Hardin County, IllinoisEdit This Page
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United States 
Illinois Hardin County
| Hardin County, Illinois | |
| Map | |
| |
 Location of Illinois in the U.S. | |
| Facts | |
| Founded: | March 2, 1839 |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Elizabethtown |
| Courthouse | |
 | |
| Address | P.O. Box 187 Elizabethtown, Illinois 62931 618-287-2251 |
Hardin County Organization
Hardin County's civil records start the following years:
| Beginning Dates for Hardin County Records | |||||
| Birth | Marriage | Death | Census | Land | Probate |
| 1844 |
1884 |
1884 |
1840 |
1814 |
1884 |
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Hardin County are kept, see the Hardin County Courthouse page.
Historical Facts
Large numbers of Kentuckians settled in frontier Hardin County, Illinois. Names of the county (Hardin) and the county seat (Elizabethtown) are reminiscent of Hardin County, Kentucky - the previous residence of many pioneer settlers.[1]
Parent County
Boundary Changes
See an interactive map of Hardin County boundary changes.
Record Loss
May 19, 1884 -- Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.
For further information on researching in burned counties, see the following:
Records and Resources
Biography
Cemeteries
The Illinois Cemeteries page provides general explanations of the following online Hardin County resources:
| Bibliography | Online Gravestone Transcriptions | Cemetery Gazetteers |
| FHLC | Find A Grave | national search | county list | ePodunk |
| WorldCat | USGenWeb Tombstone Transcription Project | Illinois Cemetery Location Project |
| Illinois Cemeteries | ||
| ILGenWeb | ||
| Interment.net | ||
| Illinois Ancestors Tombstone Project | ||
| Cemeteries of Hardin County | ||
| Confederate Soldiers buried in Hardin County |
Local Cemeteries
- Adams Cemetery, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Angleton Cemetery, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Baugher Cemetery, Rock Creek Precinct, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Brown Cemetery, Battery Rock Precinct, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Coghill Cemetery, Rock Creek Precinct, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Dixon-Volkert Cemetery, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Hall Cemetery #2, Rock Creek Precinct, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Jackson #1 Cemetery, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Lacy Hollow or Vinyard #2 Cemetery, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Lavendar #1 Cemetery, Monroe Precinct, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Matthews #1 Cemetery, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Mount Zion Cemetery, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Parrott Cemetery, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Pell Cemetery, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Reiner/Osman Cemetery, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Rose Hill Cemetery, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Stone Church Cemetery, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Tinsley Cemetery, located in Rock Creek Precinct, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Vineyard Cemetery, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Wall Cemetery, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Watters Cemetery, Karbers Ridge, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
- Whiteside Cemetery, Monroe Precinct, Courtesy USGenWeb Illinois Archives
Census
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 7,448 | ||
| 1910 | 7,015 | −5.8% | |
| 1920 | 7,533 | 7.4% | |
| 1930 | 6,955 | −7.7% | |
| 1940 | 7,759 | 11.6% | |
| 1950 | 7,530 | −3.0% | |
| 1960 | 5,879 | −21.9% | |
| 1970 | 4,914 | −16.4% | |
| 1980 | 5,383 | 9.5% | |
| 1990 | 5,189 | −3.6% | |
| 2000 | 4,800 | −7.5% | |
| IL Counties 1900-1990 | |||
Church Records
- 1884–1919 Reynolds, Marion Lavender. Hardin County, Illinois deaths, 1884-1919, and notes from the Pleasant Hill church register. Harrisburg, Illinois : M.L. Reynolds, 1995. At other Libraries(WorldCat) FHL book 977.398 V2r
Catholic
FamilySearch has made parish records from a Belleville Diocese Catholic church in Hardin County available online. The records include first communions, confirmations, marriages, and deaths:
- Church Records of St. Joseph Parish, Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Illinois 1923-1956, browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
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 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 Hardin County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.
- 1821-1839 Circuit Court record, Volumes A-B FHL film 988235
- 1892-1955 Police Magistrate Dockets IRAD (SIU) IRAD - Southern Illinois University
- 1915-1963 Justice of the Peace Dockets IRAD (SIU)IRAD - Southern Illinois University
Ethic 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.
Genealogy
History
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 or 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 Hardin County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.
