818–1851 Circuit court dockets IRAD (SIU)
• 1821–1859 Circuit court miscellaneous record IRAD (SIU)
• 1900–1909 Justice of the peace dockets IRAD (SIU)

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

• [Glass] Young, John C. Descendants of Francis and James Glass of Pope County, Illinois. Marissa, Ill.: n.p., 1975. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

History

Local Histories

• Allen, John W. Pope County Notes. Carbondale, Ill.: Museum of Natural and Social Sciences, Southern Illinois University, 1949. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

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.

The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through online sources, the Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Pope County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

Online Resources

• Beginning 1820 Land Patent Search See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database.
• Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
• 1796–1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry.com ($)
• Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)
• Pope County Federal Township Plats

Abstracts

• 1811–1850 Winget, Judith L., Saline County Genealogical Society, and Jennifer L. Spohn. Pope County, Illinois deed book, 1811 to 1850. Harrisburg, Illinois: Saline County Genealogical Society (Illinois), [19--]. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3991 R2p
• 1820 Annable, Edward L. Pope County, Illinois landowners, 1820. Cypress, Illinois: E. Annable, 1994. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3991 R2a
• Early 1900s Nelson, Ronald L. A Record of land owners in Pope County, Illinois in the early 1900's: plat maps with more than 2,000 listings. Elizabethtown, Illinois: Ronald L. Nelson, 1979. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3991 E7r

Copies of original records

• 1816–1910 Grantee and Grantor index FHL films 964513–4
• 1816–1865 Land and road tax lists, assessor's books FHL film 1688976
• 1899–1899 Mortgagor and Mortgagee indexes FHL film 964529
• 1824–1860 Circuit Court records FHL film 965697 Item 3
• 1987 Pope-Hardin County (Illinois), land atlas and plat book, 1987 Other Libraries (WorldCat); FHL book 977.39 R2p
• 1816–1819 Territorial bargain and sale record; IRAD (SIU)
• 1835–1857 School land sale record IRAD (SIU)

Maps

Military Records

Civil War

Civil War service men from Pope 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 Pope County.

- 6th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies A, B, and G.

- 29th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.

- 56th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.

- 60th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.

- 120th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A and E.

- 131st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, B, and H.

- 136th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies I and K.

• 1861–1865 Militia roll record IRAD (SIU) Search for Pope records How to use IRAD

Naturalization

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 or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Pope County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

• 1820–1859 Naturalization declarations of intent IRAD (SIU)
• 1864–1894 Naturalization record IRAD (SIU)
• 1868–1886 Naturalization record of soldiers and minors IRAD (SIU)
• 1888–1898 Naturalization record IRAD (SIU)

Newspapers and Obituaries

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 Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Pope County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

Online Resources

• 1819-1888 An unspecified number of Illinois, Probate Records are available at the Family Search Records online database. The collection does not have an every name index, but the images are available to browse and may often have indexes contained within each volume.

Abstracts

• 1816–1845 Annable, Edward L. Pope County, Illinois probate records. Cypress, Illinois : E.L. Annable, c1994-c1997.Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3991 P2a 1816–1835, 1836–1845

Copies of Original Records

• 1816–1950 Index to estate and miscellaneous papers FHL film 965695
• 1861–1916 Will record FHL film 965687
• 1819–1888 Probate records and journals FHL films 965688–94
• 1867–1888 The probate journals for Pope County probate records are also available in Illinois, Probate Records, 1819-1970. Click on the browse through images link, select Pope County, and select the record type you are interested in.
• Index to Pope County, Illinois Will Record Volume A (1861-1916), available online, courtesy: USGenWeb.
• 1861–1916 Probate will record IRAD (SIU) Search for Pope records How to use IRAD

Repositories

County Courthouse

County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Pope County are kept, see the Pope County Courthouse page.

Family History Center

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. Southern Illinois University houses the records for Pope County.

Public Libraries

Social Groups Online

Societies

Pope County Historical Society
P.O. Box 837
Golconda, IL 62938
618-683-3050

Genealogical Society of Southern Illinois has a page with details about its' activities.

Taxation

• 1826–1827 Road tax lists IRAD (SIU) Search for Pope records How to use IRAD
• 1825–1865 Taxable lands list IRAD (SIU) Search for Pope records How to use IRAD

Vital Records

See Illinois Vital Records for more information about Vital records in Illinois.

Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the Pope 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 Family History Library and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Pope County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

Births:

Copies of Original Birth Records

• 1862–1930s Births FHL film 964537
• 1862–1915 Birth records and still birth register FHL films 964537–52
• 1862–1952 Birth certificate index IRAD (SIU)
• 1877–1915 Birth certificates IRAD (SIU)
• 1862–1916 Birth certificates, delayed IRAD (SIU)

Marriages:

Online Resources

• 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
• 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry.com ($)

Abstracts of Marriage Records

• 1816–1839 Schonert, Janet. Pope County, Illinois marriages, 1816-1839. Thomson, Illinois : Heritage House, 1972. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3 A1 no. 56
• 1813–1909 Lee, Judy Foreman and Carolyn Cromeenes Foss. Pope County, Illinois marriage books. [S.l. : s.n.], c1990-c1995. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3991 V2L v.1–4
• 1826–1845 Winget, Judy Walley. Williamson County, Illinois marriages, 1839 to 1853 and 1865; Pope County, Illinois marriages, 1826 to 1845; Johnson County, Illinois marriages, 1857 to 1860. [S.l.] : Saline County Genealogical Society (Illinois), 1984. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.399 V2w
• Pope County Marriage Records, available online, courtesy: ILGenWeb
• Pope County Marriage Records, available online, courtesy: UsGenWeb

