Sangamon County, Illinois Genealogy

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United States
Illinois
Sangamon County

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

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Sangamon County, Illinois
Map
Map of Illinois highlighting Sangamon County
Location in the state of Illinois
Map of the U.S. highlighting Illinois
Location of Illinois in the U.S.
Facts
Founded: January 30, 1821
County Seat Springfield
Courthouse
Sangamon County Courthouse.gif
Photo courtesy Illinois Regional Archives Depository, Illinois State Archives
Address Sangamon County Courthouse
200 South 9th Street
Springfield, Illinois 62701-1629
(217) 753-6700
Sangamon County Website


Sangamon County Organization

Sangamon County's civil records start the following years:

                                     Beginning Dates for Sangamon County Records
Birth Marriage Death Census Land Probate
1877
 1821
 1877
 1830
 1822
 1821

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

Historical Facts

Sangamon River.jpg
Sangamon County is named after the Sangamon River, which derived its name from the Pottawatomie Indian word Sain-guee-mon or Sangamon (pronounced sang gä mun), meaning literally "where there is plenty to eat" or what we would call the "land of milk and honey."[1]

Parent County

  • 1821--Sangamon County was created 30 January 1821 from the Northwest Territory.  County seat:  Springfield [2]

Description

The county was named for the Sangamon River, which runs through it. The county seat is Springfield and the county was organized on 1821. The County is located in the Southeastern area of the state.[3]

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.

Record Loss

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

Places / Localities

Populated Places

Auburn (township & city)
Ball (township)
Berlin (village)
Buffalo (village)
Buffalo Hart (township)
Cantrall (village)
Capital (township)
Cartwright (township)
Chatham (township & village)
Clear Lake (township & village) 
Cooper (township)
Cotton Hill (township)
Curran (township)
Dawson (village)
Divernon (township & village)
Fancy Creek (township)
Gardner (township)
Grandview (village)
Illiopolis (township & village)
Island Grove (township)
Jerome (village)
Lanesville (township)
Leland Grove (city)
Loami (township & village)
Maxwell (township)
Mechanicsburg (township & village)
New Berlin (township & village))
Pawnee (township & village)
Pleasant Plains (village)
Riverton (village)
Rochester (township & village)
Sherman (village)
Southern View (village)
Spaulding (village)
Springfield (city)
Springfield (township)
Talkington (township)
Thayer (village)
Williams (township)
Williamsville (village)
Woodside (township)


Neighboring Counties

Records and Resources

Biography

  • The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Sangamon County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Sangamon County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Sangamon, 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


The following web sites have additional information on Sangamon county cemeteries.

  • Springfield's Oak Ridge Cemetery, famous for being the resting place of Abraham Lincoln, has excellent burial records. The Oak Ridge Cemetery Interment collection includes six volumes, covering the years 1858 - 1940.  The ledger books include name, age, cause of death, place of birth, and location of burial plot.  Additional comments sometimes include the name of a parent or exact place of death.

Census

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
190071,593
—
191091,02427.1%
1920100,26210.1%
1930111,73311.4%
1940117,9125.5%
1950131,48411.5%
1960146,53911.5%
1970161,33510.1%
1980176,0899.1%
1990178,3861.3%
2000188,9515.9%
2010197,4654.5%
IL Counties 1900-1990
  For more information see: State wiki page Census

Illinois State 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, Sangamon County on page 188.]
    • [1850–1880] U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules Ancestry ($) Only includes those persons who died within the year previous to the census enumeration.

Church Records

Church records can give birth, death and marriage information as well as indictate family relationships. See Illinois state wiki article Church Records for more ideas about how to use church records in your research. Books about church histories and church records can be found online county histories, through WorldCat at many libraries and through a subject search of the FamilySearch Catalog.

The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Sangamon County edition. This includes a chapter in Vol 2 part 1 about the local churches beginning on page 856. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.


