Fulton County, Illinois Genealogy

United States

Illinois

Fulton County

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

Fulton County, Illinois
Map
Location in the state of Illinois
Location of Illinois in the U.S.
Facts
Founded:	January 28, 1823
County Seat	Lewiston
Courthouse
Photo courtesy Illinois Regional Archives Depository, Illinois State Archives
Address	Fulton County Courthouse 100 N. Main Lewistown, Illinois 61542 (309) 547-3041 Fulton County Website

County Organization

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1878	1824	1878	1824	1823	1827	1810
Statewide registration for births and deaths started 1916. General compliance by 1922.

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

Historical Facts

Fulton County was named for Robert Fulton who is credited for developing the first successful steamboat on American waters.

Description

The county was named for Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steamboat. The county seat is Lewistown and the county was organized on 1823. The County is located in the West-central part of the state.

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.

• 1823--Fulton County was created 28 January 1823 from Pike

Records Loss

The first Court House of Fulton County was built in Lewistown from hewn logs in 1823. The first brick and stone courthouse was later erected in 1838 and served until December of 1894 when it was destroyed by fire. The current Fulton County Courthouse was built in 1897 to replace the earlier Courthouse destroyed by fire. Fulton County Courthouse fire

Records and Resources

Biography

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

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Fulton, Illinois online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Findagrave.com ILGenWeb ILGenWeb Archives Tombstone Project Illinois Gravestones Billion Graves
TombstoneTranscriptions in Print (Often more complete)	Family History Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	Findagrave.com Billion Graves Graveyards of Illinois
See Illinois Cemeteries for more information

• Fulton County Cemeteries. Courtesy of GenealogyTrails, get maps, directions, and burial information.

• Fulton County Illinois Ancestors Tombstone Project.

• Fulton County Cemetery Records Records are available online.

• Linkpendium Fulton County Cemetery.

• Fulton County Cemeteries by Epodunk

• Fulton County Cemeteries

Census

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

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	46,201		—
1910	49,549		7.2%
1920	48,163		−2.8%
1930	43,983		−8.7%
1940	44,627		1.5%
1950	43,716		−2.0%
1960	41,954		−4.0%
1970	41,890		−0.2%
1980	43,687		4.3%
1990	38,080		−12.8%
2000	38,250		0.4%
IL Counties 1900-1990

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, Fulton County on page 186.]

Church Records

Some additional resources for Fulton County, Illinois church records can be found in the WorldCat library which can be ordered through interlibrary loan at your local library. Explore how to search the Worldcat Online Catalog.

• 1876–1877 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints record of members FHL film 1917 Item 1, book 977.348 K2c

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 Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Fulton County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

Copies of original records

• 1824–1923 Chancery Court record (many probate and guardian records) FHL first film 1666580 Items 2-4, (first of 20 films) IRAD–WIU
• 1825–1876 Circuit court case files IRAD–WIU
• 1835–1926 Chancery Court records FHL first film 1672176 Item 4 (first of 11 films)
• 1835–1926 Circuit Court record, Common law IRAD–WIU
• 1849–1857 County Court - Swampland records FHL film 1688526 Item 1
• 1849–1917 County Court Record IRAD–WIU
• 1852–1914 Circuit court index IRAD–WIU
• 1853–1925 Circuit court extra-jurisdictional transcripts IRAD–WIU
• 1858–1961 Justice of the Peace Dockets IRAD–WIU
• 1859–1890 Justice's transcript record IRAD–WIU
• 1859–1925 County Court record FHL films 1672175 Items 2-3, and 1672176 Items 1-3
• 1869–1938 Circuit Court record, criminal IRAD–WIU
• 1871–1924 Circuit court case files, criminal IRAD–WIU
• 1872–1905 County Court Record, Criminal IRAD–WIU
• 1889–1957 Canton: City Court Record, Common Law IRAD–WIU
• 1893–1955 Insanity Dockets IRAD–WIU
• 1893–1923 Canton: City Court Record, Chancery IRAD–WIU
• 1898–1899 Parole Record  IRAD–WIU FHL film 1672119 Item 3
• 1901–1932 County Court Index  IRAD–WIU
• 1917–1934 Dependent and Delinquent Children Record  IRAD–WIU
• 1935–1955 Insanity Record  IRAD–WIU
• 1946–1958 Feeble-Minded Dockets  IRAD–WIU

Circuit Court Case Files Index

• Fulton County Circuit Court Case Files Index, 1825-1876 (Illinois State Archives)

Directories

• Prairie Farmers Reliable Directory. Illinois, USA: Prairie Farmers Publishing Company, 1917. Ancestry ($). Covers Fulton County.