Copies of original Marriage Records

• 1822–1960 Marriage index FHL film 964533
• 1822–1944 Marriage records FHL films 964534–6
• 1813–1915 Marriage licenses IRAD (SIU)
• 1813–1915 Marriage licenses and consents FHL film 2132307–34
• 1813–1915 Marriage licenses IRAD (SIU)
• 1816–1944 Marriage record IRAD (SIU)
• 1816–1960 Marriage record index IRAD (SIU)

Deaths:

Online Resources

• Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916
• 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950
• 1850–1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885found at Ancestry.com ($)

Abstracts of Death Records

• 1860 Allen, Ricky T. 1860 federal census and mortality schedule of Pope County, Illinois. Decatur, Illinois: Bowers Press, 1983.Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3991 X2af
• 1870 Allen, Ricky T. 1870 federal census and mortality schedule of Pope County, Illinois. Utica, Kentucky : McDowell Publications, [198-?].Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3991 X2r 1870
• Some Deaths From the Presbyterian Church Records Golconda, Illinois

Copies of original Death Records

• 1877–1910 Death register and index FHL film 964532
• 1909–1917 Death record FHL film 964532
• 1877–1915 Death record IRAD (SIU)
• 1877–1909 Death record index IRAD (SIU)
• 1883–1915 Death record, stillbirths IRAD (SIU)

Places / Localities

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Pope County, Illinois County seat: Golconda Cities and Towns Eddyville · Golconda Other Localities Brownfield · Hamletsburg · Herod · Lusk's Ferry · Rosebud · Temple Hill Neighboring Illinois Counties Hardin · Johnson · Massac · Saline · Williamson Neighboring Kentucky Counties Livingston

To see a list of places in Pope County, click on [Show], in the bar above.' The preceding list of places includes incorporated cities and towns, unincorporated towns and communities, and place names that may have been used in family histories. Some have well-organized records and even have web sites. Some are simply social communities with no official records, but which may be referenced in small-town newspapers. The list is provided to help researchers identify localities within the county. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names.

Web Sites

• Family History Library Catalog
• Pope County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)

References

1. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
2. ↑ Illinois Miscellaneous Genealogical Records: From Counties, Bond, Boone, Calhoun, Cook, Crawford, Du Page, Johnson, Knox, Lake, Will, Pope: Kentucky county, Mercer: Missouri county, Ralls. Evanston, Ill.: Illinois Society, D.A.R., 1946. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

v • d • e Links to Illinois-related articles Topics Search Strategies · Record Selection Table · African Americans · American Indians · Archives and Libraries · Bible Records · Biography · Cemeteries · Census · Church Records · Court Records · Directories · Emigration and Immigration · Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups · Funeral Homes · Gazetteers · Genealogy · History · Land and Property · Maps · Military Records · Naturalization and Citizenship · Newspapers · Obituaries · Occupations · Online Records · Periodicals · Probate Records · Public Records · Societies · Taxation · Vital Records · Voting Registers · Other Records · For Further Reading Counties Adams · Alexander · Bond · Boone · Brown · Bureau · Calhoun · Carroll · Cass · Champaign · Christian · Clark · Clay · Clinton · Coles · Cook · Crawford · Cumberland · DeKalb · DeWitt · Douglas · DuPage · Edgar · Edwards · Effingham · Fayette · Ford · Franklin · Fulton · Gallatin · Greene · Grundy · Hamilton · Hancock · Hardin · Henderson · Henry · Iroquois · Jackson · Jasper · Jefferson · Jersey · Jo Daviess · Johnson · Kane · Kankakee · Kendall · Knox · Lake · LaSalle · Lawrence · Lee · Livingston · Logan · Macon · Macoupin · Madison · Marion · Marshall · Mason · Massac · McDonough · McHenry · McLean · Menard · Mercer · Monroe · Montgomery · Morgan · Moultrie · Ogle · Peoria · Perry · Piatt · Pike · Pope · Pulaski · Putnam · Randolph · Richland · Rock Island · Saline · Sangamon · Schuyler · Scott · Shelby · St. Clair · Stark · Stephenson · Tazewell · Union · Vermilion · Wabash · Warren · Washington · Wayne · White · Whiteside · Will · Williamson · Winnebago · Woodford Extinct Co. Dane • Illinois Country • Knox (1790-1809) Major Repositories Newberry Library · Illinois State Archives · Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) · Illinois State Library · Illinois State Historical Library (ISHL) · National Archives Great Lakes Region (Chicago) · Allen County Public Library Migration Routes Illinois River · Mississippi River · Ohio River · Wabash River · Lake Michigan · Buffalo Trace · Chicago-Dubuque Highway · Chicago-Kaskaskia Road · Detroit-Chicago Road · Kellog Trail · Mihoaukee Trail · Mormon Trail · Nashville-Saline River Trail · National Road (or Cumberland Road) · Old Chicago Road · Pecatonica Trail · Russellville-Shawneetown Trail · Illinois and Michigan Canal · Santa Fe Railway · Great Northern Railway (U.S.) · Illinois Central Railroad