Effingham County, Illinois Genealogy

United States Illinois Effingham County

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


 * Incomplete birth and death before 1916

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

Historical Facts


Effingham County is named for who is noted for resigning his commission as general in the British army in 1775 and refusing to serve in the war against the colonies.

Boundary Changes

 * 15 February 1831: Effingham County was created from Fayette and Crawford Counties. ; Effingham not fully organized, parts attached to Crawford and Fayette until "organized." (Ill. Laws 1830-1831, pp. 50-52)
 * 20 December 1832: Fully organized, detached from Crawford and Fayette. (Ill. Laws 1832-1833, pp. 22-23)
 * 26 February 1845: Legislature authorized Effingham to gain from Shelby the northern half of township 9 north, ranges 4 to 6 east, dependent on local referendum that failed [no change]. (Ill. Laws 1844-1845, p. 164) (source: Newberry Library)

See an interactive map of Effingham County boundary changes.

Places/Localities
To see a list of places in Effingham County, click on [Show], above. Localities listed in red have no wiki page yet. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names.

Biography

 * Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, also known as Effingham County, biographical ; pub. 1910 See the wiki page Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois for more information about this book.
 * Portrait and biographical record of Effingham, Jasper and Richland counties, Illinois pub. 1893
 * Portrait and biographical record of Effingham, Jasper and Richland counties; pub. 1893
 * Portrait and biographical record of Effingham County, Illinois; reprint 2004 of 1893 edition

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


 * Political Graveyard


 * Cemeteries in Effingham County, Illinois: names, locations, histories; pub. 2007


 * Location of Effingham County, Illinois cemeteries; pub. 1975


 * Effingham 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 information and tips on using and accessing online census records, see Illinois Census.

Federal
1840-1850  1840-1850 Effingham County census

1840

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, Effingham County on page 186.];

1850 United States census 1850; pub. 1979

1860 1860 census of Effingham County, Illinois; pub. 1983

1870 1870 Effingham County census; pub. 1984

1880 Effingham County, Illinois 1880; pub. 1990 Vol. 1. Banner, Bishop, Douglas, Jackson, Liberty &amp; Lucas townships Vol. 2. Mason, Moccasin, Mound, St. Francis, Summit, Teutopolis, Union, Watson &amp; West townships.

1900 1900 federal census; pub. 1999

State

 * 1855, State Census FamilySearch Index only
 * 1855, Name index to early Illinois records
 * 1855, State Census
 * 1865, State Census

Correctional Institutions
Register of prisoners, 1898-1933; also known as Effingham County (Illinois) County Jail

Court Records
Original court records are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Court Records for more information about using court records.

The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Effingham County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.


 * 1833-1874 Circuit Court Record IRAD-EIU
 * 1833-1882 Circuit Court Execution Dockets IRAD-EIU
 * 1833-1925 Circuit Court Index IRAD-EIU
 * 1838-1880 Justice of the Peace Dockets IRAD-EIU
 * 1858-1870 County Court Execution Dockets IRAD-EIU
 * 1859-1870 County Court Fee Books IRAD-EIU
 * 1864-1910 Circuit Court Record, Chancery IRAD-EIU
 * 1868-1972 Circuit Court Record, Criminal IRAD-EIU
 * 1872-1964 Jail Registers IRAD-EIU
 * 1872-1917 County Court Record, Criminal IRAD-EIU
 * 1874-1973 Circuit Court Judgment and Execution Dockets IRAD-EIU
 * 1875-1919 Circuit Court Record, Common Law IRAD-EIU
 * 1893-1911 Insanity Record IRAD-EIU
 * 1897-1901 Circuit Court Dockets IRAD-EIU
 * 1958-1968 Circuit Court Case Files IRAD-EIU

Directories
Effingham County, Illinois city and county directories, 1924 &amp; 1925: each directory in alphabetical order, surname index in back; pub. 1990

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

Genealogy

 * Estate settlements &amp; genealogy; pub. 2008
 * The Hirtzel family of Effingham County, Illinois; pub. 1999

Periodicals

 * Crossroad trails
 * Effingham County Genealogical and Historical Society newsletter See note.

