Massac County, Illinois Genealogy

United States

Illinois

Massac County

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

Massac County, Illinois
Map
Location in the state of Illinois
Location of Illinois in the U.S.
Facts
Founded:	1843
County Seat	Metropolis
Courthouse
Address	Massac County Courthouse P.O. Box 429 Metropolis, Illinois 62960 (618) 664-0449

Massac County Organization

Massac County's civil records start the following years:

Beginning Dates for Massac County Records
Birth	Marriage	Death	Census	Land	Probate
1877	1843	1877	1850	1843	1843

County Courthouse

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

Historical Facts

Massac County was named for

Fort Massac, built in 1757. The fort was named in honor of the Marquis de Massiac, the French Naval Minister.

Description

The county was named for Fort Massac. The county seat is Metropolis and the county was organized on February 8, 1843. The County is located in the Southern tip of the state.

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.

• 1843--Massac County was created 8 February 1843 from Pope and Johnson Counties.

Records Loss

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

Records and Resources

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Massac, Illinois online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Findagrave.com ILGenWeb ILGenWeb Archives Tombstone Project Billion Graves
TombstoneTranscriptions in Print (Often more complete)	Family History Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	Findagrave.com Billion Graves Graveyards of Illinois
See Illinois Cemeteries for more information

ePodunk had list of cemeteries in and around Massac County.

Census

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	13,110		—
1910	14,200		8.3%
1920	13,559		−4.5%
1930	14,081		3.8%
1940	14,937		6.1%
1950	13,594		−9.0%
1960	14,341		5.5%
1970	13,889		−3.2%
1980	14,990		7.9%
1990	14,752		−1.6%
2000	15,161		2.8%
IL Counties 1900-1990

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

Church Records

A chapter on Massac County, Illinois religious history appears in a local history (1900), available online, beginning on page 100.

Baptist

• First Baptist Church (Metropolis, Ill.). Church History, 1841-1939. MSS. Copy: FHL Film 960427 Item 13.
  
• Macadonia Baptist Church. Church Minutes, 1851-1868. MSS. Copy: FHL Film 960427 Item 1.
  
• New Hope Baptist Church (New Columbia, Ill.). Church Roll (Alphabetical). MSS. Copy: FHL Film 960427 Item 4.
  

Catholic

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

• Church Records of St. Rose Parish, Metropolis, Massac County, Illinois 1893-1956, browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
• Church Records of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Metropolis, Massac County, Illinois 1911-1955, browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.

Christian

• First Christian Church (Metropolis, Ill.). Church History, 1912-1968. Copy: FHL Film 960427 Item 18.
  
• McMahan, Abbie Deegan. The Early Years of the Christian Church of Brookport, Illinois. 1957. FHL Film 960428 Item 1.
  

Lutheran (Evangelical)

• Foss, Carolyn Cromeenes et al. Massac County, Illinois Zion's Evangelical Church Records 1854-1927 and Cemetery. Newburgh, Ind.: J.F. Lee, 1993. FHL Book 977.3997 V3f.
  
• Foss, Carolyn Cromeenes et al. Massac County, Illinois, St. John's Lutheran Church Records, 1860-1889 and Cemetery. 1991. FHL Book 977.3997 K2f.
  
• Foss, Carolyn Cromeenes et al. Massac County, Illinois, St. Stephen's Evangelical Lutheran Church Records, 1865-1925, and Cemetery. 1992. FHL Book 977.3997/M1 K2c.
  
• St. John Lutheran Church: Route 4, Metropolis, Illinois: 125th Anniversary. Metropolis, Ill.: The Church, 1986. WorldCat (Other Libraries)

Methodist

• First Methodist Church (Metropolis, Ill.). Church Records, 1839-1884. MSS. Copy: FHL Film 960427 Items 10-12.
  
• 100th Anniversary, Powers United Methodist Church, June 23, 1974. FHL Film 960428 Item 2. WorldCat (Other Libraries)
  
• Powers United Methodist Church: Historical Perspective, 1874-1992. WorldCat (Other Libraries)

Reorganized LDS

• Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Joppa Branch. Church Records, 1909-1919. MSS., RLDS Library Archives, Independence, Mo. Copy: FHL Film 1955525 Item 20.
  

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 Massac County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

• 1843–1849 Order book, A FHL film 960431

• 1843–1849 Circuit court record IRAD (SIU)

Ethnic Research

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 IllinoisCemeteries

History

The online Shawnee Community College Local History Project includes dozens of personal interviews and even a "Letter From the Birdman of Alcatraz," that give you a taste of historic Massac County. Was your relative one of the interviewed individuals?

• Page, Oliver J. History of Massac County, Illinois: With Life Sketches and Portraits. Metropolis, Ill.: O.J. Page, 1900. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Internet Archive. FHL Film 599147 Item 1

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

Abstracts

• 1816–1878 Massac County Genealogical Society. Massac County, Il. land entries and swamp land sales, 1816-1878. Metropolis, Illinois : Massac County Genealogical Society (Illinois), 1998.Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3997 R2mc

• Boyd, Gregory A. Family maps of Massac County, Illinois: with homesteads, roads, waterways, towns, cemeteries, railroads and more. Norman, Oklahoma : Arphax Pub. Co., c2008.Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3997 E7b The publisher's bookstore includes a free online surname index.

