Alexander County, Illinois Genealogy

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

United States Illinois  Alexander 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 Alexander County are kept, see the Alexander County Courthouse page.

Historical Facts
Alexander County is named for William M. Alexander, early settler and Illinois state senator.

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)

Record Loss

 * Lost census: 1890

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

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 Belleville Diocese Catholic churches in Alexander County available online (requires free registration). The records include first communions, confirmations, marriages, and deaths:


 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.

Court Records
Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) Collection

The following records may be accessed through: IRAD-Southern Illinois University (SIU) and search for Alexander County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page

Circuit Court


 * 1842-1873 Circuit Court Record
 * 1857-1941 Naturalization Record Index
 * 1864-1892 Naturalization Record of Soldier and Minors
 * 1864-1893 Naturalization Record, Final
 * 1865-1941 Naturalization Declarations of Intent
 * 1907-1940 Naturalization Petition Record
 * 1929-1940 Naturalization Order Books

County Board/County Commissioners


 * 1819-1929 County Commissioners' Minutes and Index
 * 1819-1942 County Commissioners' Proceedings Files
 * 1931-1935 Blind Relief Warrant Registers

County Clerk


 * 1873-1930 County Court Case Files

Justice of the Peace


 * 1942-1949 Justice of the Peace Dockets

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)

Probate Records
An unspecified number of Alexander County probate records are available in.

Marriages
James Stephenson prepared an index to Marriages --Alexander Co., IL From 1819 to 1850. Available online, courtesy: USGenWeb Archives.

Deaths
Roxanne Layton-Bayle prepared a list of people who died in Thebes, Illinois. Dates range from the 1960s to the 1990s. Courtesy: USGenWeb Archives.

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)