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Greene County, Illinois Genealogy

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Guide to Greene County, Illinois ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

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Greene County, Illinois
Map
Boundary map of Greene County, Illinois
Map of the U.S. highlighting Illinois
Location of Illinois in the U.S.
Facts
Founded: January 20, 1821
County Seat Carrollton
Courthouse
Greene County Courthouse.gif
Photo courtesy Illinois Regional Archives Depository, Illinois State Archives
Address Greene County Courthouse
519 N. Main Street
Carrollton, Illinois 62016
(217) 942-5443


County Organization[edit | edit source]

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records[1]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1877 1821 1877 1821 1821 1821 1810
Statewide registration for births and deaths started 1916. General compliance by 1922.

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

Historical Facts[edit | edit source]

Nathanael Greene.JPG

Greene County was named for Nathanael Greene who was a major general during the American Revolution, becoming Washington's most dependable officer.

Description[edit | edit source]

The county was named for General Nathanael Greene, a hero of the Revolutionary War. The county seat is Carrollton and the county was organized on 1821. The County is located in the West-Central part of the state.[2]

Parent County[edit | edit source]

  • 1821--Greene County was created 20 January 1821 from Madison [3]

Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]

For animated maps illustrating Illinois county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Illinois County Boundary Maps" (1790-1869) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.


Record Loss[edit | edit source]

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Places / Localities[edit | edit source]

Populated Places[edit | edit source]

Neighboring Counties[edit | edit source]

Records and Resources[edit | edit source]

Biography[edit | edit source]

All of the family biographies from The History of Greene County, Illinois (1879) published by Donnelley, Gassette & Loyd are available free on the My Genealogy Hound website.

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries of Greene, Illinois online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
TombstoneTranscriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See Illinois Cemeteries for more information
  • Linkpendium has many links to cemetery records and cemetery projects in Greene County.

Census[edit | edit source]

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
190023,402
—
191022,363−4.4%
192022,8832.3%
193020,417−10.8%
194020,292−0.6%
195018,852−7.1%
196017,460−7.4%
197017,014−2.6%
198016,661−2.1%
199015,317−8.1%
200014,761−3.6%
IL Counties 1900-1990

For tips on accessing census records online, see Illinois Census.

1840 Pensioners[edit | edit source]

  • 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. FHL 973 X2pc 1840; FHL 2321; digital version at Google Books. [See Illinois, Greene County on page 187.]

Church Records[edit | edit source]

Churches of many denominations abound in Greene County. The leading denominations in oyder of membership are currently Evangelical denominations, Catholic, American Baptist churches, Assemblies of God, Christian (Disciples of Christ), Presbyterian, and Methodist. For a guide to Greene County churches on the internet Click Here.

Court Records[edit | edit source]

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 Family History Library or the http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/IRAD/home.html Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)] located at the University of Illinois at Springfield - search for Greene County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the UIS IRAD Wiki page.

Copies of Original Records

  • 1821-1840 Circuit Court execution dockets 1821 to 1840
  • 1836-1972 Jail registers

Abstracts

Ethnic Research[edit | edit source]

African American[edit | edit source]

The following have information concerning African American research.

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

History[edit | edit source]

  • History of Greene County -- Its Past and Present by Clement L. Capp can be viewed for no charge online at the Internet Archive. "The book is dated 1879, so it includes the history of the county and its residents from the beginning of the county up to 1879. This is a wonderful resource for a genealogist if they have family that lived in Greene County before 1879. The book has 784 pages and contains detailed information on the history of the county, including the history of the towns within Greene County. There are illustrations of farms, pioneer dwellings, companies, and Indians and their impact on the history of the county. Portraits are also included of some of the early pioneers. The book also contains maps, War Records, Directories, and an abstract of Illinois State Law." It can also be downloaded to view on a Kindle.
  • All of the biographies from The History of Greene County, Illinois (1879) published by Donnelley, Gassette & Loyd are available free on the My Genealogy Hound website.

Land and Property[edit | edit source]

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 online, through the Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the University of Illinois at Springfield - search for Greene County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the UIS IRAD Wiki page.


Online Resources

  • BLM GLO Records. Search original land patents for Greene County from the Govenment Land Office (GLO) or Eastern States Office. Some searches include images of the original warrants. All search results include the patant details needed for requesting copies of the land entry files at the National Archives.  The GLO is the custodian of millions of land title documents. The General Land Office Automated Records Project is responsible for making these important documents available to the public.
  • "U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796 to 1907" Available at Ancestry.com ($). Records of Illinois are among the 13 states included in this set. It includes images of the land patents which contain the information necessary for ordering the complete case files from the National Archives. This appears to be the same information that is online at the Federal Land Office site http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/.
  • Sheldon, Theodore. Land registration in Illinois. Chicago: Callaghan Co., 1901. Digital book. Expains the laws regarding land and the land systems used in Illinois. Includes court cases involving land issues. In addition to being on Ancestry, this book is available online at no cost at Internet Archives and Google Books.


