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United States Illinois Coles County

Coordinates: 39.51°0′N 88.22°0′W / 39.51°N 88.22°W / 39.51; -88.22

Coles County, Illinois
Map
Location in the state of Illinois
Location of Illinois in the U.S.
Facts
Founded:	December 25, 1830
County Seat	Charleston
Courthouse
Photo courtesy Illinois Regional Archives Depository, Illinois State Archives
Address	Coles County Courthouse 651 Jackson Avenue Charleston, Illinois 61920 (217) 348-0501 Coles County Website

Contents 1 Coles County Organization 1.1 Historical Facts 1.2 Boundary Changes 1.3 Record Loss 2 Records and Resources 2.1 Biography 2.2 Cemeteries 2.3 Census 2.3.1 Federal 2.3.2 1840 2.3.2.1 1840 Pensioners 2.3.3 1850 2.3.4 1860 2.3.5 1870 2.3.6 State 2.4 Church History and Records 2.5 Court Records 2.6 Directories 2.7 Ethnic Research 2.7.1 African American 2.8 Funeral Homes 2.9 Genealogy 2.9.1 Mailing Lists 2.9.2 Message Boards 2.9.3 Periodicals 2.10 History 2.11 Land and Property 2.12 Maps 2.13 Military History and Records 2.13.1 Civil War 2.14 Naturalization and Citizenship 2.15 Newspapers and Obituaries 2.16 Probate Records 2.17 Repositories 2.17.1 County Courthouse 2.17.2 Family History Centers 2.17.3 Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) 2.17.4 Public Libraries 2.18 Social Groups Online 2.19 Societies 2.20 Taxation 2.21 Vital Records 2.21.1 Births 2.21.2 Marriages 2.21.3 Deaths 3 Websites 4 References

Coles County Organization

Coles County's civil records start the following years:

Beginning Dates for Coles County Records
Birth	Marriage	Death	Census	Land	Probate
1878	1831	1877	1840	1830	1830

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

Historical Facts

Coles County is named for Edward Coles who was the second Governor of the State of Illinois.

Boundary Changes

• 25 December 1830: - Coles County was created from Clark and Edgar ^[1]

• Interactive map of Coles County boundary changes.
• Towns, Townships and their dates of creation. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Record Loss

Records and Resources

Biography

• The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Coles County edition.  This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Coles County residents.  See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.  Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Coles County, 1897 FHL film 825561, no circulation to Family History Centers
• The history of Coles County, Illinois, 1879 FHL Book 977.372 H2c, 2 filmings, FamilySearch Books Online
• An index to the biographical sketches, 1963 FHL Book 977.372 H2c index, film 873858 Item 2
• History of Coles County, Illinois, 1879 FHL CD CD-ROM no. 3743. Available online at Family History Library only.
• Portrait and biographical album of Coles County, Ill., 1887 FHL Film 825562, no circulation to Family History Centers.

Cemeteries

Illinois Cemeteries for more information.

Cemetery records often identify birth, death, relationship, and military information, as well as religious affiliation. The Illinois Cemeteries page provides general explanations of the following online Coles County resources:

Published Records	Online Gravestone Transcriptions	Cemetery Gazetteers
FHLC	Find-a-Grave	ePodunk
WorldCat	US Genweb Coles County Cemeteries Index
Google Books	Genealogy Trails	USGenWeb Cemeteries by Township
	Coles County Gen. Soc. Cemetery Index	Coles County Gen. Soc. Cemetery List

Census

Federal

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	34,146		—
1910	34,517		1.1%
1920	35,108		1.7%
1930	37,315		6.3%
1940	38,470		3.1%
1950	40,328		4.8%
1960	42,860		6.3%
1970	47,815		11.6%
1980	52,260		9.3%
1990	51,644		−1.2%
2000	53,196		3.0%
IL Counties 1900-1990

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

1840

• 1840 Federal census, Coles County, Illinois FHL Book 977.372 X2c 1840
• Transcribed 1840 Federal census presented by Genealogy Trails

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, Coles County on page 186.]

