Richland County, Illinois Genealogy

United States Illinois  Richland County

Richland County Organization
Richland County's civil records start the following years:

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

Historical Facts
Richland County is named for Richland County, Ohio which is where many of the settlers of this area originated.

Parent County

 * 1841--Richland County was created 24 February 1841 from Clay and Lawrence Counties. County seat:  Olney

Boundary Changes
See an interactive map of Richland County boundary changes.

Places / Localities
To see a list of places in Richland 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.

Cemeteries
Illinois Cemeteries for more information. Illinois cemetery records often identify birth, death, relationship, and military information, as well as religious affiliation.


 * Find A Grave can be searched by the name of a person or family to find where a person is buried. Usually gives birth and death dates often with a picture of the tombstone.  May give obituaries, names of family members and links to their information in Find A Grave.


 * Find A Grave also gives a list of cemeteries in Richland County and links to the information for the individuals buried there.


 * Richland 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.


 * The Family History Library Catalog lists . Some of the books or others may be on Google Books or available at public libraries.


 * ePodunk list of Richland County cemeteries gives the names of the cemeteries in the county with a link to more information such as address, phone number, and web site.


 * LDS Cemetery Records Vol. 1 page 5 - Gallagher Family


 * USGenWeb, Richland County, Illinois (ILGenWeb), cemetery location, by township

Church Records
Abstracts


 * 1869–1959 Scherer, Mary. St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 1869-1959, Richland County, Illinois. Olney, Illinois: Mary Scherer, 1985.

Catholic
FamilySearch has made parish records from two Belleville Diocese Catholic churches in Richland County available online. The records include first communions, confirmations, marriages, and deaths:


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

Court Records
Abstracts


 * 1841–1852 Richland County Genealogical and Historical Society. Richland County, Ill. board minutes. Olney, Illinois: Richland County Genealogical &amp; Historical Society, [1985?].

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

Local Histories

 * Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois. Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen &amp; Co., 1909. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Internet Archive.

Land and Property
Illinois Land and Property for more information. 1829-present The original land and property records for Richland County are held by the County Recorder. See the info box above for contact information. The following copies are available:


 * 1829-1974 Deed Index IRAD-EIU Search for Richland County records. Information about how to use IRAD
 * 1840–1863 Grantor and grantee indexes
 * 1840–1901 Deeds
 * 1841-1975 Deed Record IRAD-EIU Search for Richland County records.
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)
 * Richland County Federal Township Plats
 * 1800s – Present - Use the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land Patent Index to obtain original federal land transfer records, including homestead, military warrants, and cash entry patents. These records help a researcher establish location and lead to National Archives’ records which may include genealogical information. Earlier land transfer records are at the National Archives.
 * Family Maps. Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Richland County, Illinois.  Norman, Oklahoma: Arphax Pub. Co., c2007.

Additional Resources
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 Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Richland County records. For information on how to use IRAD see theEIU IRAD Wiki page.

Copies of original records


 * 1841–1917 Probate records
 * 1855–1938 Will and guardian records

Additional resources for Richland County land and property may be found in the and. Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche can be ordered for viewing at Family History Centers. Copies of books found in the FHLC may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the Family History Library Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Maps

 * Richland County Federal Township Plats
 * USGenWeb, Richland County, Illinois (ILGenWeb), Maps

Civil War
Civil War service men from Richland 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 Richland County.


 * - 5th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company F.
 * - 6th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company E.
 * - 21st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 60th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.
 * - 63rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, C, E, and I.
 * - 98th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, G and H.

World War II

 * USGenWeb, Richland County, Illinois, (ILGenWeb), WWII Honor List of Dead and Missing

Probate Records
Illinois Probate Records for more information.

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

Family History Centers
There are over 4500 Family History Centers worldwide which serve as branch facilities of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Volunteers provide research assistance to help patrons identify their ancestors. Microfilm and microfiche may be ordered from the FHL collection at a nominal cost. Locate your nearest Family History Center at the FamilySearch website. Call ahead to verify operating hours. All are welcome. The following centers are accessible to residents of Richland County, Illinois:

Centralia Illinois Family History Center Leafland &amp; 3rd Street Centralia, Marion, Illinois Phone: 618-532-3482 Hours: Wednesday 2-6pm Attention: We have temporarily moved to this new location while our building is being remodeled.

Evansville Indiana Family History Center 8020 E Covert Ave Evansville, Vanderburgh, Indiana Phone: 812-471-0191 Hours: First Wednesday of every month 10:00 - 12:00, Tues &amp; Wed evening 6:00 - 8:00; other times by appointment Closed: Closed Major Holidays Vincennes Indiana Family History Center 1940 N Old Hwy 41 Vincennes, Knox, Indiana Phone: 812-882-4022 Hours: T, Thu 9am-12:30pm, 5pm-8:30pm Closed: Closed 1 1/2 weeks for Christmas  Please note: Addresses posted are not mailing addresses. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries.

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 Richland County come under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) regional depository.

Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) Booth Library Eastern Illinois University (EIU) 600 Lincoln Avenue Charleston, IL 61920 Telephone: (217) 581-6093 Hours: Monday – Friday, except state holidays 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Note: The depository is staffed by graduate student interns. Because of class scheduling conflicts, hours may vary somewhat from the published schedule. Researchers are urged to call before planning a visit.

Public Libraries
Olney Public Library 400 West Main Olney, IL 62450 618-392-3711 HOURS Mon-Thurs 10am-7pm Fri-Sat 10am-5pm Sun- Closed

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

Vital Records
Illinois Vital Records for more information.

Births
1877–present The original Richland County birth records 1877- present are housed in the office of the County Clerk. The following copies are available:


 * 1889-1905 Birth Record - IRAD-EIU Search for Richland County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1877-1916 Birth Record Index – IRAD-EIU Search for Richland County records.
 * 1859-1904 Birth Record, Delayed - IRAD-EIU Search for Richland County records.

Marriages
1841–present The original Richland County marriage records 1841-present are housed in the office of the County Clerk. The following copies are available:


 * 1841–1950 Marriage Record - IRAD-EIU Search for Richland County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1841-1950 Marriage Record Index - IRAD-EIU Search for Richland County records.

The following abstracts are available:


 * 1841–1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 (1841-1900 for Richland County)

Deaths
1877–present The original Richland County death records 1877-present are housed in the office of the County Clerk. The following copies are available:


 * 1877–1950 Death Record - IRAD-EIU Search for Richland County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1877–2003 Death Record Index - IRAD-EIU Search for Richland County records.
 * 1884-1904 Death Record, Stillbirths - IRAD-EIU Search for Richland County records.

The following abstracts are available:


 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 (No data for Richland County as of Aug 2011. Check back again as records are being added.)
 * 1916–1950 Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916-1950 (1916-1950 for Richland County)

Web Sites
Databases pertinent to Richland County


 * Local Governmental Records Database IRAD
 * Name Index to Illinois Local Governments IRAD
 * USGenWeb, Richland County, Illinois (ILGenWeb)
 * Richland County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History(Linkpendium)
 * Richland County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History(Linkpendium)