Illinois Genealogy Trails presents Hancock County History & Genealogy

Volunteers Dedicated to Free Genealogy

The purpose of this site is to bring you free raw data to aid you in your research. Any and all donations of information you would like to contribute to the site are welcome!

This site is in need of a host.

To join Genealogy Trails as host for this website,
view our Volunteer Information page, and email Kim.

WE REGRET THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO DO PERSONAL RESEARCH FOR YOU. WE DO OUR BEST TO PRESENT FREE MATERIAL THAT WILL HELP YOU RESEARCH YOUR FAMILY IN ILLINOIS AND MANY TIMES, FOREGO OUR OWN PERSONAL RESEARCH TO DO SO. WE HAVE SET UP A RESEARCH HELP PAGE TO ANSWER MOST OF THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT RESEARCH IN ILLINOIS. PLEASE REFER TO THIS PAGE BEFORE CONTACTING US FOR HELP. THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING!  Hancock County Population 2000: 20,121 County seat: Carthage Named for John Hancock Hancock County covers 795 square miles and was organized in 1825 Towns and Cities in Hancock County: Adrian Basco Bentley Bowen Burnside Colmar Colusa Dallas City (part) Elvaston (part) Ferris (part) Hamilton Nauvoo (part) Niota Plymouth (part) Sutter West Point Townships of Hancock County APPANOOSE TOWNSHIP AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP BEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP CARTHAGE TOWNSHIP CHILI TOWNSHIP DALLAS CITY TOWNSHIP DURHAM TOWNSHIP FOUNTAIN GREEN TOWNSHIP HANCOCK TOWNSHIP HARMONY TOWNSHIP LA HARPE TOWNSHIP MONTEBELLO TOWNSHIP NAUVOO TOWNSHIP PILOT GROVE TOWNSHIP PONTOOSUC TOWNSHIP PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP ROCK CREEK TOWNSHIP ROCKY RUN TOWNSHIP ST ALBANS TOWNSHIP ST MARY TOWNSHIP SONORA TOWNSHIP WALKER TOWNSHIP WARSAW TOWNSHIP WILCOX TOWNSHIP WYTHE TOWNSHIP ONLINE DATA Obituaries Cemeteries of Hancock County Biographies 1850 Mortality Schedule 1860 Mortality Schedule Nauvoo and the Mormons Early Landmarks of Hancock County Marriage Notices Newspaper Data (New!) Prairie Pioneers of Hancock County, IL Early Courts Hancock County residents in the Joliet State Prison (link to our database at our main website) Hancock County History HANCOCK COUNTY, on the western border of the State, bounded on the west by the Mississippi River; was organized in 1825 and named for John Hancock; has an area of 769 square miles; population (1900), 32,215. Its early settlers were chiefly from the Middle and Southern States, among them being I. J. Waggen, for nearly sixty years a resident of Montebello Township. Black Hawk, the famous Indian Chief, is reputed to have been born within the limits of Camp Creek Township, in this county. Fort Edwards was erected on the present site of Warsaw, soon after the War of 1812, but was shortly afterwards evacuated. Abraham Lincoln, a cousin of the President of that name, was one of the early settlers. Among the earliest were John Day, Abraham Brewer, Jacob Compton, D. F. Parker, the Dixons, Mendenhalls, Logans, and Luther Whitney. James White, George Y. Cutler and Henry Nichols were the first Commissioners In 1839 the Mormons crossed the Mississippi, after being expelled from Missouri, and founded the city of Nauvoo in this county. (See Mormons, Nauvoo.) Carthage and Appanoose were surveyed and laid out in 1835 and 1836. A ferry across the Mississippi was established at Montebello (near the present site of Hamilton) in 1829, and another, two years later, near the site of old Fort Edwards. The county is crossed by six lines of railway, has a fine public school system, numerous thriving towns, and is among the wealthy counties of the State. "Historical Encylopedia of Illinois, 1901" WARSAW, the largest town in Hancock County, and admirably situated for trade. It stands on a bluff on the Mississippi River, some three miles below Keokuk, and about 40 miles above Quincy. It is the western terminus of the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway, and lies 116 miles west-southwest of Peoria. Old Fort Edwards, established by Gen. Zachary Taylor, during the War of 1812, was located within the limits of the present city of Warsaw, opposite the mouth of the Des Moines River. An iron foundry, a large woolen mill, a plow factory and cooperage works are its principal manufacturing establishments. The channel of the Mississippi admits of the passage of the largest steamers up to this point. Warsaw has eight churches, a system of common schools comprising one high and three grammar schools, a National bank and two weekly newspapers. Population (1880), 3105; (1890), 2,721; (1900), 2,335. "Historical Encylopedia of Illinois, 1901" Hancock County Courthouse 500 Main Street Carthage, IL 62321-0000 Phone: (217) 357-3911 Hancock County Is Bordered By These Neighboring Counties: ADAMS HENDERSON* McDONOUGH SCHUYLER *Available for Adoption Visit the Main Illinois Genealogy Trails Website To see what other counties Illinois Genealogy Trails has online, visit our County Selection Map At the Main Illinois Genealogy Trails Page, you will find much more data, including: Military Data Census Data Illinois State Data Illinois Events Help for your Illinois Research Illinois Genealogy Trails Volunteer Information Join the Illinois Genealogy Trails Mailing List to be notified of updates to this website and our other county websites. ©2002-2008 Genealogy Trails Submitters retain all copyrights!