1850

• U. S. federal census 1850, Coles County, Illinois FHL Book 977.372 X2c 1850
• U.S. federal census, 1850, Coles County, Illinois FHL Book 977.372 X2g 1850
• Transcribed U.S. federal census, Coles County - presented by Genealogy Trails

1860

• U. S. 1860 census, Coles County, Illinois FHL Book 77.372 X2p 1860

1870

United States federal census, 1870, Coles County, Illinois FHL Book 977.372 X2u 1870 (2 vols)

State

Church History and 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.

• The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Coles County edition. Internet Archive Free Digital Copy Local church history is found in individual township histories, beginning on page 685. For addtional available copies, see the wiki article Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois.

Baptist

Whetstone Creek, Coles County, Illinois, records of Freewill Baptist Church, 1844-1905. Manuscript on film. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1949. FHL Film 444 Item 3

Church of Christ

History of the Wiley Brick Church. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Presbyterian

Hebron Presbyterian Church (Brooks family extracts) Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Loxa Presbyterian Church. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Union Cumberland Presbyterian, 1904–1971. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Court Records

Court records may give a person’s age, residence, occupation, and family relationships. Friends and neighbors may have given depositions as witnesses. See Court Records for more information about court records. Original court records are housed at the Coles Circuit Court Clerks office as well as the IRAD depository at Eastern Illinois University.  See IRAD–EIU for more information about using this depository. Original records at EIU are as following:

1832–1935 Circuit Clerk's Miscellaneous Files. IRAD–EIU Search for Coles County records.
1832–1890 Circuit Court Case Files. IRAD–EIU
1835–1910 Circuit Court Record, Chancery Circuit Court IRAD–EIU
1835 County Clerk's Miscellaneous Files IRAD–EIU
1869–1873 Court of Common Pleas Case Files (Mattoon) IRAD–EIU

1869–1873 Court of Common Pleas Case Files (Mattoon) IRAD Online Index Copies of these case files can be orders from IRAD-EIU.

Directories

• The Farmer's review, farm directory of Coles and Douglas counties, Illinois, 1918 (reprint 198?) FHL 977.3 E4fr
• Mattoon (Illinois) city directories, 1902, 1904-1905, 1910 and 1911, 1927 FHL Film 2310426 (4 items)
• Polk's Charleston (Coles Co., Ill.) city directory, 1972- FHL Book 977.372 E4p
• Polk's Mattoon (Coles Co., Ill.) city directory, 1973- FHL Book 977.372/M1 E4p
• Transcription of 1918 Farmer's Directory - presented by Genealogy Trails

Ethnic Research

African American

The following have information concerning African American research.

• African American Research (US) has more information about the kinds of records
• Photographic Images and the History of African Americans in Coles County Illinois (Eastern Illinois University)

• 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 Illinois

Funeral Homes

• Business records, 1912-1929, Newman & Harper Mortuary FHL film 1301528

Genealogy

Mailing Lists

Message Boards

Periodicals

History

• Every Name Index to History of Coles County, Illinois.  Every Name Index compiled by Cathy L. O'Connor, 2012, original text by William Le Baron, Jr., 1879.  EveryNameIndex.com

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

• History of Coles County (1905).  Courtesy of Illinois Trails

Land and Property

Illinois Land and Property for more information.

1830-present The original land and property records for Coles County are held by the County Clerk. See the info box above for contact information. The following copies are available:

• 1830–1886 Deed Records Index. FHL Film 1306164 first of 6 films
• 1831–1919 Deed Records. FHL Film 1306164 first of 51 films
• [No land and property record holdings noted in IRAD-EIU Coles County Listing.] Search for Coles County records. Information about how to use IRAD

Online Resources

• Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)
  
• 1800s – Present - Use the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land Patent Index to obtain original federal land transfer records, including homestead, military warrants, and cash entry patents. These records help a researcher establish location and lead to National Archives’ records which may include genealogical information. Earlier land transfer records are at the National Archives.
• Abstracts of Coles County Land Patents found in the BLM Land Patent Index. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Maps

• Coles County Federal Township Plats
• Ogle, Geo. A. Standard Atlas of Coles County, Illinois. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1987. Other Libraries (WorldCat) FHL Film 1321461 Item 4
• U.S., Indexed Early Land Ownership and Township Plats, 1785–1898.  Database online. Ancestry ($).

