Johnson County, Illinois Genealogy

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United States
Illinois
Johnson County

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

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Johnson County, Illinois
Map
Boundary map of Johnson County, Illinois
Map of the U.S. highlighting Illinois
Location of Illinois in the U.S.
Facts
Founded: September 14, 1812
County Seat Vienna
Courthouse
Johnson County Courthouse.gif
Photo courtesy Illinois Regional Archives Depository, Illinois State Archives
Address Johnson County Courthouse
P.O. Box 96
Vienna, Illinois 62995
618-658-3611
Johnson County Website


Johnson County Organization

Johnson County's civil records start the following years:

                                     Beginning Dates for Johnson County Records
Birth Marriage Death Census Land Probate
1878
 1835
 1878
 1820
 1809
 1821

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

Historical Facts

Richard MentorJohnson.png

Johnson County is named for Richard Mentor Johnson who served in the Indian Wars and the War of 1812. He was also served as Vice-President of the United States from 1837 to 1841 in the administration of Martin Van Buren.

Parent County

  • 1812--Johnson County was created 14 September 1812 from Randolph County. County seat: Vienna [1]

Description

The county was named for Richard M. Johnson, a congressman from Kentucky. Johnson served in the Army in the War of 1812. He later went on to be Vice President of the United States for one term. The county seat is Vienna and the county was organized on 1812. The County is located in the Southern part of the state.[2]

Boundary Changes

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.

Records Loss

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

Records and Resources

Biography

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Johnson, 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

Census

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
190015,667
—
191014,331−8.5%
192012,022−16.1%
193010,203−15.1%
194010,7275.1%
19508,729−18.6%
19606,928−20.6%
19707,5509.0%
19809,62427.5%
199011,34717.9%
200012,87813.5%
IL Counties 1900-1990
For tips on accessing census records online, see Illinois Census.

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

Church Records

Copies of Original records

Catholic

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

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 Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Johnson County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

Abstracts

  • 1813–1970 Annable, Edward l. and Johnson County Genealogical and Hsitorical Society. Johnson County, Illinois, probate index, 1813–1970: index to 3485 probate cases. [Vienna, Ill.]: Johnson County Genealogical & Historical Society, 2008. Other libraries (WorldCat)
  • 1813–1817 Gore, Virgil and Ruth Ann Sistler. Commissioners' records, Johnson County, Illinois : July 15, 1813–1817, volume A. [Vienna, Illinois]: Johnson County Genealogical and Historical Society (Illinois), c1992. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3996 P2g
  • 1814–1817 Sistler, Ruth Ann and Jack Kent Sistler; and Johnson County Genealogical and Historical Society. Court records, Johnson County, Illinois October 15, 1814–1817. [Vienna, Illinois]: Johnson County Genealogical and Historical Society (Illinois), c1992. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3996 P2s
  • 1818–1828 Sistler, Jack Kent, Ruth A. Sistler, Richard D. Sullins, and SandS Genealogists. Johnson County comissioner's records, book B, 16 March 1818–2 June 1828. [Vienna, Illinois] : SandS Genealogists, [1995?]. FHL book 977.3996 P2ga
  • 1822–1841 Sullins, Richard D., Ruth A. Sistler, Jack Kent Sistler, and SandS Genealogists. Johnson County probate records, November, 1822-March, 1841 (Including one page from October, 1843.).[Vienna, Ill. (P.O. Box 1323 62995)] : SandS Genealogists, 1997.Other libraries (WorldCat)
  • 1829–1836 Sullins, Richard D., Ruth A. Sistler, Jack Kent Sistler, and SandS Genealogists. Johnson County Circuit Court records, 1829–1836 [i.e. 1835]. [Vienna, Illinois]: SandS Genealogists, c1997. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3996 P2sr
  • 1829–1836 Sullins, Richard D., Ruth A. Sistler, Jack Kent Sistler, and SandS Genealogists. Johnson County Circuit Court records, 1829–1836. [Vienna, Ill. (P.O. Box 1323 62995)] : SandS Genealogists, 1997. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Copies of original records

DNA

The Johnson County, Illinois Project at FamilyTreeDNA is collecting DNA samples from descendants of historic residents of the county.

Ethnic Research

African American

The following have information concerning African American research.

Genealogy

History

Local Histories

The online Shawnee Community College Local History Project includes personal interviews and newspaper clippings that give you a taste of historic Johnson County. Was your relative one of the interviewed individuals?