History

 * The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Effingham County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Effingham County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.
 * Effingham Co., Illinois, historical and biographical, pub. 1910 note: no circulation to FHCs.
 * Effingham County, Illinois, past and present; reprint 2000
 * Effingham, Illinois fiftieth anniversary, 1853-1903; reprint 1984
 * Fair history, Effingham County, Illinois; pub. 1995
 * Historical postcards of Effingham County, Illinois; pub. 2003
 * History of Effingham County, Illinois; pub. 1883
 * History of Effingham County, Illinois; reprint with index (1972?);
 * Making a living in the good old days; pub. 1975
 * Old settlers' annual and home coming reunion : history, biography, reminiscences, etc.; pub. 1987
 * The sesquicentennial of Effingham County, 1831-1981; pub.1982
 * Towns of Effingham County, Illinois; pub. 1975
 * Townships of Effingham County, Illinois; pub. 1975
 * Index to History of Effingham County, Illinois, 1883; pub. 1987
 * Bits of Effingham County, Illinois history The articles in this book were written as columns for the “Effingham Daily News” from 1967 to 1988, under the general heading “Bits of Illinois History” — Introd., p. 3.

Land and Property
Original land records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See Illinois Land and Property for more information about using land records.

The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through online sources, the Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Effingham County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.

Copies of Originals


 * 1829-1895 Effingham County (Illinois) Recorder, Land Book.
 * 1833-1889 Deed Index IRAD-EIU
 * 1833-1936 Deed Record IRAD-EIU
 * 1833-1945 Effingham County (Illinois)Recorder, Deeds and Mortgages, 1833-1945; index 1833-1895.
 * 1854-1905 Mortgage Record IRAD-EIU
 * 1875-1895 Mortgage Index IRAD-EIU
 * 1859-1867 Swamp Land Record IRAD-EIU
 * 1945-1962 Chattel Mortgage Index and Record IRAD-EIU

Abstracts


 * 1836-1899 Effingham County Genealogical Society, Effingham County, Illinois public domain land sales, 1836-1899. ;
 * 1845-1855 Arnetia Bannick Osborne, Eleanor Poe Bounds, Effingham County Genealogical Society (Effingham, Illinois), Delinquent tax records, 1845 through 1855, Effingham County, Illinois : these records include owner's names, parts of section, section nos., range, acres, valuation, year tax due, state revenue, state special tax, county tax, poor tax, and total amount due. ; ; 
 * Family Maps. Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Effingham County, Illinois. Norman, Oklahoma: Arphax Pub. Co., c2007.
 * 1986 Rockford Map Publishers (Rockford, Illinois), Land Atlas and plat book, Effingham County, Illinois, 1986. ;

Online Resources


 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)
 * Effingham 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.

Maps

 * Effingham County GIS Map


 * 1899 plat index of Effingham County, Illinois townships and towns
 * Family maps of Effingham County, Illinois
 * Land atlas and plat book, Effingham County, Illinois, 1986


 * Effingham County Federal Township Plats

Military

 * The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Effingham County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Effingham County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.
 * Veteran burials, Effingham County, Illinois, 1862-1955

Civil War
Regiment Information

Civil War service men from Effingham 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 Effingham County.


 * - 5th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company L.
 * - 26th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A
 * - 35th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 38th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 54th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies D and I.
 * - 62nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
 * - 71st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company I.
 * - 98th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies C and K.
 * - 154th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.


 * [http://civilwar.ilgenweb.net/county/effingha.html Civil War Companies

Organized in Effingham County, Illinois] Effingham Co ILGenWeb

Military Records


 * The Adjutant General's Report of Effingham County, Illinois soldiers, 1831-32, 1846-48 and 1861-66, 1898-99


 * Civil war soldiers from Effingham County

World War II

 * World War II veterans, Effingham County, Illinois

Naturalization and Citizenship
Original naturalization records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See Illinois Naturalization Records for more information about using naturalization records.

The following 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 Effingham County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.

Copies of Original Records


 * 1857-1906 Naturalization Record IRAD-EIU
 * 1859-1892 Naturalization records.
 * Naturalization records: Files 166 through 182 (no years given)

Abstracts


 * 1849-1906 Naturalization records, 1849-1906 ;

Newspapers and Obituaries
Newspaper clippings and obituaries from Clay and Effingham counties, Illinois and Yakima County, Washington

Probate Records
Illinois Probate Records for more information.