Military History and Records

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

Civil War

Civil War service men from Coles 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 Coles County.

- 1st Regiment, Illinois Cavalry. Company C.

- 5th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies B and E.

- 7th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.

- 8th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861), Company C.

- 8th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.

- 10th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies H and M.

- 21st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.

- 25th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.

- 38th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.

- 41st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.

- 54th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, C, G, I and K.

- 55th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.

- 59th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.

- 62nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies C, E, and K.

- 63rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.

- 68th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.

- 97th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.

- 109th Regiment, Indiana Infantry

- 123rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry Companies A, C, D, H, I and K.

- 130th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.

- 135th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company K.

- 143rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies A and K.

• Genealogy Trails - Coles County Civil War Soldiers (accessed 20 September 2011) Lists Civil War soldiers from Coles County along with their regiments and residences.

• Eastern Illinois University Bulletin. Coles County in the Civil War 1861-1865. (accessed 31 May 2011)

Naturalization and Citizenship

Coles County has naturalization records in county circuit and Mattoon city court records.  Naturalization records may reveal immigration and family information.  See Illinois Naturalization for more infomation about this record group. Copies of Coles county naturalization records held at the IRAD depository at Eastern Illinois University are as follows. See IRAD–EIU for more information about this depository.

• 1910–1927 Naturalization Certificate Stubs, City Court (Mattoon)IRAD–EIU Search for Coles County records.
• 1894–1946 Naturalization Declarations fo Intent, Circuit Court.IRAD–EIU
• 1911–1930 Naturalization Petition Record, Circuit Court.IRAD–EIU
• 1908–1927 Naturalization Petition Records, City Court (Mattoon).IRAD–EIU
• 1872–1888 Naturalization Record, Circuit Court.IRAD–EIU  Record Collection 9274489  Online images
• 1894–1906 Naturalization Record, County Court.IRAD–EIU   Record Collection 9274489  Online images

Newspapers and Obituaries

Obituary index courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Probate Records

Illinois Probate Records for more information.

Original Coles County probate records are available at the Coles County Courthouse. See Illinois Probate Records wiki page for more information about using probate records. The following copies of probate records are available:

• 1866–1886 –Wills v. A 1866-1886 Online Images FHL Film 1306157 Browse the images.
• 1846–1862 –Wills v. B 1846-1862 Online Images FHL Film 1306157 Browse the images.
• 1998-1909 –Wills v. C 1898–1909 Online Images FHL Film 1306157–1306158 Browse the images.
• 1923-1925 –Wills v. E 1823–1925 Online Images FHL Film 1306158–1306159 Item 1 Browse the images.
• 1900–1909 –Probate Records v.C 1900-1909 Online Images. Browse.
• 1903–1918 –Probate Records v. D 1903-1918 Online Images. Browse.
• 1918–1923 –Probate Records v. E 1918-1923 Online Images. Browse.

Deed records can often include family relationship information.

• 1830–1886 Deed Records Index. FHL Film 1306164 first of 6 films
• 1831–1919 Deed Records. FHL Film 1306164 first of 51 filmsNo probate records for Coles County are listed at IRAD. The following probate abstracts are available:

• Sargent, Samuel S. Genealogies of Families of Coles County, Illinois, and Miscellaneous Cemetery, Marriage, and Probate Records. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1948. FHL Film 7699 Microproduction of typescript.

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

Family History Centers

There are over 4500 Family History Centers worldwide which serve as branch facilities of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Volunteers provide research assistance to help patrons identify their ancestors.  Microfilm and microfiche may be ordered from the FHL collection at a nominal cost.  Locate your nearest Family History Center at the FamilySearch website.  Call ahead to verify operating hours.  All are welcome.