- 1814-1879 Land book FHL film 965703
- 1814-1885 Entry Books IRAD (SIU)
- 1863-1904 Deed Index IRAD (SIU)
- 1863-1942 Deed Record IRAD (SIU)
- 1865–1885 Entry book FHL film 965703
- 1878–1942 Deeds, 1878-1942; index 1880-1904 FHL film 965698
- 1878, 1890 Collector's book - lists of taxable real estate and town lots. FHL film 965707
- 1987 Pope-Hardin County (Illinois), land atlas and plat book, 1987 Other Libraries (WorldCat); FHL book 977.39 R2p
Online Resources
- Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)
- Hardin County Federal Township Plats
- Beginning 1820 Land Patent Search
- 1796–1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry.com ($)
Maps
Military Records
- Civil War
Civil War service men from Hardin 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 Hardin County.
- - 29th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A and Company B.
- - 131st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, D, and F.
Naturalization
Original naturalization records are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Court Records for more information about using court records.
The following copies of original records may be accessed through the Family History Library
- 1824-1883 Naturalization records, intentions and final papers FHL film 988236 items 1–2 and 1426471 item 4
- 1880-1900 Naturalization record, Volume A FHL film 988236 item 3
Newspapers and Obituaries
Periodicals
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 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 Hardin County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.
- 1884–1888; 1888–1926 Probate court records and minutes; Will records. IRAD (SIU) and FHL film 965769
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 Hardin County are kept, see the Hardin County Courthouse page.
Family History Center
Introduction to LDS Family History Centers
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 Hardin County.
Public Libraries
Rosiclare Memorial Public Library
Main Street
Rosiclare, IL 62982
(618)285-6213
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.
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the Hardin 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 Hardin County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.
General
- 1850s–1930s Reynolds, Marion Lavender. Early newspaper clippings of Hardin County, Illinois from Uncle George Lavender's scrapbook. Harrisburg, Illinois: M.L. Reynolds, 1994, c1994. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.398 V3r
- 1871–1908 Reynolds, Marion Lavender. Hardin County, Illinois newspaper abstracts. Harrisburg, Illinois: M.L. Reynolds, c1992. Other libraries (WorldCat); FHL books 977.398 D2r and 977.398 D2r v. 2
- Ferrell, Ed. Abstracts from Hardin County newspapers: Illinois State Historical Library microfilms. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1988. FHL film 1320702 Item 9
Births
Abstracts of Birth Records
- 1879–1889 Ferrell, Ed. Revised births as recorded in Hardin County newspapers, 1879-1889. FHL fiche 6111072; book 977.3 A1 no. 288
Copies of Birth Records
- 1884-1915 Birth Record Index IRAD (SIU);IRAD - Southern Illinois University
- 1884–1918 Births, register and record IRAD (SIU); FHL film 965705
- 1884–1942 Index of births FHL film 965705
Marriages
Online Resources
- 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
- 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry.com ($)
Abstracts of Marriage Records
- 1873–1914 Ferrell, Ed. Abstracts from Hardin County newspapers, 1873–1914: to reconstruct records lost in fire of 1884: Illinois State Historical Library microfilms. Juneau, AK: E. Ferrell, 1988. WorldCat 27668273; FHL film 1320702 Item 11
- 1884–1891 Lee, Judy Foreman and Carolyn Cromeenes Foss. Hardin County, Illinois marriage register 1 May 1884–December 1891, volume I with annotations plus earlier marriage dates gleaned from other sources. Evansville, Indiana: Evansville Bindery, 1996. WorldCat 35451894FHL book 977.398 V2L
Copies of Marriage Records
- 1884-1920 Marriage Record IRAD (SIU) IRAD - Southern Illinois University
- 1884–1929 Marriage Register FHL film 965704
- 1884-1969 Index of Marriages IRAD (SIU) ; FHL film 965704
Deaths
Online Resources
- 1850–1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885found at Ancestry.com ($)
- Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916
- 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950
Abstracts of Death Records
- 1884–1919 Reynolds, Marion Lavender. Hardin County, Illinois deaths, 1884–1919, and notes from the Pleasant Hill church register. Harrisburg, Illinois: M.L. Reynolds, c1995. WorldCat 34435115 FHL book 977.398 V2r
Copies of Death Records
- 1884-1946 Index of deaths FHL film 965706
- 1884-1946 Death Record Index IRAD (SIU)IRAD - Southern Illinois University
- 1884–1919 Death register and record IRAD (SIU)IRAD - Southern Illinois University; FHL film 965706
Places / Localities
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To see a list of places in Hardin 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.
Web Sites
- USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
- Family History Library Catalog
- Hardin County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
References
- ↑ Hardin County Fact Sheet, Illinois State Archives, accessed May 28, 2011.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002), 194. (FHL Collection Ref Book 973 D27e 2002). WorldCat entry.
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