Baptist


Disciples of Christ


Methodist


Lutheran
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
220 S. Second St.
Springfield, IL 62701
(217) 522-8151


Presbyterian

Court Records

Original court records are held by the Judicial Circuit Court and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) at the University of Illinois, Springfield. At IRAD–UIS, a large number of records are available listed both as circuit court records and county court records. IRADcase files (1821–1909) and dockets (1836–1917) can be orderd from IRAD.  An index (1836–1890) is available as well as other circuit court documents. Most of these records are original and not on film.  Later original records are held by the  clerk of the circuit court.

IRAD records also include court case files (1870–1950), court dockets (1874–1895), a judegement index (1916–1926) among other court records. As with the circuit court records, these are original records and are not on microfilm.

Copies of court records are available as follows:

This is a searchable database of all of Lincoln's papers related to his law practice. It includes papers concerning his cases, billings, etc. These records are primarily related to Cases in Sangamon County, but he also had cases elsewhere. The papers includes names of private citizens involved in the cases as well as businesses he represented. The names include witnesses, parties, attorneys, and others.


Ethnic Research

African American

Database of Servitude and Emancipation Records (1722–1863) This database includes approximately 3,400 names found in governmental records involving the servitude and emancipation of Africans and, occasionally, Indians in the French and English eras of colonial Illinois (1722–1790) and African-Americans in the American period of Illinois (1790–1863). The Illinois State Archives extracted the names of servants, slaves, or free persons and masters, witnesses, or related parties from selected governmental records to produce this database. Courtesy of the Illinois State Archives.


The following have information concerning African American research.

Genealogy

History

A History of the early settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois "Centennial Record"(1876) by John and Sarah Power is available free on Google Books. This book provides small biographies of the residents of 1800's Sangamon County.

Land and Property

Original deeds are held by the Sangamon County Recorder and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS).

Available indexes to land records:

  • [1822–1832] Sangamon County Genealogical Society. Sangamon County, Illinois Deed & Misc. Record Index, 1822-1832. Springfield, Ill.: Sangamon County Genealogical Society, 1995. Other libraries (WorldCatFHL Book 977.356 R2s
  • [1822–1902] Deed Index IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD
  • [1825–1876] Sangamon County Town Lots Record (IRAD–UIS #4/275/02) Courtesy of USGenWeb.
  • [1822–1844] Deed Index FHL film 1311592 Items 1-2 This index is from Menard County.
  • [1824–1902] Deed Index FHL Film 1310356
  • Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Each purchase entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, numeric code indicating the county in which the land is located, legal description (township, section, range), volume and page numbers of original entry, and variously, the sale type, and the purchaser's sex and residence. Courtesy of the Illinois State Archives.
  • Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This database indexes the same record group as the IRAD Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales.  However, this version includes the volume and page number of the record. Ancestry ($)
    IRAD holds the following original deed records, which are also on microfilm:
  • [1823–1910] Deed Record IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD
  • [1833–1867] Town Lot Entry Books IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD

The following copies of deed records are available:


The following deed abstracts are available:

Maps

Cass CountyMenard CountyLogan CountyMacon CountyChristian CountyMontgomery CountyMacoupin CountyMorgan CountyIL SANGAMON.PNG
About this image
Click a neighboring county
for more resources


Military

Veterans Databases Courtesy of the Illinois State Archives. Includes War of 1812, Indian Wars, Mexican War and various other databases.

Civil War

Civil War service men from Sangamon 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 Sangamon County.

- 1st Regiment, Illinois Light Artillery, Battery F.
- 2nd Regiment, Illinois Light Artillery, Batteries B, G, H, I, and K.
- 3rd Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company A.
- 7th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861), Companies B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and K.
- 7th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies G and I.
- 9th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861), Company F.
- 10th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861), Companies H and I.
- 10th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies A, B, G, H, and L.
- 12th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861), Company K.
- 14th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
- 16th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies D and M.
- 19th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.
- 26th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
- 29th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies D and I.
- 30th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
- 33rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
- 38th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.
- 64th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (Yates’ Sharpshooters), Company C.
- 70th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, E and F.
- 73rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, G and I.
- 101st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
- 106th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.
- 114th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B and F.
- 115th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
- 124th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies C and K.
- 130th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B and I.
- 133rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies A, E, and I.
- 149th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865), Company A.
- 152nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865), Company B.
- 11th Regiment, Missouri Infantry (Union), Comany C
:- 11th Regiment, Missouri Infantry (Union), Company B

