Records that survive
These are the record series from Henry 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 Record1837–1923
- Marriage Record Index1837–1985
- Birth Certificates, Delayed1860–1900
- Birth Record Index1860–1915
- Marriage License Applications1867–1922
- Birth Record1877–1900
- Death Record1877–1902
- Death Record Index1877–1915
Deeds and land
- Taxable Lands Lists1850
Wills and estates
- Probate Case Files1851–1900
Military and pensions
- Military Discharge Record Index1860–1975
Tax records
- Collector's Books1853–1865
- State Tax Refunding Record1873
- Assessor's Books1876–1902
Court records
- Board of Supervisors' Minutes1837–1935
- Circuit Court Record1847–1872
- Board of Supervisors' Minutes Index1857–1935
- Circuit Court Case Files, Criminal1857–1928
- Civil War Bounty Order Registers1862–1865
- Coroner's Inquest Record1870–1905
- County Court Record, Criminal1872–1961
- Circuit Court Record, Criminal1873–1963
- Circuit Court Record, Chancery1915–1940
Schools
- School District Annual Financial Reports1963–1972
Elections and voters
- Election Papers1930–1942
Town and city records
- Road and Bridge Account Books (Western Twp.)1915–1967
County government
- County Officials' Registers1865–1884
Other records
- Railroad Crossing Inspection Record1870–1873
- Agricultural Statistic Schedules1877–1881
- Physician and Accoucheur Registers1877–1908
- Almshouse Registers1889–1902
- Blind Relief Account Ledgers1903–1932
- Blind Relief Application Record1903–1932
- Optometrist Registers1916–1929
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
- Henry 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, Henry" 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: Land not yet in any county
Later formed partly from Henry County: Jo Daviess County, Whiteside County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1825, 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.