MARSHALL COUNTY, IL HISTORY AND LOOKUP
County History Books
Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois by John Spencer Burt; William Edward Hawthorne, (1907) – 522 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2024.04.23.0100.CD.AR
Marshall County, Illinois: A Genealogical Overview
Located in north-central Illinois, Marshall County is a rural county whose history and development have been shaped by the Illinois River, which forms its western border. The county is characterized by its fertile farmland, small towns, and a rich heritage of agriculture, river commerce, and coal mining. Its landscape is one of rolling prairies and wooded river bluffs, with communities like Lacon, Henry, and Toluca serving as centers of commerce and culture.
I. County Formation and Evolution
Understanding Marshall County’s formation from its parent county is the first step in locating the earliest records for pioneer ancestors in the area.
- 1839: County Formed: Marshall County was established on January 19, 1839.
- Parent County: It was created from the southern portion of Putnam County. Records for settlers in this area prior to 1839 would be located in Putnam County records.
- Subsequent County Formations: The boundaries of Marshall County have remained largely stable since its formation in 1839. It has not been partitioned to form other counties.
- Name Origin: The county was named in honor of John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, who had died a few years earlier in 1835.
- County Seat History: Lacon was named the county seat upon the county’s organization in 1839 and has remained the center of county government ever since.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: The land was originally inhabited by tribes of the Illinois Confederation. By the time of American settlement, the area was primarily used by the Potawatomi people, who were removed from Illinois following the treaties of the 1830s.
- Pioneer Settlement and Economy: The first significant non-native settlement began in the late 1820s and early 1830s, with pioneers arriving from Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and other eastern states. A large wave of German, Irish, and later, Italian immigrants followed. The economy was, and continues to be, overwhelmingly based on agriculture, particularly corn and soybeans. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, coal mining became a major industry in the southern part of the county. The Illinois River provided a vital transportation route for shipping grain and other goods.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Marshall County.
- Courthouse: Marshall County Courthouse: Located at 122 N Prairie St, Lacon, IL 61540. This is the central repository for most county records. The Marshall County Clerk holds vital records (birth, marriage, death) and election records. The Clerk of the Circuit Court holds probate, divorce, civil, and criminal court records. The Recorder of Deeds holds all land records.
- Vital Records:
- Birth and Death Records: Official county-level registration in Illinois began in 1877, with statewide registration mandated in 1916. Records from 1877 to the present are held by the Marshall County Clerk. For records after 1916, copies can also be obtained from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
- Marriage Records: Marriage records from the county’s formation in 1839 to the present are held by the Marshall County Clerk.
- Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
- Marshall County Historical Society: Located at 314 Fifth St, Lacon, IL 61540. This is the most critical resource for local and family history, holding family files, photographs, local histories, and other unique documents.
- Lacon Public Library and Henry Public Library: These local libraries have collections of local newspapers on microfilm, local histories, and genealogical materials.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- Putnam County, IL
- LaSalle County, IL
- Woodford County, IL
- Peoria County, IL
- Stark County, IL
- Bureau County, IL