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 the Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Johnson County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

General

  • Family Maps of Johnson County, Illinois (2007) plats the land of many nineteenth-century Johnson County residents. The publisher's bookstore includes a free online surname index. FHL Book 977.3996 E7b
  • 1978 Rockford Map Publishers.Johnson County, Illinois, land atlas & plat book : 1978. Rockford, Ill.: Rockford Map Publishers [Vienna, Ill.]: Distributed by Johnson County Board of Commissioners, 1978. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3996 E7j

Abstracts

Copies of original records

Online Resources

Maps

Williamson CountySaline CountyPope CountyMassac CountyPulaski CountyUnion CountyKentuckyIL JOHNSON.PNG
About this image
Click a neighboring county
for more resources


Military

Civil War

Civil War service men from Johnson 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 Johnson County.

- 6th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company B.
- 9th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
- 14th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies E, G, and K.
- 31st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies D and F.
- 60th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies H and K.
- 109th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
- 120th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, C, G, I, and K.
- 145th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.

Naturalization

Newspapers and Obituaries

Periodicals

Probate Records

Online Probate Records


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 Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Johnson County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

Online Resources

  • 1859–1937 Probate records and journals, will records, and indexes for Johnson County probate records are also available in Illinois, Probate Records, 1819-1970. Click on the browse through images link, select Johnson County, and select the record type you are interested in.

Abstracts

Copies of original records

Repositories

County Courthouse

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

Family History Center

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. See family history center for more information. Search the online FHC directory for a nearby family history center. There are many Family History Centers in or near Johnson County, please check the listing here for one close to you.

Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)

IRAD is a system of Illinois Regional Archives Depositories managed by the Illinois State Archives, housing the archival records of local Illinois counties, townships, municipalities and school districts. The seven Regional Depositories are housed on state university campuses scattered throughout Illinois. Southern Illinois University houses the records for Johnson County.

Public Libraries

Vienna Carnegie Public Library
401 Poplar Street
Vienna, IL 62995
618-658-5051

Social Groups Online

Societies

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

Taxation

Vital Records

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 until the year 1916 are kept by the Johnson 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 usually kept by the County Clerk from the establishment of the county to the present. Original divorce records are generally in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk.

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

General

  • 1814–1840 Sistler, Jack K. and Ruth A. Sistler and Richard D. Sullins. 1818-1840 censuses of Johnson County, Illinois: with additional vital records before 1850, marriages, divorces, guardianships, deaths. [Vienna, Illinois]: SandS Genealogists, [200-?]. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3996 X2sj

Births:

Copies of Original Records

Marriages:

Online Resources

Abstracts

  • 1820s-1850s Illinois Miscellaneous Genealogical Records: From Counties, Bond, Boone, Calhoun, Cook, Crawford, Du Page, Johnson, Knox, Lake, Will, Pope: Kentucky county, Mercer: Missouri county, Ralls. Evanston, Ill.: Illinois Society, D.A.R., 1946. Digital version at Ancestry ($). The compiler states that many of the loose marriages records indexed for Johnson County have since disappeared from the courthouse, which means some early Johnson County marriages are only documented in this book.
  • 1834–1857 Bellamy, Mrs. Guy, Cara Slack and Johnson County (Illinois) Courts. Marriages recorded from 1834 to 1857, Johnson County, Illinois courthouse at Vienna. Copied from county clerk's records as originally recorded, not indexed. [Vienna, Ill., Mrs. G. Bellamy] 1969. Other libraries (WorldCat)
  • 1839–1853, 1865- Winget, Judy Walley. Williamson County, Illinois marriages, 1839 to 1853 and 1865; Pope County, Illinois marriages, 1826 to 1845; Johnson County, Illinois marriages, 1857 to 1860. S.P.: Saline County Genealogical Society (Illinois), 1984. Worldcat FHL Book 977.399 V2w
  • 1857–1860 Winget, Judy Walley. Williamson County, Illinois marriages, 1839 to 1853 and 1865; Pope County, Illinois marriages, 1826 to 1845; Johnson County, Illinois marriages, 1857 to 1860. [Harrisburg, Ill]: Saline County Genealogical Society (Illinois), 1984. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.399 V2w
  • 1886–1900 Sistler, Jack K. and Ruth A. Sistler and Richard D. Sullins. Early marriages, Johnson County, Illinois. Evansville, Ind. (221 E. Columbia St., Evansville 47711: Published for the authors by Evansville Bindery, 2004. Other libraries (WorldCat)


Copies of Original Records

Deaths

Online resources

Abstracts

Copies of original records

Places / Localities

To see a list of places in Johnson 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.

Websites

References

  1. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002), 195. (FHL Collection Ref Book 973 D27e 2002). WorldCat entry.
  2. ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Johnson, Illinois Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ill/johnson/ accessed 04/17/2017.
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