FORD COUNTY, IL HISTORY AND LOOKUP
County History Books
History of Ford County, Illinois by E.A. Gardner, (1908) – 444 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2023.12.07.0310.CD.AR
Portrait and Biographical Record of Ford County, Illinois by Lake City Publishing Co., (1892) – 842 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.10.13.1112.AR
Ford County, Illinois: A Genealogical Overview
Located in the heart of the Grand Prairie of east-central Illinois, Ford County is a rural and agriculturally rich region. Characterized by its flat, fertile land, the county is a prime example of the American Corn Belt, with its landscape dominated by fields of corn and soybeans. Its history is a story of prairie pioneers, the transformative impact of the railroad, and the development of close-knit farming communities that persist to this day.
I. County Formation and Evolution
Understanding Ford County’s relatively late formation from two parent counties is critical for locating the earliest records for ancestors in the region.
- 1859: County Formed: Ford County was established on February 17, 1859, making it the last county to be formed in Illinois.
- Parent County: It was created from the southern portion of what was then a much larger Vermilion County and the eastern portion of McLean County. Researchers seeking records for this area prior to 1859 must consult the records of Vermilion or McLean counties, depending on the specific location.
- Subsequent County Formations: As the last county created in the state, Ford County has not been partitioned, and its boundaries have remained stable since its formation.
- Name Origin: The county was named in honor of Thomas Ford, who served as the eighth Governor of Illinois from 1842 to 1846.
- County Seat History: The temporary county seat was briefly located in the now-extinct town of Loda. Shortly after the county’s formation, the permanent county seat was established in Paxton, where it remains today.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: Prior to European settlement, the prairie lands of Ford County were the territory of several Native American groups, primarily the Potawatomi, Kickapoo, and Miami peoples, who used the area for hunting and travel.
- Pioneer Settlement and Economy: The first significant non-native settlement was slow due to the challenges of cultivating the dense prairie soil. The arrival of the Illinois Central Railroad in the 1850s was the catalyst for growth, opening the area to farmers and immigrants. Early settlers came from states like Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania, as well as significant waves of Swedish and German immigrants. The economy has always been, and remains, overwhelmingly based on agriculture, particularly corn and soybeans.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Ford County.
- Courthouse: The Ford County Courthouse is located at 200 W. State Street, Paxton, IL 60957. This building is the central repository for most county records. The Ford County Clerk and Recorder holds vital records (birth, marriage, death) and land records (deeds). The Ford County Circuit Clerk holds probate (wills and estates), civil, and criminal court records.
- Vital Records:
- Birth and Death Records: County-level registration in Illinois began in 1877, with statewide registration mandated in 1916. Records from 1877 to the present are held by the Ford County Clerk. For records after 1916, copies can also be obtained from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Records prior to 1877 are scarce and may be found in church or cemetery records.
- Marriage Records: Marriage records from 1859 to the present are held by the Ford County Clerk. These records are typically well-maintained and are a valuable resource.
- Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
- Ford County Historical Society: Located at 145 W. Center Street, Paxton, IL 60957. This is the primary resource for local family history, historical photographs, and documents.
- Paxton Carnegie Library and Moyer District Library (Gibson City): These public libraries have local history collections, including newspapers on microfilm and published family histories.
- Illinois State Archives: (Located in Springfield) As the central repository for state historical records, it holds many records valuable for Ford County research, including state census records and military records.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- Kankakee County, IL
- Iroquois County, IL
- Vermilion County, IL
- Champaign County, IL
- McLean County, IL
- Livingston County, IL