Alexander County, Illinois Genealogy

''This article is about a southern Illinois county. For other uses, see Alexander''.

United States Illinois  Alexander County

Parent County
1819--Alexander County was created 4 March 1819 from Johnson County. County seat: Cairo

Boundary Changes
Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in: Union (1818–1819) Johnson (1812–1818) Randolph (1795–1812) St. Clair (1790–1795)

Places/Localities
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. To see a list of places in Alexander County, click on [Show], above.

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
 * Illinois Afrigeneas

Cemeteries
Find A Grave, list of cemeteries. Additional information can be found at local level (city, township, etc.)


 * Alexander 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.

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


 * Index to the 1820 census of Alexander County...Bond County...Crawford County...Wayne County, Illinois.


 * USGenWeb Archives - Alexander County, Illinois


 * Illinois 1870 census index, Alexander County

Church History and Records
Some church records can be found at the town level.

Catholic
FamilySearch has made parish records from four Williamson County Catholic churches available online. The records include first communions, confirmations, marriages, and deaths:


 * Church Records of St. Columba Parish, Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois 1930-1950 [Belleville Diocese], browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * Church Records of St. Joseph Parish, Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois 1871-1956 [Belleville Diocese], browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * Church Records of St. Patrick Parish, Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois 1840-1956 [Belleville Diocese], browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * Church Records of St. Benedict Parish, Sandusky, Alexander County, Illinois 1891-1956 [Belleville Diocese], browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.

History
The online Shawnee Community College Local History Project includes dozens of personal interviews, newspaper clippings, and even a locally-composed song to give you a taste of historic Alexander County. Was your relative one of the interviewed individuals?

Civil War
Civil War service men from Alexander 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 Alexander County.


 * - 58th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, I and K.


 * Alexander County/Illinois Genealogy Trails. Information about Civil War soldiers from Alexander County such as their burials, pension applications and decendants' records. (accessed 31 May 2011)

Societies and Libraries

 * Genealogical Society of Southern Illinois John A. Logan College Library 700 Logan College Road Carterville, Illinois 62918 Telephone: 618-985-2828, Ext. 8338 Hours: vary by season, see website

The Society focuses on Alexander, Clay, Clinton, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Marion, Massac, Monroe, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, Saline, St. Clair, Union, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White, and Williamson counties. The Society's book and microfilm collection is housed at the John A. Logan College Library. The Society publishes a newsletter (click here for recent issues) and a quarterly journal The Saga of Southern Illinois (click here for a topical index for a breakdown of what has been published for each county).

Web Sites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Alexander County, IllinoisGenealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)