Copies of original records

• 1843–1900 Grantee index FHL film 961384–7
• 1842–1900 Grantor index FHL film 961388–91
• 1843–1896 Deeds FHL first film 961392(first of 18 films )
• 1843–1900 Deed index IRAD (SIU)
• 1843–1911 Deed record IRAD (SIU)
• 1984 Rockford Map Publishers. Massac County (Illinois), land atlas and plat book, 1984. Rockford, Ill. : Rockford Map Publishers, [©1984]. 12052115 Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3997 R2m
• Plat of Macadonia Cemetery south side FHL film 960427 Item 2
• St. John Lutheran church, old cemetery plat FHL film 960427 Item 14
• Plat of L.W. Smith & Salem Trustees addition of Salem Cemetery FHL film 960427 Item 16

Online Resources

• Beginning 1820 Land Patent Search See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database.
• Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
• 1796–1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry.com ($)
• Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)
• Massac County Federal Township Plats

Maps

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)

Military Records

Civil War

Civil War service men from Massac 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 Massac County.

- 6th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company A.

- 15th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company B (Carmichael's Cavalry Company).

- 29th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies H and K.

- 56th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A and D.

- 131st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, C, D, and H.

- 136th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company I.

Probate Records

Online Probate Records

• 1772 - 1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
• 1819 - 1988 Illinois Probate Records 1819-1988 at FamilySearch.org — images

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 Massac County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

Copies of original records

• 1846–1894 Probate index FHL film 960430
• 1860–1894 Will and index FHL film 960436; IRAD (SIU)
• 1866–1885 Probate journals FHL film 960432–5IRAD (SIU)
• 1846–1964 Probate case files index IRAD (SIU)

Online Resources

• 1871–1883 Massac County Probate books 2-5 (1871-1883) are available digitally at Illinois, Probate Records, 1819-1970. Click on "browse through images" link, select Massac County, and select the record type you are interested in.

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 Massac County are kept, see the Massac 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.

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 Massac County.

Societies

Massac County Historical Society
405 Market Street
IL 62960
23 Chick Street
Metropolis, IL 62960
Telephone Number: 618-524-7203
(Society President, no phone at museum)
E-mail:thecrow@midwest.net
Website

Massac County Genealogical Society
PO Box 1043
Metropolis, IL 62960-1043
Website

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

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 Massac 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 Massac County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.

• 1849–1869 Fellows, Paul E. Massac County memories. Metropolis, Illinois: Massac Print., 1992. libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3997 H2f v. 1-2

Births

Copies of Original Birth Records

• 1864–1941 Births FHL film 961835
• 1878–1916 Birth record IRAD (SIU)
• 1878–1941 Birth record index IRAD (SIU)
• 1864–1877 Birth record delayed IRAD (SIU)

Marriages

Abstracts of Marriage Records

• 1843–1900 Foss, Carolyn Cromeenes and Judy Foreman Lee. Massac County, Illinois early marriage records. [Newburgh, IN] (6688 Outer Gray St., Newburgh 47630): J.F. Lee, 1991-<1993>. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL 977.3997 V2f v. 1–4

• 1858–1903 Massac County Genealogical Society. Massac County, Illinois marriages from misc. sources, 1858-1903. Metropolis, Illinois: Massac County Genealogical Society (Illinois), 1998.Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3997 V2mc
• 1816-1865, 1866–1880 Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.396 V2d 1816–1865, 1866–1880

Copies of original Marriage Records

• 1854–1923 Marriage records and index FHL first film 961837 (first of 6 films)
• 1854–1923 Marriage record IRAD (SIU)
• 1854–1901 Marriage record index IRAD (SIU)

Online Resources

• 1587-1959 - Illinois, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
• 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
• 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry.com ($)
• 1805-1985 Illinois, Church Marriages, 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — index
• 1810–1934 Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1934 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1833-1889 Illinois, Civil Marriages, 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index

Deaths

Abstracts of Death Records

• 1906–1908; 1913–1917 Ferrell, Ed. Index to obituaries and death notices which appeared in the Metropolis Herald, Massac County, Illinois, 1906-1908; 1913-1917. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3997 V42f

• 1878–1902 Massac County Genealogical Society. Massac County, Ill. death records. Metropolis, Illinois : Massac County Genealogical Society, 1992. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3997 V2m v. 1–2

• 1896–1914 Coles, James E. and Brenda Jenkins. Massac County, Illinois coroner's reports : volume one (Book A 1869-1914). [Metropolis, Illinois]: Massac County Geneal. Society, 1992. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.3997 V2c

Copies of original Death Records

• 1878–1971 Deaths FHL film 961836
• 1878–1915 Death recordIRAD (SIU)
• 1878–1971 Death record indexIRAD (SIU)

Online Resources

• 1850-1880 Illinois Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images
• Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916
• 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950
• 1850-1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 found at Ancestry.com ($)

Websites

• Massac County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
• Massac County IL Genealogy
• Illinois Genealogy Network Community on Google+
• Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
• FamilySearch Catalog
• Massac County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)