Illinois, Mildred Hooper Obituary Collection - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of an index and images of obituaries collected by Mildred Hooper for west central Illinois and north eastern Missouri. The collection is housed in Nauvoo, Illinois. The material is generally in alphabetical order, but some obituaries are mixed up after the first letter of the surname. The newspaper responsible for the obituaries was usually not noted. However, the Quincy Herald-Whig was responsible for some, if not all, of the obituaries. The collection covers the years 1959 to 1981.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:


 * Name of deceased
 * Birth date and place
 * Death date and place


 * Names of parents
 * Name of spouse
 * Names of children


 * Name of cemetery
 * Name of newspaper
 * Date of obituary publication

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The approximate date of death
 * The person’s last known residence
 * The names of family members and their relationships

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
Once you have located your ancestor’s obituary, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Next, look at the pieces of information given in the obituary for new information. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Search for the death certificate
 * Use the birth date or year to search for birth records
 * Use the birth date along with relative’s names to find the family in census records
 * The name of the undertaker or mortuary could lead you to funeral and cemetery records, which often include the names and residences of other family members
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives of the deceased who may have been buried in the same cemetery or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now ?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby cemeteries

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Illinois.
 * Illinois Guided Research
 * Illinois Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.