Massac County, Illinois Genealogy

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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.

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Massac County, Illinois
Map
Map of Illinois highlighting Massac County
Location in the state of Illinois
Map of the U.S. highlighting Illinois
Location of Illinois in the U.S.
Facts
Founded: 1843
County Seat Metropolis
Courthouse
IL-massac-courthouse.jpg
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 Illinois.jpg
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.[1]

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. [2]

Records Loss

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

Records and Resources

Biography

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Massac, 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

ePodunk had list of cemeteries in and around Massac County.

Census

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
190013,110
—
191014,2008.3%
192013,559−4.5%
193014,0813.8%
194014,9376.1%
195013,594−9.0%
196014,3415.5%
197013,889−3.2%
198014,9907.9%
199014,752−1.6%
200015,1612.8%
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

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:

Christian

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

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.

Ethnic Research

African American

The following have information concerning African American research.

Genealogy

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?


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

  • 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

Online Resources

Maps

Ilmassac.jpg

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.

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

Copies of original records

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.

Public Libraries

Social Groups Online

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.

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 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.

Births

Copies of Original Birth Records

Marriages

Abstracts of Marriage Records
Copies of original Marriage Records
Online Resources

Deaths

Abstracts of Death Records
Copies of original Death Records
Online Resources

Voter Registration

Websites

References

  1. ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Massac County, Illinois Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ill/massac/ accessed 04/18/2017.
  2. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002), 196. (FHL Collection Ref Book 973 D27e 2002). WorldCat entry.
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