The following centers are accessible to residents of Coles County, Illinois:

Champaign Illinois Family History Center
604 W Windsor Rd
Champaign, Champaign, Illinois
Phone: 217-352-8063
Hours: Thur-Sat 9:30-12:30pm; Thur 7pm-9pm; or by appt]]

Danville Illinois Family History Center
1941 N Bowman Ave
Danville, Vermilion, Illinois
Phone: 217-446-5887
Hours: Sat 9:30am-2pm

Linton Indiana Family History Center
1000 W Lone Tree Rd
Linton, Greene, Indiana
Phone: 812-847-9044
Hours: Wed. 6 - 9 pm, Sat 9 - 2

Terre Haute Indiana Family History Center
1845 N 6 1/2 St
Terre Haute, Vigo, Indiana
Phone: 812-234-0269
Hours: Tue 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Closed: Mondays after 6:00 p.m., all major holidays, inclement weather, whenever Vigo school are on delays or early dismissals.
Attention: The Center is also available by appointment.

Please note: Addresses posted are not mailing addresses. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries

Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)

The Illinois State Archives administers a system of Illinois Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD) to manage the archival records of local governments.  Local governments which have transferred records to the regional depositories include counties, townships, municipalities, and school districts.  The records of Clark County come under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) regional depository.

Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)
Booth Library
Eastern Illinois University (EIU)
600 Lincoln Avenue
Charleston, IL 61920
Telephone: (217) 581-6093

Hours: Monday – Friday, except state holidays
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Note: The depository is staffed by graduate student interns. Because of class scheduling conflicts, hours may vary somewhat from the published schedule. Researchers are urged to call before planning a visit.

Public Libraries

Charleston Public Library
712 Sixth Street
Charleston, IL 61920–2147
Phone: 217–345–4913

Houses the Coles County Illinois Genelogical Society collection of books and materials.  Explore the society's online list of materials.

Mattoon Public Library
1600 Charleston Avenue
Mattoon, IL 61938
Phone:1– 217–234–2621

Social Groups Online

Societies

Coles County Illinois Genealogical Society.  Explore online databases provided by the Coles County Illinois Genealogical Society.

Taxation

Vital Records

Illinois Vital Records for more information.

The website of the Coles County Clerk & Recorder includes information and order forms for ordering birth, marriage, and death records.

Births

1878–present  The original Coles County birth records 1878- present are housed in the office of the County Clerk. The following copies are available:

• 1860-1915 Birth Certificates, Delayed - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records. How to use IRAD
• 1878-1915 Birth Record Index – IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records.

The following abstract are available: Birth abstracts Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Marriages

1831–present  The original Coles County marriage records 1831-present are housed in the office of the County Clerk. The following copies are available:

• 1831–1929 Marriage Record - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records. How to use IRAD

The following marraige indexes are available:

• Coles county Genealogical Society. Marriages, Coles County, Illinois. Charleston, Illinois: Coles County, Illinois Genealogical Society, 1978-1987. 3 vols. Other Libraries (WorldCat) FHL Film 1036791 Item 6 FHL Book 977.372 V22m
• 1831–1846 Courtesy of Illinois Genealogy Express
• 1851–1870 Courtesy of Illinois Genealogy Express
• 1878-1929 Marriage Record Index - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records.

The following abstracts are available:

• 1831–1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 (1831-1900 for Coles County)
• 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry.com ($) Coles County covers 1831–1900. Incomplete.
• Marriages Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Deaths

1878–present  The original Coles County death records 1878-present are housed in the office of the County Clerk. The following copies are available:

• 1878–1918 Death Record - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records. How to use IRAD
• 1878–1913 Death Record Index - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records.
• 1910-1917 Death Record, Coroner - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records.
• 1887-1909 Death Record, Stillbirths - IRAD-EIU Search for Coles County records.