Naturalization

Online Records

Newspapers and Obituaries

Sangamon County Obituary Index Courtesy of Rootsweb

Obituaries of Sangamon County Courtesy of Illinois Trails

Sangamon County Obituaries Courtesy of US GenWeb

Probate Records

Online Probate Records


Many of the early Sangamon County pre-1946 original probate records are held at IRAD. (How to search IRAD.) These records include dockets, case files, guardianship files, inventories and administrator and executor records.  Additionally, probate bonds for the sale of real estate are included in this record group.  See IRAD for a complete list of these holdings. (Search for Sangamon County) The Sagamon County Circuit Clerk holds more recent probate records. 

The following indexes are available:

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 Sangamon County are kept, see the Sangamon County Courthouse page.

Family History Centers

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.

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.

The FHC center in Sangamon County is located in Springfield. Be sure to call and visit the wiki page for hours of service and other information.

Springfield Illinois Family History Center
3601 Buckeye Drive
Springfield, Illinois 62712
Phone: 217-529-7930

You may search your address for a center near you on the FamilySearch site, if you live outside the area.

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.

The University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) houses the records for Sangamon County. The link will help you find and use the records. There address is:

Archives, Special Collections & Illinois Regional Archives Depository
BROOKENS LIBRARY: Room 144
University of Illinois at Springfield
One University Plaza, MS BRK 140
Springfield, Illinois 62703-5407
217-206-6520

Public Libraries

See the Illinois state wiki page Archives and Libraries for more information about state libraries in the Springfield area.

Auburn Public Library
338 W. Jefferson
Auburn, IL 62615
Phone: 1–217-438-6211

Chatham Area Public Library District
600 E. Spruce
Chatham, IL 62629
Phone: 1–217-483-2713.
Genealogy reseach assistance is available at the library. Please call the library staff for more information.

Divernon Twp. Library
221 South Second
Divernon, IL 62530
Phone: 1–217–628-3813 ‎

Illinois State Archives
Margret Cross Norton Building
Springfield, IL 62756
Telephone: 217-782-4682
Fax: 217-524-3930

Illinois State Historical Society
Old State Capitol
Springfield, IL 62701
Telephone: 217-525-2781


Illinois State Library
Gwendolyn Brooks Building
300 South 2nd Street
Springfield, IL 62701-1796
Phone: 1–217– 785-5600

The Illinois State Library has well over 500 different Illinois county histories and over 300 historical county atlases, with an additional 800 plat books representative of the 102 counties.


Illiopolis/Niantic Public Library
6th And Mary Streets
Illiopolis, IL 62539 Phone: 1–217-486-5561


Lincoln Presidential Library
112 N. Sixth Street, Springfield, IL 62701
Public and Research Hours
Monday -- Friday -- 9:00 AM -- 5:00 PM
Saturday, Sunday – Closed
Appointments are necessary for research in the Manuscripts, Audiovisual, and Lincoln collections. Please make arrangements by telephone or mail.

Manuscripts: (217) 558-8855
Audiovisual: (217) 785-7955
Lincoln: (217) 785-7954
A significant feature of the collection is the large number of Illinois newspapers available on microfilm.Explore a searchable list of their Illinois newspapers.


Sangamon Valley Collection
Lincoln Library
326 South Seventh Street
Springfield, IL
217-753-4900
The Sangamon Valley Collection closes at 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Regular library hours are observed all other days.
The Sangamon Valley Collection (SVC) provides in-depth resources for the study of Springfield, Illinois, Sangamon County and the eleven adjacent counties.  A significant genealogical resource of this colelction is a card index of obituaries published in the Springfield IL newspapers from the mid-1800's to the present.  The index contains basic information and references the newspaper in which the obituary was published.  Microfilm copies of those papers are available on the same floor of the library.


