Illinois Genealogy

Illinois Genealogy is being developed as a genealogical and historical resource for your personal use. It contains information and records for Illinois ancestry, family history, and genealogy. Specifically, it provides sources for birth records, death records, marriage records, census records, tax records, court records, and military records. It also provides some historical details about different times and people in Illinois history.

Featured Illinois Genealogy

Families of Cherry Valley, Illinois
These new articles provide historical and genealogical sketches of many early families of Cherry Valley, Winnebago County, Illinois.

Illinois Obituaries
Obituaries provided from our readers

Biographies of Champaign County, Illinois
The 475 biographies from this section were extracted from the Standard History of Champaign County, Illinois written by J. R. Stewart. They are a cross reference of the residents of Champaign County, and most were alive during 1918.

Histories of Illinois Civil War Regiments and Units
The following histories of Illinois Civil War regiments and units originate from the first eight volumes of the nine volume publication, Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois (1900-1902). The histories, some written shortly after the war’s end, are the work of numerous authors throughout the intervening years. The 1886 version of the Adjutant General’s Report included regimental histories compiled by that office which had not previously been published. The final 1900-1902 republication of the report incorporated revisions and corrections to the histories.

Portrait and biographical record of Lee County, Illinois
The “Portrait and Biographical Album of Lee County, Illinois,” created in the late 19th century, stands as a remarkable compendium of personal histories, reflecting the lives and legacies of individuals who contributed to the development of Lee County. This volume, meticulously compiled by the Biographical Publishing Company, offers a unique lens through which genealogists and historians can explore the intricate fabric of the past. As you delve into this collection, it’s essential to approach the information with both appreciation and a critical eye, recognizing its dual role as a primary and secondary source.

Morgan County Illinois Biographical Sketches

Neighboring States

The following states neighbor Illinois and are not listed in the Great Lakes Genealogy list below.

Great Lakes Genealogy

The Aten Family In Cherry Valley

The Aten family of Cherry Valley, Illinois, has a rich history detailed by Raymond Aten. Albert S. Aten (1859-1925), originally from Tecumseh, Michigan, married Alice G. Meeker (1865-1933) in 1888. They settled on a farm near Cherry Valley before moving to town in 1906. Albert, a rural mail carrier, served the community for 23 years, while Alice was active in local church affairs. They had four children: Lulu, Walter, Ralph, and Raymond. The family contributed significantly to the local community through various roles and activities, including military service and civic engagement.

Biography of William W. Heckman

William W. Heckman, born on July 28, 1854, in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, was a progressive farmer who managed 160 acres of well-cultivated land across South Dixon and Nelson Townships, Illinois. He moved to Illinois in 1865 with his uncle and established his homestead in 1877. Heckman married Hannah Missman of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and they had three children: Grace A., C. Eugene, and Walter I. The couple, active members of the Evangelical Church, supported the Prohibition party and advocated for temperance. Their well-improved farm included advanced irrigation facilities, reflecting Heckman’s dedication to modern farming practices.

Biography of Joshua E. Lahman

Joshua E. Lahman, born June 16, 1839, in Washington County, Maryland, was a distinguished Civil War veteran and successful farmer in Franklin Grove, Illinois. His parents, Christian and Elizabeth Lahman, were early pioneers in Illinois. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Lahman enlisted in September 1861 with Company C, Thirty-fourth Illinois Infantry, and rose to the rank of Sergeant. He was severely wounded at the Battle of Murfreesboro and also fought at Shiloh. Post-war, Lahman learned harness-making and operated a business in Iowa before returning to farming in Illinois. Married to Hannah M. Batschlett in 1867, they had five…

Biography of Samuel Mong

Samuel Mong, born on July 26, 1829, in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, was a prominent farmer in Bradford Township, Lee County, Illinois. He was the son of Henry and Sarah (Hurket) Mong, natives of Maryland and Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. Mong spent his early years in Clarion County, gaining practical agricultural knowledge from his father. At sixteen, he learned the tanning trade, which he practiced for seven years. In 1855, he moved to Lee County, Illinois, and married Margaret K. Kelley in 1857. They had five children: John, Lucy (wife of Haber Schmucker), Hattie (wife of William Schrenner), George, and Peter. Mong’s…

Biography of Hon. Sherwood Dixon

Hon. Sherwood Dixon, born November 15, 1847, in Dixon, Illinois, was a prominent lawyer and legislator representing the Nineteenth District. He was the son of James P. Dixon, an early pioneer and son of John Dixon, the city’s founder. Educated locally, Dixon studied law under William Barge and was admitted to the bar in 1869. He practiced law in partnerships, notably with the firm of Dixon & Bethea. In 1868, he married Melissa G. Mead. Dixon was active in politics as a Democrat, serving as a state representative and chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He was also committed to education,…

Biography of Andrew Reinhart

Andrew Reinhart, born on August 28, 1813, in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, was a prominent farmer and stock-raiser in China Township, Lee County, Illinois. His parents, Christian and Anna C. Reinhart, emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1846, settling in Lee Centre before moving to China Township. Andrew, who grew up on the family farm, transformed it into a prosperous estate of 366 acres, expanding his holdings to 620 acres in China Township, 160 acres in Lee Centre Township, and 440 acres in Iowa. Married to Catherine Hafenrichter on June 1, 1868, they had six surviving children. Reinhart was known…

Biography of Rev. James Treacy

Rev. James Treacy, born in County Cork, Ireland, was a prominent Catholic pastor in Illinois. Son of John and Bridget Treacy, he pursued early education in Cork and later theological studies in the United States, at St. Michael’s Seminary, Pittsburgh, and St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore. Ordained by Archbishop Kendrick, he served in Pittsburgh, championing education and religious inclusion for African Americans. In 1878, due to health issues, he moved to Illinois, eventually leading St. Patrick’s Church in Dixon. His tenure saw the rebuilding of the church and extensive community engagement, serving 300 families and various missions.

Biography of Henry Bly

Henry Bly, born July 9, 1827, in Chenango County, New York, serves as Superintendent of the County Hospital and Poor Farm in South Dixon Township, Illinois. Of English descent, he is the son of Thomas R. Bly and Nancy Tanner. In 1845, Henry moved to Ogle County, Illinois, and later ventured to California during the Gold Rush, returning in 1851. A prominent public figure and Republican, he settled in Ashton, Illinois, in 1865, managing a grocery and meat market, and served on the Lee County Board of Supervisors for 21 years. In 1887, Henry became Superintendent of the County Hospital…

Biography of Thomas P. McCune

Thomas P. McCune, born in Canal Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania, in 1832, is a dedicated farmer in Dixon Township, Illinois. Descended from Scotch-Irish roots, his grandfather, William McCune, and father, also named William, were farmers in Venango County. Thomas married Lydia J. Williams in 1858, and they settled in Dixon Township, Illinois, on land initially purchased by Lydia’s father. They had six children, with four surviving to adulthood. A respected community member, Thomas’s 183-acre farm was well-maintained, featuring diverse agricultural activities, including a successful apiary. He was a Democrat, focused on his business rather than political affairs. Thomas P. McCune,…

Biography of Richard Phillips

Richard Phillips, a distinguished citizen of Lee County, Illinois, was born in County Cavan, Ireland. He emigrated to the United States, landing in New York in July 1851, before moving to Illinois. In 1857, he purchased and developed an 80-acre farm in Viola Township, which he expanded to 160 acres. Phillips married Amelia E. Davenport in 1859, with whom he had two children. After her death, he married Mary E. Harris in 1886. An abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor, Phillips was a committed Republican, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln.
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