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

History

• The 1879 History of Fulton County, Illinois gives an overview of the history of Fulton County as of that date, and includes biographies and a few photos of prominent citizens. See FamilySearch Digital Library;WorldCat 20920558; book.google.com; or Ancestry ($); or Internet Archive; or Genealogy Trails

• Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County: Together with Portraits and Biographies of All the Presidents of the United States, and Governors of the State. Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1890. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Genealogy Trails; Internet Archive.
• Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County. Chicago: Munsell Pub. Co., 1908, c1905. Digital version at Ancestry ($)

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 Fulton County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

Abstracts

• Boyd, Gregory A. Family maps of Fulton County, Illinois: with homesteads, roads, waterways, towns, cemeteries, railroads, and more. Norman, Oklahoma: Arphax Pub. Co., 2008.Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.348 E7b

Copies of original records

• 1817–1860 Deed Record IRAD–WIU
• 1834–1894 Index to town lots FHL film 1787436 Items 2-9
• 1849–1857 County Court - Swampland records FHL film 1688526 Item 1
• 1851–1875 Chattel mortgage records FHL films 1787437 Items 2-4 thru 1787440 Item 1
• 1851–1910 Chattel Mortgage Record IRAD–WIU
• 1853–1857 Swamp Land Record IRAD–WIU
• 1858–1881 Chattel Mortgage Index IRAD–WIU
• 1873–1881 Index to Chattel mortgage records FHL film 1787437 Items 2-4
• 1917–1936 Chattel Mortgage Dockets IRAD–WIU

Online Resources

• Beginning 1820 Land Patent Search See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database.
• Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
• 1796–1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry.com ($)
• Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)
• Fulton County Federal Township Plats

Additional Resources

Additional resources for Fulton County land and property may be found online in the FamilySearch Catalog. Online microfilm are indicated by the camera icon in the catalog entry. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Maps

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)

Military

General

• 1862–1865 Military Discharge CertificatesIRAD–WIU

Civil War

Civil War service men from Fulton 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 Fulton County.

- 3rd Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company H.

- 7th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company K.

- 11th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies B and G.

- 17th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies C and H.

- 28th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.

- 50th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.

- 55th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A and D.

- 70th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.

- 72nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company I.

- 84th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B and F.

- 85th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, F, G, H and I.

- 97th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.

- 103rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, all Companies.

- 123rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company I.

- 132nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies B, D, and E.

- 148th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.

- 151st Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865), Companies B, D, and K.

- 54th Regiment, Enrolled Missouri Militia (Union), Company K

- 54th Regiment, Enrolled Missouri Militia (Union), Company B

Naturalization

Original naturalization records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See Illinois Naturalization Records for more information about using naturalization records.

The following copies of original records may be accessed through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Fulton County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

• 1839–1952 Naturalization Certificate Card File IRAD–WIU
• 1855–1906 Naturalization Papers IRAD–WIU
• 1859–1892 Naturalization Record, Final IRAD–WIU
• 1859–1892 Naturalization Index Card File IRAD–WIU
• 1859–1954 Naturalization Record Index IRAD–WIU
• 1860–1905 Naturalization Index Card File IRAD–WIU
• 1860–1906 Naturalization Record IRAD–WIU
• 1865–1885 Naturalization Record of Soldiers and Minors IRAD–WIU
• 1892–1906 Canton: Naturalization Record IRAD–WIU
• 1894–1943 Canton: Naturalization Declarations of Intent IRAD–WIU
• 1906–1948 Naturalization Declarations of Intent IRAD–WIU
• 1907–1947 Canton: Naturalization Petition Record IRAD–WIU
• 1907–1954 Naturalization petition record IRAD–WIU
• 1908–1947 Naturalization Certificate Stubs IRAD–WIU
• 1910–1947 Naturalization Correspondence Files IRAD–WIU
• 1929–1955 Naturalization Order Books IRAD–WIU
• 1929–1947 Canton: Naturalization Order Books  IRAD–WIU

Online Records

• 1800-1998 - Illinois, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — index and images

Poor House records

• 1877–1908 Almshouse Registers IRAD–WIU
• 1909–1953 Poor Farm Death Record IRAD–WIU
• 1887–1955 Poor Farm Inmate RegistersIRAD–WIU
• 1909–1955 Poor Farm Monthly ReportsIRAD–WIU

Probate Records

Online Probate Records

• 1772 - 1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
• 1819 - 1988 Illinois Probate Records 1819-1988 at FamilySearch.org — images

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 Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Fulton County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

Abstracts

• 1821–1963 Fulton County Historical and Genealogical Society. Index to the wills of Fulton County, Illinois, 1821–1963. [Canton, Illinois]: Fulton County Historical and Genealogical Society (Illinois), 1993. Other libraries (WorldCat) FHL book 977.348 P22i