 * Browse images of Effingham County probate records at.
 * Probate records, 1838-1920 Probate index 1838-1964 - 1009561 Probate records v. 1-2 1838-1854 - 1009562 Probate records v. A-C 1850-1864 - 1009563 Probate records v. D-E 1864-1871 - 1009564 Probate records v. F 1871-1877 - 1009565 Probate records v. G 1877-1883 - 1010155 Probate records v. H-I 1883-1893 - 1010156 Inventory record v. A 1890-1904 - 1010157 Bonds &amp; letters v. B 1877-1881 - 1010158 Guardian records v. A-D 1871-1897 (no v. C) - 1010159 Will record v. 1, A-C 1838-1895 - 1010160 Will record v. D-F 1895-1920 - 1010161
 * Wills and estate settlements, 1836-1882
 * Estate settlements &amp; genealogy

Archives
Inventory of the county archives of Illinois, no. 25, Effingham County (Effingham), pub. 1940

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

Champaign Illinois Family History Center 604 W Windsor Rd Champaign, Champaign, Illinois Phone: 217-352-8063 Hours: Thur-Sat 9:30-12:30pm; Thur 7pm-9pm; or by appt Terre Haute Indiana Family History Center  1845 N 6 1/2 St Terre Haute, Vigo, Indiana Phone: 812-234-0269 Hours: Tue 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Closed: Mondays after 6:00 p.m., all major holidays, inclement weather, whenever Vigo schools are on delays or early dismissals. Attention: The Center is also available by appointment. 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 Edwards 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.

Libraries
Beecher City Branch Library 108 North James Street, Beecher City, IL 62414 (618) 487-9400 ‎ Altamont Public Library 121 West Washington Altamont IL 62411 618-483-5457

Helen Matthes Library 100 E. Market Ave. Effingham, IL 62401-3499 Phone: 217.342.2464 Fax: 217.342.2413 Email: hmlib@effinghamlibrary.org

Schools
Effingham County school history, centennial 1918

Societies
Effingham County Genealogical &amp; Historical Society P.O. Box 1166 Effingham, Il 62401 facebook

Pioneer certificates issued by Effingham County Genealogical Society

Taxation

 * Delinquent tax records, 1845 through 1855, Effingham County, Illinois
 * Tax records 1852
 * Tax records 1854-1858
 * 1890 tax lists v. 1. Banner, Bishop, Douglas, Jackson, Liberty &amp; Lucas townships v. 2. Moccasin, Mound, St. Francis, Summit, Teutopolis, Union, Watson &amp; West townships.

Vital Records
Illinois Vital Records for more information.

Effingham County Courthouse for information on obtaining records from the local offices.

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


 * 1877-1916 Birth Record - IRAD-EIU Search for Effingham County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1877-1915 Birth Record Index - IRAD-EIU Search for Effingham County records.


 * Birth records, 1877-1916, stillbirths are included. Index 1877-1915 - Film 1010043 Vol. 1-2 1877-1901 - Film 1010043 Vol. 3-4 1902-1914 - Film 1010044 Vol. 5 1911-1916 - Film 1010045

Marriages
1839–present The original Effingham County marriage records 1839-present are housed in the office of the County Clerk. The following copies are available:


 * 1839–1920 Marriage Record - IRAD-EIU Search for Effingham County records. How to use IRAD


 * Marriage records, 1839-1920 Vol. A-B 1839-1877 - Film 1010047 Vol.1-2 1878-1908 - Film 1010048 Vol. 3 19908-19220 - Film 1010049
 * Effingham County, Illinois marriages Vol. 1-2 1833-1877 - 6104306 Vol. 3 1878-1882 - 6104307 Vol. 4 1889-1894 - 6104308 Vol. 5 1895-1900 - 6104309 Vol. 6 1901-1905 - 6104310 Vol. 7 1906-1910 - 6110728 Vol. 8 1911-1915 - 6067339 Vol. 9 1916-1920 - not available on fiche

The following abstracts are available:


 * 1839–1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 (1839-1900 for Effingham County)

Deaths
1878–present The original Effingham County death records 1878-present are housed in the office of the County Clerk. The following copies are available:


 * 1878–1915 Death Record - IRAD-EIU Search for Effingham County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1878–1915 Death Record Index - IRAD-EIU Search for Effingham County records.
 * 1878-1901 Death Record, Stillbirths - IRAD-EIU Search for Effingham County records.

The following abstracts are available:


 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 (Jan 1878-Dec 1915 for Effingham County)
 * 1916–1950 Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916-1950 (1916-1950 for Effingham County)


 * Death records, 1878-1915
 * Mortality schedules, 1860, 1870, 1880

Websites
Databases pertinent to Effingham County


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