Marion County, Illinois Genealogy

United States Illinois  Marion County

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

Historical Facts
The county is named after "The Swamp Fox" Revolutionary War Brigadier General Francis Marion(c1732-1795).

Parent County

 * 1823--Marion County was created 24 January 1823 from Fayette and Jefferson Counties. County seat: Salem

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

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. ; ; digital version at Google Books. [See Illinois, Marion County on page 187.]

Catholic
FamilySearch has made parish records from five Belleville Diocese Catholic churches in Marion County available online. 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.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.

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 ($); Internet Archive.
 * Brinkerhoff, J. H. G. Brinkerhoff's History of Marion County, Illinois. Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen &amp; Co., 1909. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Family History Archives.

Land and Property
The following abstracts are available:


 * 1892 Kilmer, W. A. and Gerald Don Kilmer. Marion County, IL landowners index, 1892. Lubbock, Texas : Craftsman Printers, c1985. Other libraries (WorldCat)


 * Rockford Map Publishers. Land atlas &amp; plat book retrospect : property information from the past, Marion County IL. Rockford, IL : Rockford Map Publishers, [20--]. Other libraries (WorldCat)

The following copies of original records are available:


 * 1823–1901 Grantee index
 * 1824–1901 Grantor index
 * 1823–1903 Deeds
 * 1870–1904 Miscellanious record
 * 1857–1916 Mortgages
 * 1873–1901 Release
 * 1832–1900 Land entry books and tract books
 * 1985 Land atlas and plat book Other libraries (WorldCat)

Military Records

 * Civil War Civil War service men from Marion 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 Marion County.


 * - 31st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 40th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.

Probate Records
The following copies of original records are available:


 * 1823–1909 Probate records  IRAD (SIU)


 * ’’’1846–1860’’’ Probate sale record, personal property IRAD (SIU)


 * 1850–1973 Estate index IRAD (SIU)


 * ’’’ 1854–1917’’’ Probate will record  IRAD (SIU)


 * 1857–1917 Wills


 * ’’’1866–1890’’’ Probate executor’s record IRAD (SIU)


 * ’’’1866–1898’’’ Probate inventory record IRAD (SIU)


 * 1866–1909 Guardian  IRAD (SIU)


 * ’’’1868–1911’’’ Probate guardian’s dockets IRAD (SIU)


 * ’’’1870–1886’’’ Probate widow’s relinquishment and selection record  IRAD (SIU)


 * ’’’1888–1906’’’ Probate appraisement record IRAD (SIU)

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

Marriages:

 * 1821-1859 Marion County Genealogical and Historical Society. Marion County, Illinois marriages, 1821–1859. Book A, B, C, book #1. Salem, Ill.: Marion County Genealogical and Historical Society, [1995]. Other libraries (WorldCat)


 * 1888-1931 Marion County Genealogical and Historical Society. Marion County, Illinois marriages : 1888-1931 book E &amp; F - Book #2.Salem, IL Marion County Genealogical Historical Society, ©1997. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Births:

 * 1878–1904 Birth index


 * 1878–1916 Birth records


 * 1854–1915 Birth certificates and delayed births

Marriages:

 * 1821-1910 Index to marriage records


 * 1821–1919 Marriages


 * 1887–1893 Marriage applications

Deaths:

 * 1877–1915 Death records index


 * 1877–1915 Death records
 * 1878–1915 Deaths

Places/Localities
To see a list of places in Marion 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

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