Woodford County, Illinois

Updated April 22, 2008

Search this site powered by FreeFind What's new   Woodford County History History of Woodford County Early Settlers of Woodford County Woodford County Politicians The Tornado of 1858 (Taken from "The Courier" newspaper, Henry, IL  This tornado covered 86 miles in less than an hour destroying everything in its path. Eureka, Secor, Kappa and El Paso were all damaged in some way) A Photo Trip to Historical Metamora Courthouse by Candi Horton(Please be patient.  These photos will take time to load.) Example of Woodford County's Early Marriage Certificate(courtesy Kent Koffenberger) Woodford County County Schools Webster School - Courtesy Pat Myers Online Editions of Local Marshall County Newspapers The Eureka Journal, Thursday, October 10, 1889 Page 1  (advertisements, state news and an article written describing a trip to Europe - includes an interesting section about the deaf-mute schools of America.) Page 2  (National and world news - including the first meeting of the International Congress, Secretary Blaine's speach and the elections in the newly formed states of South and North Dakota and Montana.) Page 4 (Local items, gossip columns, advertisement and church news) Irvin Bauman : Corn Shucker Champ - story submitted by Charles Steck Township History / Township Map Cazenovia Township Oak Grove Church of the Brethren at Bricktown History of Cazenovia Township Patron's Directory for Cazenovia Township, 1873 Woodford County Atlas Clayton Township Township maps - courtesy of Amy Robbins-Tjaden 1873 Township Map 1893 Township Map 1912 Township Map 1920 Township Map Patron's Directory for Clayton Township, 1873 Woodford County Atlas History of Clayton Township Cruger Township Patron's Directory for Cruger Township, 1873 Woodford County Atlas Cruger Township History El Paso Township Patron's Directory for El Paso Township, 1873 Woodford County Atlas Kappa Cemetery History of El Paso Township Greene Township Township maps - courtesy of Amy Robbins-Tjaden 1873 Township Map 1893 Township Map 1912 Township Map 1920 Township Map Patron's Directory for Greene Township, 1873 Woodford County Atlas Kansas Township Patron's Directory for Kansas Township, 1873 Woodford County Atlas Linn Township Early Settlements of Linn Township (Courtesy Barb Darling) 1878 Linn Township Taxpayers  (Courtesy Barb Darling) Hollenback Cemetery  (Courtesy Barb Darling) Patron's Directory for Linn Township - 1873 Woodford County Atlas 1912 Patrons Reference Directory for Linn Township The Davison Cemetery (Formerly Yankeetown Cemetery) (Courtesy Linda Davison.  Includes, Original Article of Agreement, First Meeting and Election and Cemetery Records) Davison Cemetery - surveyed 2006, updated July 2007 Hawk Family Cemetery Township maps - courtesy Barb Darling 1873 Linn Township Map 1893 Linn Township Map 1912 Linn Township Map 1920 Linn Township Map Metamora Township Patron's Directory for Metamora Township, 1873 Woodford County Altas Tax -Payers of Woodford County: Metamora Township (partial listing) - Courtesy Candi Horton Minonk Township Patron's Directory for Minonk Township, 1873 Woodford County Atlas The Attack and Murder of Ella Martin (Henry Republican, October 30, 1879) Montgomery Township Patron's Directory for Montgomery Township, 1873 Woodford County Atlas 1949 Land Owners Olio Township Patron's Directory for Olio Township, 1873 Woodford County Atlas Wonderful maps of Olio Township from 1873, 1893, 1912 and 1920 courtesy of Wayne Busby.  Be patient, they take a while to open. 1873 Olio and Cruger Township Map 1893 Olio Township Map 1912 Olio Township Map 1920 Olio Township Map Palestine Township Patron's Directory for Palestine Township, 1873 Woodford County Atlas Panola Township Patron's Directory for Panola Township, 1873 Woodford County Atlas Partridge Township Patron's Directory for Partridge Township, 1873 Woodford Co. Atlas Roanoke Township Patron's Directory for Roanoke Township, 1873 Woodford Co. Atlas Spring Bay Township Patron's Directory for Spring Bay Township, 1873 Woodford Co. Atlas Worth Township Patron's Directory for Worth Township, 1873 Woodford Co. Atlas Villiages and Settlements Bayview Gardens Benson Benson History 1908 Benson Postcard  (Courtesy Ken Miller, Toluca, IL) Veterans of the Benson Community page one page two BOWLING GREEN (historical) Bricktown (historical) Oak Grove Church History of BRICKTOWN Black Patridge (Also known Later as Lourdes) The History of Black Patridge - courtesy Ken Wiltz, Historian of the WILZ / WILTZ family of Black Partridge, Worth Township, Woodford County, IL. Cazenovia Oak Grove Church of the Brethren at Bricktown History of Cazenovia FARNISVILLE (historical) Congerville 1949 Congerville and Goodfield Businesses 1968 Congerville and Goodfield Businesses Carlock El Paso The Ransom Murder Trial of Woodford County, Illinois (Henry Republican 1882) Kappa Cemetery David A. Strother Obituary The Ransom Murder Trial - The Minonk Journal (lengthly publication about