Henderson County, Illinois Genealogy Records

Which records survive from Henderson County, the years each set covers, and where to find them.

Formed
1841
County seat
Oquawka
Fulton CountyHancock CountyHenry CountyKnox CountyMason CountyMcDonough CountyMercer CountyRock Island CountyWarren CountyHenderson CountyFultonHancockKnoxMcDonoughMercerWarrenHenderson
Henderson CountyParent county (search here for earlier records)Today's boundaries · U.S. Census Bureau

Records that survive

These are the record series from Henderson 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 Western Illinois University in Macomb.

Marriages, births and deaths

  • Marriage Record1841–1901
  • Marriage Record Index1841–1934
  • Birth Record1877–1901
  • Birth Record Index1877–1915
  • Death Record1878–1902
  • Death Record Index1878–1915

Deeds and land

  • School Trustees' Minutes1857–1901

Wills and estates

  • Poor Farm Inventory and Account Record1860–1869

Schools

  • School Treasurer's Cash Books1838–1859
  • School District Annual Audit Reports1958–1969

County government

  • County Annual Audit Reports1962–1972

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

  • Find Henderson County's official website

    We haven't checked this county's website yet, so this opens a web search. Look for an address ending in .gov, then find the county clerk, the recorder of deeds and the clerk of the circuit court.

  • 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, Henderson" 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: Warren County

Check the parent county for earlier records: Warren County

HancockFultonMcDONOUGHMercerHenryKnoxTazewellWarrenHendersonHendersonWarrenFultonMcDONOUGHMercerKnox
Henderson as created in 1841Where its land was the day beforeToday's boundaryBoundaries: Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries

Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1841, 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.