Copies of original records

• 1824–1923 Chancery Court record (many probate and guardian records) FHL first film 1666580 Items 2-4, (first of 20 films)
• 1827–1933 Probate Record IRAD–WIU
• 1827–1922 Probate Case Files IRAD–WIU
• 1827–1963 Probate Case Files Index IRAD–WIU
• 1827–1933 Probate, will, guardian, and conservator records FHL first film 1651444 (first of 41 films
• 1828–1924 Probate Will Record IRAD–WIU
• 1830–1922 Estate packets index FHL book 977.348 P22i and films 1672117 Items 1-2 and FHL US/CAN Film 1672186 Item 3
• 1830–1922 Estate packets FHL book 977.348 P22i and first film 1672187 (first of 212 films)
• 1837–1922 Probate Case Files, Guardians IRAD–WIU
• 1837–1991 Probate Guardian's and Conservator's Case Files Index IRAD–WIU
• 1843–1923 Probate Inventory Record IRAD–WIU
• 1844–1923 Guardian and conservator index and packets {FHL|452479|item|disp=FHL first film 1769382 Item 2(first of 60 films)}}
• 1855–1922 Probate Conservator's Case Files IRAD–WIU
• 1859–1923 Probate Executor's Record IRAD–WIU
• 1859–1926 Probate Guardian's Record IRAD–WIU
• 1859–1924 Probate Administrator's Record IRAD–WIU
• 1870–1934 Insanity and Conservator's Record IRAD–WIU
• 1872–1923 Probate Guardian's Report Record IRAD–WIU
• 1894–1934 Probate Widow's Relinquishment and Selection Record IRAD–WIU
• 1902–1904 Probate Minutes IRAD–WIU

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 Fulton County are kept, see the Fulton 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.

• For current information about a center near you, go to the Family History Center Map

There are over 4500 Introduction to 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 Fulton County. To find the nearest Family History Center, check out the Introduction to Family History Centers

Family Search Centers page on the FamilySearch.org website.

Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD-WIU)

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 Fulton County.

Public Libraries

Astoria Public Library District
220 West Broadway
Astoria, IL 61501
Telephone: 309-329-2423
Fax: 309-329-2842
Email: astorlib@atorial.net

Farmington Area Public Library District
266 E. Fort Street
Farmington, IL 61531
Telephone: 309-245-2175
Fax: 309-245-2294

Lewistown Carnegie Public Library District
321 W. Lincoln Avenue
Lewistown, IL 61542
Telephone: 309-547-2860

Parlin Ingersoll Library
205 W. Chestnut Street
Canton, IL 61520
Telephone: 309-647-0328
Fax: 309-647-8117
Email: parlin@parliningersoll.org

Spoon River Public Library District
201 South Third Street
Cuba, IL 61427
Telephone: 309-785-5496

Vermont Public Library
East 4th & Main Streets
Vermont, IL 61484
Telephone: 309-784-6291

Village of Avon Public Library
105 S. Main
Avon, IL 61415
Telephone: 309-465-3933

Viola Public Library District
1705 14th St.
Viola, IL 61486
Telephone: 309-596-2620
Fax: 309-596-2822
Facebook

School records

• 1914–1928 School teacher's daily registers IRAD–WIU

Societies

Fulton County Historical and Genealogical Society
205 West Chestnut Street
Canton, IL 61520-583
Facebook

The Fulton County Historical and Genealogical Society collection is housed at the Parlin-Ingersoll Library.

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

Births

• 1902–1906 Birth and Death Reporting Accounts IRAD–WIU

Marriages

Online Resources

• 1587-1959 - Illinois, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
• 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
• 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry.com ($)
• 1805-1985 Illinois, Church Marriages, 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — index
• 1810–1934 Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1934 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1833-1889 Illinois, Civil Marriages, 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index

Abstracts of Marriage Records

• 1824–1961 Johnson, Marion C., Geraldine Mayhugh, Virginia O. (Whitmore) Johnson, and Linda L. (Johnson) Pollard. Marriages, Fulton County, Illinois. [Canton, Illinois]: Fulton County Historical and Genealogical Society (Illinois), 1989-2000, 2003-2004. FHL first book 977.348 V2j 1824–1861 (first of 8 books)

• 1829–1911 Foster, Virgil R. and Bob Harding. Fulton County, Illinois marriages, ca. 1829-1911. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1992. FHL film 1697600 Item 4

Deaths

Online Resources

• 1850-1880 Illinois Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950
• Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916
• 1850–1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 found at Ancestry.com (free). Also transcribed and available at genealogytrails.com.

Abstracts of Death Records

• 1832–1976 Foster, Virgil, R. Fulton County, Illinois (with emphasis on Vermont, Illinois) funeral notices, ca. 1832-1976. Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1991. FHL film 1597902 Item 6

Copies of original Death Records

• 1885–1980 Coroner's Inquest Record  IRAD–WIU
• 1902–1906 Birth and Death Reporting Accounts IRAD–WIU
• 1909–1953 Poor Farm Death Record IRAD–WIU
• 1960–1970 Coroner's Inquest Files  IRAD–WIU

Additional Resources

Additional resources for Fulton births, marriages and deaths may be found in the Illinois, Fulton – Vital Records topic page of the FamilySearch Catalog . Online microfilm are indicated by the camera icon in the catalog entry. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Websites

• Fulton County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
• Illinois Genealogy Network Community on Google+
• Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
• USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
• Fulton Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
• Illinois Ancestors Presents Fulton County

To access available information, first log into FamilySearch.

Family History Library