the trial, includes MANY witnesses from El Paso, giving their occupation, marriage, etc. Witnesses Testimony Closing Argument Eureka Pifer Family - contributed by Avis Walker Fatal Accident of James D. Voltz Germantown Hills Goodfield 1949 Congerville and Goodfield Businesses 1968 Congerville and Goodfield Businesses Kappa Lowpoint History of Lowpoint PANTHER GROVE (historical) Metamora (HANOVER) Metamora Photos, Early 1900s (courtesy Barb Darling - there are 2 photos so it may take a while to load) Schools 1894 - 1953 Minonk Minonk Junior Twentieth Century Club 1938-39 Junior 20th Century Club - Misc. articles found in the 1938-39 scrapbook Junior Twentieth Century Club - 1941-42 Junior Twentieth Century Club - 1943-44 Junior Twentieth Century Club - 1958-59 John W. January  (A short article about his capture and cruel treatment at Andersonville during the civil war) Biography of Jackson Parker  (Pioneer settler of Minonk, IL - courtesy Nancy Ohda) Lena Folkerts - one of Minonks oldest female residents; pictures, short bio John C. Ryan - one of Minonks oldest male residents St. Paul's United Church of Christ Confirmation Class 1934 St. Pauls United Church of Christ Confirmation Class 1942 Panola POKETOWN (historical) Spring Bay History of Spring Bay Village Roanoke "Roanoke Centennial History" - index to misc articles taken from this publication Secor SLABTOWN (historical) WALNUT GROVE (Historical) VERSAILLES (historical) Washburn History of Washburn Washburn Churches - past and present The Baptist Cemetery (courtesy Barb Darling) 1917 Prairie Farmer's Directory, Washburn, Woodford County Business Directory The 1922 TRADES, BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MEN OF WASHBURN (Includes Business, Name and date started business)  1941 Roster of Washburn Business Firms  (Includes Business, Name and date started business) Photos Washburn, Early 1900s (courtesy Barb Darling) Washburn, Early 1900s George Butler's Garage Early 1900's (courtesy Barb Darling) Edward Ellsworth and Eva Mina (Emerick) DeBolt - courtesy of Steven DeBolt WHITE OAK GROVE (Historical) Woodford (Historical) - see Newspapers below for local gossip   Burials Woodford County Cemeteries - list of all cemeteries within the county by township. Several cemeteries have been surveyed (some from an outside source/link included) with more to come as time permits.  01-31-08 The Davison Cemetery (Formerly Yankeetown Cemetery) (Courtesy Linda Davison.  Includes, Original Article of Agreement, First Meeting and Election and Cemetery Records) Census Mortality Schedules 1850-1880 Woodford County Deaths 1916 - 1950 A B C D E F G H I J K L M NO PQ R S TU VW XYZ Obituaries  03-08-08 Woodford County Obituary Index Misc. Woodford County Obituaries 100 Years Young -  02-24-08 Woodford County 'young' people that have reached 100 years of age, PLUS This is a work in progress (your help is needed) Misc. Death Listings (courtesy Candi Horton) Military Soldiers of 1812 Civil War Woodford County Civil War Soldiers Civil War Veterans - Livingston Brothers The Civil War Letters of Sylvester Kenyon (Courtesy John Kenyon)(22 Letters from Sylvester Keyon to his sister, Sarah and other family members) 108th Ill. Infantry Regiment - Company E 85th Illinois Infantry Regiment - Company F  History of the 77th Illinois Volunteer Regiment (Courtesy John Kenyon) The 1879 Reunion of the 77th Illinois Infantry Regiment  Taken from the Henry Republican, September 11, 1879 - Included description of the reunion, the roll of veterans present and their 1879 address, and the complete history of the 77th.  World War I Metamora Men in the Military - World War I World War II Woodford County World War II Enlistment Records 1938-1946 Veterans of the Benson Community - page one, page two 1883 Pensioners for Woodford County Newspapers   The Minonk Dispatch - Index to Obit & Death Notice from Jan 4, 1906-December 28, 1911   News From The Past - Miscellaneous News Articles from local newspapers. County Items El Paso Minonk   Metamora Benson Roanoke Washburn Washburn Leader April 1941 Issue Secor Kapa Eureka Woodford East Linn Lowpoint Miscellaneous Woodford County Almshouse Register - register of those living in Woodford County from 1868-1957 Patron's Directory for Woodford County 1873 Altas Unknown Photos - This section is devoted to photos found in old shoes boxes and family albums that may have a Woodford County connection.  If anyone recognizes their family member, please contact the donator of the photo. Photo #1  & #2- Donated by Ryan D. Neaveill Photo #3 & #4 -Donated by Ryan D. Neaveill Photo #5  - Donated by Linda Bridwell Noted Characters - William H. Delph, John Brickler, Louis Guibert, Jacob Banta, John Page, Sr., Thomas Bullock, Counnt Clopiska A Chapter of Tragedies - murders of Hedges, Christian Shertz, and the dissapearance of James Wilkins Physician and Surgeons (prior to 1878) Registered Physicians in Woodford County - 1877 Minonk Local News Story - 'clowning around' Passport Applicants for 1795-1925 - information found on passports application includes: applicants name/birthplace/birthdate/age/occupation, fathers name/birthplace/if naturalized or native of US.  