Copies of original records


Abstracts


Additional Resources

Additional resources for Greene County land and property may be found online in the FamilySearch Catalog, FamilySearch Catalog–maps and FamilySearch Catalog–indexes. Online microfilm are indicated by the camera icon in the catalog entry. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Maps[edit | edit source]

Pike CountyScott CountyMorgan CountyMacoupin CountyJersey CountyCalhoun CountyIL GREENE.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources


Military[edit | edit source]

Multiple Wars[edit | edit source]

IRAD Holdings:

  • Military Discharge records 1863 to 1801
  • Military Discharge records index 1862 to 1981
  • Military Discharge records, Civil War 1865 to 1891
  • Militia roll records 1861 to 1862

Civil War [edit | edit source]

Civil War service men from Greene 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 Greene County.

- 12th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company F.
- 14th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
- 59th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
- 61st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, E, and G.
- 91st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies G, H, I, and K.
- 122nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
- 133rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies C and G.
- 144th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.

Naturalization[edit | edit source]

Online Records

Newspapers and Obituaries[edit | edit source]

Probate Records[edit | edit source]

Online Probate Records


Original probate records are held by the circuit court clerk. Probate records include wills, inventories, settlements, and guardianship records. No probate records are held at IRAD. Explore how to search IRAD–UIS. The following copies are available in the FamilySearch Catalog:

Repositories[edit | edit source]

County Courthouse[edit | edit source]

Greene County Courthouse
519 N. Main Street
Carrollton, IL 62016-1033

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

Family History Center[edit | edit source]

Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance and free access to premium genealogical websites. In addition, many centers have free how-to genealogy classes.

Family History Centers (FHCs) are branches of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah (United States) and are located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources to assist you in the research and study of your genealogy.

Greene county does not have a family history center. Center addresses are not mailing addresses. Some of the nearest centers are:

Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)[edit | edit source]

The Archives hold many records for Greene County. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page

Illinois Regional Archives Depository
LIB144
University of Illinois at Springfield Region
One University Plaza, MS BRK 140
Springfield, Illinois 62703-5407
217-206-6520

Public Libraries[edit | edit source]

Carrollton Public Library
509 South Main Street
Carrollton, IL 62016-1251
(217) 942-6715
e-mail: cte@lcls.org
Website

Greenfield Public Library
515 Chestnut Street
Greenfield, IL 62044
Phone: (217) 368-2613
Fax: (217)368-2613
Website

Roodhouse Public Library
220 West Franklin Street
Roodhouse, IL 62082
Phone: (217) 589-5123

White Hall Township Public Library
119 East Sherman Street
White Hall, IL 62092
Phone: (217) 374-6014
Fax: (217) 374-6554
E-mail: whelib@gcctv.com
Website

The White Hall Library has a genealogy file, which contains dates of birth, death, and marriages, which have appeared in the local newspaper, dating 1869 to present time. These newspapers are on microfilm, and are used in the library by people throughout the U.S. We also have other local history information available for use in the library.

Societies[edit | edit source]

Greene County Historical and Genealogical Society
PO Box 137
Carrollton, Illinois 62016
Telephone Number: 217-942-6013

The Greene County Historical & Genealogical Society is located in the Lee-Baker-Hodges House on North Main Street on the northwest corner of the square in Carrollton, Illinois. The Society Library and Museum hours are currently Wednesday & Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The entrance is at the side door at the top of the ramp. For more information, see their website. 

The genealogical society has a file folder for each surname. The folders contain summaries of newspaper articles, burial locations (including some unmarked graves) and extractions of marriage and probate records.

The courthouse is located across the street and the County Clerk's office is open on Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.  The courthouse has birth, marriage and death records that they will search for a fee.  There are originals of wills that you can see and copy for a minimal cost.

Taxation[edit | edit source]

Vital Records[edit | edit source]

See Illinois Vital Records for more information about Vital records in Illinois. See also How to order Illinois Vital Records or order electronically online.

Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded since 1877 are kept by the Greene County Clerk while those recorded after 1916 are kept by the Illinois Department of Public Health. with a copy to the County Clerk. Original marriage records are kept by the County Clerk from 1877 to the present. Original divorce records are generally in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk.

Copies of original records may be accessed through the Family History Library and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Universtiy of Illinois–Springfield(UIS). Search Greene County records in the Local Governmental Records Holdings Database . For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD–UIS Wiki page.

Explore Greene County vital records found in the FamilySearch Catalog. Other libraries(at WorldCat) also hold copies of abstracted Greene County vital records. (How to explore WorldCat).

Births[edit | edit source]

Marriages[edit | edit source]

Deaths[edit | edit source]

Researching Your Roots in Central Illinois offers the following online free death indexes:

Websites[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Greene County, Illinois. Page 192-199 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 194-197.
  2. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Greene County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greene_County,_Illinois 04/013/2017.
  3. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002), 194. (FHL Collection Ref Book 973 D27e 2002). WorldCat entry.
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