TAZEWELL COUNTY, IL HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

Portrait and Biographical Record of Tazewell and Mason Counties, Illinois by Biographical Publishing Company (1894) – 708 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.09.03.2230.AR

American Aerial County History Series: Tazewell County by John Drury (1954) – 424 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.09.22.1825.AR

Tazewell County, Illinois: A Genealogical Overview

Located in the heart of central Illinois, Tazewell County lies along the eastern bank of the Illinois River and is a core part of the Peoria metropolitan area. The county is characterized by its rich agricultural plains, which produce vast crops of corn and soybeans, alongside bustling suburban communities and industrial centers. Its history is deeply tied to the development of the American Midwest, from early pioneer settlements and the legal circuit of Abraham Lincoln to its growth as a hub for manufacturing and transportation.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding Tazewell County’s formation and its role as a “mother county” to many others is essential for tracing ancestors who lived in this large and evolving region of central Illinois.

  • 1827: County Formed: Tazewell County was established on January 31, 1827, by an act of the Illinois General Assembly.
  • Parent County: It was created from the eastern part of Peoria County and a large unorganized territory that was attached to Sangamon County. Records for the earliest settlers prior to 1827 would be located in the records of these parent counties.
  • Subsequent County Formations: Tazewell was an enormous county that was later partitioned to form several others. Researchers must be aware of these changes: parts of Tazewell were used to create McLean (1830), LaSalle (1831), Marshall (1839), Woodford (1841), and Mason (1841) counties.
  • Name Origin: The county was named in honor of Littleton Waller Tazewell (1774-1860), a prominent U.S. Senator and Governor of Virginia, who was highly respected at the time of the county’s formation.
  • County Seat History: The first county seat was the now-extinct village of Mackinaw. In 1831, the seat of government was moved to Pekin, where it has remained ever since.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: Prior to European settlement, the land was home to several Native American groups, primarily those of the Illinois Confederacy (Illiniwek). Later, the Potawatomi people also inhabited and hunted in the area until their removal in the 1830s.
  • Pioneer Settlement and Economy: The first significant American settlement began in the 1820s, with pioneers arriving from Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and the eastern states. They were drawn by the fertile soil of the Grand Prairie. The economy was overwhelmingly based on agriculture. River towns like Pekin flourished due to trade and transport on the Illinois River. Abraham Lincoln was a familiar figure in the county, practicing law at the Pekin courthouse as part of the 8th Judicial Circuit. Later, coal mining and industry, especially in East Peoria with the growth of Caterpillar Inc., diversified the economy.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Tazewell County.

  • Courthouse: The Tazewell County Courthouse is located at 342 Elizabeth Street, Pekin, IL 61554. This building is the primary repository for county records. The Tazewell County Clerk holds vital records (birth, marriage, death). The Clerk of the Circuit Court holds court and probate records. The Tazewell County Recorder holds land records (deeds, mortgages).
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Illinois began in 1916. County-level registration began officially in 1877, though compliance was inconsistent in the early years. Records from 1877-1915 are held by the Tazewell County Clerk. Post-1916 records can be obtained from either the County Clerk or the Illinois Department of Public Health.
    • Marriage Records: Records of marriages from 1827 to the present are held by the Tazewell County Clerk and are generally well-preserved.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society (TCGHS): Located at 719 N. 11th St., Pekin, IL 61554. TCGHS maintains an extensive research library that is the premier resource for Tazewell County family history.
    • Pekin Public Library: Located at 301 S. 4th St., Pekin, IL 61554. The library has a dedicated Local History and Genealogy Room with significant collections of microfilm, books, and other local resources.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Peoria County, IL
    • Woodford County, IL
    • McLean County, IL
    • Logan County, IL
    • Mason County, IL
    • Fulton County, IL

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks