Records that survive
These are the record series from Cass County held by the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) system, with the earliest and latest years. A span can include gaps. They include county, township and city records. This county's are held at the University of Illinois Springfield.
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Licenses1837–1915
- Marriage Record Index1837–1915
- Birth Record1860–1915
- Birth Record Index1860–1915
- Death Record1878–1915
- Death Record Index1878–1917
- Death Record, Stillbirths1878–1898
- Marriage License Applications1880–1902
- Marriage Record1882–1890
- Birth Certificates (Ashland Twp.)1917–1950
- Death Certificates (Ashland Twp.)1917–1933
- Death Certificates, Stillbirths (Ashland Twp.)1918–1926
Deeds and land
- Swamp Land Record1850–1868
- School Trustees' Minutes1854–1954
- School Trustees' and Treasurer's Annual Reports1928–1951
- Election Papers (Ashland Twp.)1953–1973
Naturalization
- Naturalization Papers, Circuit Court1837–1892
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent, Circuit Court1859–1921
- Naturalization Record, Final, Circuit Court1859–1894
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent, County Court1860–1906
- Naturalization Record of Minors, County Court1860–1905
- Naturalization Record, Final, County Court1860–1906
- Naturalization Record of Soldiers and Minors, Circuit Court1865–1896
- Naturalization Record of Soldiers, County Court1865–1886
- Naturalization Dockets, Circuit Court1871–1899
Military and pensions
- Militia Roll Record1861
Tax records
- Assessor's Books1842
- Collector's Books1850–1851
- School Tax Record1853–1854
- Motor Fuel Tax Audit Reports1932–1964
Court records
- Board of Supervisors' Minutes1837–1961
- Jail Registers1872–1955
- Local Improvements Board Minutes (Beardstown)1907–1927
- Highway Commissioners' Minutes (Beardstown Twp.)1926–1929
- Township Meeting Minutes (Beardstown Twp.)1926–1932
- Justice of the Peace Dockets (Beardstown Twp.)1931–1933
- Poor Relief Case Files (Panther Creek Twp.)1936–1948
- Building Committee Courthouse Renovation Files1939–1940
Schools
- School Fund Loan Record1854–1894
- School Schedules1857
- School Fund Cash Books1871–1885
- School District Record1873–1936
- School Treasurer's Record1873–1890
- School Teachers' Certificate Examination Record1877–1899
- School Pupil Examination Record1899–1916
- School Teachers' Daily Registers1899–1953
- School Superintendent's Annual Reports1911–1931
- School Teachers' Permanent Record1914–1924
- School Election Papers1920–1977
- School Teachers' Annual Reports1939–1947
- School District Annual Audit Reports1959–1968
Elections and voters
- Election Papers1837–1914
- Voter Registers1894–1912
- Election Papers (Panther Creek Twp.)1936–1971
- Voter Registers (Panther Creek Twp.)1940
Town and city records
- City Council Minutes (Beardstown)1888–1981
- City Ordinance Record (Beardstown)1896–1938
- Highway Commissioners' Record (Beardstown Twp.)1898–1926
- Road and Bridge Account Books (Beardstown Twp.)1913–1918
- Township Record (Beardstown Twp.)1924–1936
- Township Supervisor's Cash Books (Beardstown Twp.)1924–1945
- Poor Relief Fund Ledgers (Beardstown Twp.)1926–1935
- Township Clerk's Fee Books (Beardstown Twp.)1926–1939
- Poor Relief Fund Files (Panther Creek Twp.)1936–1949
- Poor Relief Fund Ledgers (Panther Creek Twp.)1936–1938
- City Annual Audit Reports (Virginia)1937–1964
- Township Supervisor's Annual Reports (Panther Creek Twp.)1939–1968
- Road and Bridge Account Books (Chandlerville Twp.)1942–1970
- Township Supervisor's Fiscal Reports (Chandlerville Twp.)1965–1968
Other records
- Almshouse Registers1887–1945
Search the IRAD database for this county
Source: Illinois State Archives, Local Government Records Database (choose the county to see every series and its accession number). Contact the depository before you visit. Illinois began statewide registration of births and deaths in 1916.
Where to find the records
- Cass County official website
Hours, addresses and phone numbers for the county clerk, the recorder of deeds and the clerk of the circuit court, and any online record search the county offers.
- The county clerk
Births, deaths and marriages registered in the county.
- The recorder of deeds
Deeds, mortgages and other land records (in some counties the county clerk is also the recorder).
- The clerk of the circuit court
Probate (wills and estates), divorces and civil and criminal cases.
- The Illinois State Archives
In Springfield, with older county records at its regional depositories (IRAD) on university campuses.
- Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) systemfree
The State Archives' regional depositories, which hold older county, township and city records; search its Local Government Records Database by county.
- FamilySearch Catalogfree
Search by place for "Illinois, Cass" to find filmed and digitized records, many viewable free online with a FamilySearch account.
Offices change their hours and access rules; call before you visit.
Boundaries and parent counties
Formed from: Morgan County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Morgan County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1837, search the parent county. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries shows each boundary change.
Research tip
Illinois began statewide registration of births and deaths in 1916; counties kept registers earlier, often from 1877 or 1878. The Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, from the State Archives, covers many marriages from 1763 to 1900.