Stark County, IllinoisEdit This Page
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United States 
Illinois Stark County
| Stark County, Illinois | |
| Map | |
| |
 Location of Illinois in the U.S. | |
| Facts | |
| Founded: | January 4, 1817 |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Toulon |
| Courthouse | |
 | |
| Address | Stark County Courthouse 130 West Main Street Toulon, Illinois 61483 (309) 286-5911 Stark County Website |
Stark County Organization
| Beginning Dates for Stark County Records | |||||
| Birth | Marriage | Death | Census | Land | Probate |
| 1877 |
1839 |
1877 |
1840 |
1817 |
1839 |
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Stark County are kept, see the Stark County Courthouse page.
Historical Facts
Parent County
Boundary Changes
See an interactive map of Stark County boundary changes.
Neighboring Counties
Records and Resources
Biography
Cemeteries
Illinois cemetery records often identify birth, death, relationship, and military information, as well as religious affiliation.
Published Records
- The Family History Library Catalog lists some records of cemeteries in Stark County. Some of the books or others may be on Google Books or available at public libraries.
Online Gravestone Transcriptions
- Find A Grave.com has burial information for 35 Stark County cemeteries. For a complete list of cemeteries, click Here.
- GenealogyTrails.com. Has a list of Stark County Cemeteries.
- Illinois Ancestors Tombstone Project. Find or submit Stark County tombstone photos.
- Illinois Tombstone Transcription Project. Get accesss to online cemetery transcriptions for Stark County Cemeteries.
- Linkpendium. Has links to several Stark County Cemetery related websites.
Cemetery Gazetters
- Epodunk has a list of Stark County Cemeteries. The website provides name of cemetery, address and telephone number when available, Google Map with cemetery marker, and other helpful Internet links.
- The Illinois State Genealogical Society's "Cemetery Location Project" has identified many Stark County Cemeteries.
Census
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 10,186 | ||
| 1910 | 10,098 | −0.9% | |
| 1920 | 9,693 | −4.0% | |
| 1930 | 9,184 | −5.3% | |
| 1940 | 8,881 | −3.3% | |
| 1950 | 8,721 | −1.8% | |
| 1960 | 8,152 | −6.5% | |
| 1970 | 7,510 | −7.9% | |
| 1980 | 7,389 | −1.6% | |
| 1990 | 6,534 | −11.6% | |
| 2000 | 6,332 | −3.1% | |
| 2010 | 5,994 | −5.3% | |
| IL Counties 1900-1990 | |||
Church Records
Court Records
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 Illinois
Genealogy
History
Local Histories
- Leeson, M. A. Documents and biography pertaining to the settlement and progress of Stark County, Illinois : containing an authentic summary of records, documents, historical works and newspapers relating to Indian history, original settlement, organization and politics, courts and bar, citizen soldiers, military societies, marriages, churches, schools, secret, benevolent and literary societies, etc. : together with biography of representative men of the past and present. Chicago: M.A. Leeson & Co., 1887. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
- Stark County, Illinois and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement. Chicago: Pioneer Pub. Co., 1916. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
- Shallenberger, E. H. Stark County and Its Pioneers. Cambridge, Ill.: B.W. Seaton, Prairie Chief Office, book and job printer, 1989. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
Land and Property
Original land records are held in the office of the County Clerk . See Illinois Land and Property for more information about using land records.
The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through online sources, the Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Stark County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.
- 1817–1851 Fuller book FHL film 1401977
- 1820–1984 Grantor index FHL film 1401977
- 1820–1907 Deed records FHL first film 140197(first of 18 films)
- 1874–1902 Grantee index FHL film 1401977
- 1882–1891 Deed record IRAD–WIU
Additional Resources
Additional resources for Stark County land and property may be found in the FHLC. Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche can be ordered for viewing at Family History Centers. Copies of books found in the FHLC may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the Family History Library Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.
Online Resources
- Beginning 1820 Land Patent Search See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database.
- 1796–1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry.com ($)
- Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
- Stark County Federal Township Plats
Maps
Military Records
Civil War
Civil War service men from Stark 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 Stark County.
- - 7th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
- - 19th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
- - 37th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
- - 65th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (Scotch Regiment), Companies A and I.
- - 112th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, E and F.
- - 139th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company H.
- - 151st Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865), Company I.
Naturalization
Newspapers and Obituaries
Poorhouse
- 1868–1941 Almshouse Registers IRAD–WIU
- Stark County Almshouse Registers Index, 1868-1941, courtesy: Illinois State Archives
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.
- 1840–1911 Probate records (and index) FHL film 1401887 and 1401888 Items 1-3
Additional Resources
Additional resources for Stark County probates may be found in the Illinois, Stark – Probate topic page of the Family History Library catalog (FHLC). Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche can be ordered for viewing at Family History Centers. Copies of books found in the FHLC may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the Family History Library Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.
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 Stark County are kept, see the Stark County Courthouse page.
Family History Center
There are over 4500 Family History Centers in more than 80 countries offering public access to genealogical records from all over the world. Family History Centers provide patrons with access to over a billion online records and approximately 2.5 million circulating microfilms. Centers are staffed by local volunteers who are eager to provide genealogical research assistance. Currently there are no Family History Centers located directly in Stark County. To find the nearest Family History Center, check out the Family Search Centers page on the FamilySearch.org website.
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. Western Illinois University houses the records for Stark County.
Public Libraries
Ira C. Reed Public Library
302 Commercial Street
Lafayette, IL 61449
Tel: 309-995-3042
Emai: irclibrary@winco.net
Facebook
Toulon Public Library District
306 W. Jefferson Street
Toulon, IL 61483
Tel: 309-286-5791
Fax: 309-286-4481
Email: toulon.library@gmail.com
Facebook
Wyoming Public Library District
119 N. Seventh St.
Wyoming, IL 61491
Tel: 309-695-2241
Fax: 309-695-2241
Facebook
Social Groups Online
Societies
Stark County Genealogical Society
207 W. Main Street
Toulon, IL 61483-0083
Email: starkcogene@yahoo.com
Stark County Historical Society
318 W. Jefferson Street
Toulon, IL 61483
Tel: 309-286-7079
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 Stark County Clerk while those recorded after 1916 are kept by theIllinois 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 Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Stark County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.
Births
- 1865–1904 Birth Certificates FHL film 1403415 Item 4 thru 1403417 Items 1-3
- 1877–1904 Birth Certificates IRAD–WIU
Marriages
- 1839–1982 Marriage register index FHL film 1403417 Item 7
- 1839–1931 Marriage register FHL film 1403417 Items 4-6 and 1403418
- 1839–1931 Marriage Record IRAD–WIU
- 1839–1982 Marriage Record Index IRAD–WIU
Online Resources
- 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
- 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry.com ($)
Deaths
- 1877–1901 Death Record IRAD–WIUFHL film 1403415 Item 3
Online Resources
- Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916
- 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950
- 1850–1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 found at Ancestry.com ($)
Additional Resources
Additional resources for Stark births, marriages and deaths may be found in the Illinois, Stark – Vital Records topic page and the Illinois, Stark – Vital Records - Newspapers topic page of the Family History Library catalog (FHLC). Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche can be ordered for viewing at Family History Centers. Copies of books found in the FHLC may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the Family History Library Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.
Web Sites
References
- ↑ John Stark www.wikipedia.org
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
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