The following abstracts are available:

• Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 (No data for Coles County as of Nov 2012. Check back again as records are being added.)
• 1916–1950 Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916-1950 (1916-1950 for Coles County)
• 1916–1950 Index to Deaths Courtsey of Illinois Trails.
• Mattoon death certificate abstracts. Courtesy of Illinois Trails.

Websites

Databases pertinent to Coles County

• Local Governmental Records Database IRAD
• Name Index to Illinois Local Governments IRAD
• USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
• Coles County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
• Coles County Illinois Genealogy Trails - no links, just free transcribed data
• EveryNameIndex.com   Free online genealogy indexes for those big old county histories.

References

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Coles County, Illinois County seat: Charleston Cities Charleston · Mattoon · Oakland Townships Ashmore · Charleston · East Oakland · Humboldt · Hutton · Lafayette · Mattoon · Morgan · North Okaw · Paradise · Pleasant Grove · Seven Hickory Villages Ashmore · Humboldt · Lerna Communities Bushton · Campbell · Coles · Cooks Mills · Diona · Dorans · Embarrass · Etna · Fairgrange · Fuller · Hutton · Janesville · Jones · Kings · Lipsey · Loxa · Magnet · Newby · Paradise · Rardin · Trilla · Wabash Point Neighboring Counties Clark · Cumberland · Douglas · Edgar · Moultrie · Shelby

v • d • e Links to Illinois-related articles Topics Search Strategies · Record Selection Table · African Americans · American Indians · Archives and Libraries · Bible Records · Biography · Cemeteries · Census · Church Records · Court Records · Directories · Emigration and Immigration · Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups · Funeral Homes · Gazetteers · Genealogy · History · Land and Property · Maps · Military Records · Naturalization and Citizenship · Newspapers · Obituaries · Occupations · Online Records · Periodicals · Probate Records · Public Records · Societies · Taxation · Vital Records · Voting Registers · Other Records · For Further Reading Counties Adams · Alexander · Bond · Boone · Brown · Bureau · Calhoun · Carroll · Cass · Champaign · Christian · Clark · Clay · Clinton · Coles · Cook · Crawford · Cumberland · DeKalb · DeWitt · Douglas · DuPage · Edgar · Edwards · Effingham · Fayette · Ford · Franklin · Fulton · Gallatin · Greene · Grundy · Hamilton · Hancock · Hardin · Henderson · Henry · Iroquois · Jackson · Jasper · Jefferson · Jersey · Jo Daviess · Johnson · Kane · Kankakee · Kendall · Knox · Lake · LaSalle · Lawrence · Lee · Livingston · Logan · Macon · Macoupin · Madison · Marion · Marshall · Mason · Massac · McDonough · McHenry · McLean · Menard · Mercer · Monroe · Montgomery · Morgan · Moultrie · Ogle · Peoria · Perry · Piatt · Pike · Pope · Pulaski · Putnam · Randolph · Richland · Rock Island · Saline · Sangamon · Schuyler · Scott · Shelby · St. Clair · Stark · Stephenson · Tazewell · Union · Vermilion · Wabash · Warren · Washington · Wayne · White · Whiteside · Will · Williamson · Winnebago · Woodford Extinct Co. Dane • Illinois Country • Knox (1790-1809) Major Repositories Newberry Library · Illinois State Archives · Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) · Illinois State Library · Illinois State Historical Library (ISHL) · National Archives Great Lakes Region (Chicago) · Allen County Public Library Migration Routes Illinois River · Mississippi River · Ohio River · Wabash River · Lake Michigan · Buffalo Trace · Chicago-Dubuque Highway · Chicago-Kaskaskia Road · Detroit-Chicago Road · Kellog Trail · Mihoaukee Trail · Mormon Trail · Nashville-Saline River Trail · National Road (or Cumberland Road) · Old Chicago Road · Pecatonica Trail · Russellville-Shawneetown Trail · Illinois and Michigan Canal · Santa Fe Railway · Great Northern Railway (U.S.) · Illinois Central Railroad