Some applications include photos (known found on the Woodford County, ILL applications).  I have copies of all applications found in this database - if interested - e-mail me. Woodford County Anniversaries Woodford County Queries (old queries) Helpful Links and Information Woodford County Links The Woodford County Historical Society  The Woodford County Historical Society now has a website The El Paso, Illinois Community History Webpage - Sponsored with funding from Heartland Bank & Trust Company - A great site for Woodford County Information.  Includes, El Paso's History, a post card collection, and cemetery listings for Evergreen, St. Joseph's and St. Mary's cemetery.    History  and cemetery listings of Kappa, IL is included. M. E. Cemetery , Eureka, Woodford Co., IL  (A great site - Courtesy Teri Wareham Kuntz  and the Kuntz Wareham Homepage) Minonk Talk (A great site for the village of Minonk - lots of history, current events and photos) Metamora Web page Current weather conditions Washburn In Photos - a virtual tour of Washburn through photography Roanoke In Photos - historical photos of Roanoke Village of Washburn - Home of the Duryea Brothers - makers of the First Car in America.  Learn more about the history of this quaint small town. Jeremiah B. Tawzer - interesting site on the history of Jeremiah Tawzer Hollenback Family Website Counties surrounding Woodford County presented by Illinois Genealogy Trails, History and Genealogy: McLean County, IL Tazewell County, IL Peoria County, IL Livingston County, IL Bureau County, IL Putnam County, IL LaSalle County, IL Marshall County, IL Stark County, IL The Illinois State Archives  (On-line data bases of the following records:  Public Domain Land Sales, Spanish-American War, Black Hawk War, Civil War) Illinois State Genealogical Society Cemetery Project  ( lists numerous cemeteries by County and Township including active, inactive, and deteriorated.) The Illinois Newspaper Project (an online database where you can check to see what newspapers are on microfilm at the Illinois State Historical Libraray or the University of Illinois) Information Sources The Woodford County Court House - Located in Eureka, Illinois County Clerk & Recorder 309-467-2822 Illinois Mennonite Historical & Genealogical Society PO Box 819, Metamora, IL 61548 Millner Library, Illinois State University, Normal, IL Census records are available on microfilm from 1840 to 1920 for all Illinois Counties.  The records are located on the 2nd (main) floor.   Microfilm readers for copying are available for use. (309) 438-3684 Hours:  Mon.-Thurs.  8:00AM - 11:00 PM   Friday 8:00 AM-10:00PM   Saturday  9:00AM - 10:00PM  Sunday  12:00 (noon) to 11:00 PM The Illinois State Archives Margaret Cross Norton Building, Capitol Complex, Springfield, IL 62756 Telephone: (217) 782-4682, Fax: (217) 524-3930 Hours: Monday Friday    8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m.   Saturday 8:00 a.m. 3:30 p.m.   (except on holiday weekends) The State Archives serves by law as the depository of public records of Illinois state and local governmental agencies which possess permanent administrative, legal, or historical research values.   This includes birth, death, and census records.   The Illinois State Archives, has indexes for most of the nineteenth century censuses and the federal Soundexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920. The Archives also has the Illinois state and federal census records for the years 1810 1880, 1900 1920. The 1865 and 1870 censuses have not been indexed. Its collections do not include manuscript, newspaper, or other nonofficial sources.   These records are made available to the public, officials, and scholars at the Norton Building and at seven regional depositories located on state university campuses throughout Illinois. The Archives provides access to them through a series of printed and electronic guides, and by in-person, mail, telephone, FAX, and Internet database reference services. ILLINOIS STATE HISTORICAL LIBRARY Old State Capitol Springfield, IL 62701 Hours:  Monday-Friday  8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Woodford County Libraries Benson 402 E. Front Street 309-394-2542 El Paso 149 W. First 309-527-4360 Eureka 202 S. Main 61530 309-467-2922 Germantown Hills 101 Warrior Way Metamora, Il 309-383-2263 Metamora 208 E. Partridge 309-367-4594 Minonk 261 E. 5th 309-432-2929 Roanoke  123 E. Broad St. 309-923-7686  Spring Bay 411 Illinois 309-822-0444 Washburn 102 W. Magnolia 309-248-7429   Back to Illinois County Page Visit our National Genealogy Trails site: All states/counties online Have any questions or anything to add? (genealogytrailshost@gmail.com) All data on this website is © Copyright 2007-2008 by Dena Whitesell Genealogy Trails with full rights reserved by original submitter.