Pawnee Public Library
704 Seventh St.
Pawnee, IL 62558
Phone: 1–271–625–7716

The Pawnee Public Library holds microfilm copies of local newspapers and cemetery records.

Riverton Village Library
1200 E. Riverton Rd.
Riverton, IL 62561
Phone: 1–217–629-6353

Rochester Public Library District
#1 Community Drive
Rochester, IL 62563 Phone: 1–217–498–8454

Sherman Public Library District
2100 E. Andrew Road
Sherman, IL 62684 Phone: 1–217-496-2496

West Sangamon Public Library District
103 East Illinois
New Berlin, IL 62670
Phone:1–217–488–7733

Williamsville Public Library
102 South Elm Street
Williamsville, Illinois 62693
Phone: 1–217–566-3520

Social Groups Online

Societies

Sangamon County Genealogical Society
PO Box 1829
Springfield 62705

Sangamon County Historical Society
308 East Adams Street
Springfield, IL 62701
E-mail:schspres@gmail.com
Website

Sangamon County Historical Society
PO Box 9744
1760 Wabash Ave
Springfield, Illinois 62791-9744
Telephone Number: 217-525-1961
E-mail:schsoffice@gmail.com
Website

Taxation

Vital Records

See also How to order Illinois Vital Records or order electronically online.

Births

The original Sangamon County birth records are held by the Sangamon County Clerk and the Illinois Department of Public Health . In addtion there are some Springfield City birth records.

Indexes to births

Copies of birth records for Sangamon County are available through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) at Northern Illinois University and the Family History Library as follows:

  • [1860-1917]–Birth Certificates IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD
  • [1912-1917]–Birth Record (Springfield) IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD
  • [1923–1929]–Birth Certificates, Delayed (Springfield) IRAD–UIS. Search for Sangamon records. How to use IRAD .  Delayed birth records include submissions by individuals who were born before the state officially collected birth records, but who are in need of a birth record for identification.These may include affidavits by family members or Bible records.

The following are abstracts of birth records:

Marriages

The original Sangamon County birth records are held by the Sangamon County Clerk. After 1962, copies are also held by the Illinois Department of Public Health .

Indexes

The following copies are available:

The following abstracts are available:

Deaths

Death records prior to 1916 are incomplete. The original Sangamon County death records are held by the Sangamon County Clerk and the Illinois Department of Public Health . Use the index to discover the death date and death certificate number for an ancestor, then contact the Sangamon County Clerk to order the corresponding death certificate. In addition, some Springfield City burial and death records are available.

Indexes

  • 1868-1888 Sangamon County, Illinois death certificate card index. Manuscript on film. FHL Film 2208240 Item 2 Few records prior to 1886.
  • 1850-1880 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules Ancestry ($) Only includes those persons who died within the year previous to the census enumeration.

Copies of death records for Sangamon County are available through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) at Northern Illinois University and the Family History Library as follows:

The following abstracts are available:

  • 1878-1890 - Sangamon County Genealogical Society. Sangamon County, Illinois Physician's Certificate of Death, 1878–1890.Springfield, Illinois: Sangamon County Genealogical Society, 1997. Other Libraries(WorldCat) FHL Book 977.356 V2p

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

  1. WWII U.S. Army Deaths
  2. Sangamon County Patient Deaths at the Illinois State Hospital (1910s-1930s)
  3. Portuguese Deaths 1886-1888 and 1916-1918
  4. Pritchett Funeral Home (Illiopolis) Book I (Feb 1921 - Oct 1939) and Book II (Oct 1939 - Mar 1962)

Websites

References

  1. ↑ Illinois Courts - Seventh Judicial District http://www.state.il.us/court/CircuitCourt/CircuitMap/7th.asp#Sangamon
  2. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
  3. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Sangamon County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangamon_County,_Illinois 04/19/2017.
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