Records that survive
These are the record series from Jo Daviess 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 Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Record1833–1922
- Birth Record, Delayed1850–1916
- Birth Record Index1870–1988
- Marriage Record Index1876–1988
- Birth Record1877–1939
- Death Record1877–1930
- Death Certificates1916–1924
- Death Record Index1916–1964
- Birth and Death Certificates (Galena)1939–1953
Deeds and land
- Deed Index1825–1901
- Deed Record1828–1902
- Swamp Land Record1852–1855
- School Trustees' and Treasurer's Annual Reports1883–1961
Wills and estates
- Probate Will Record1829–1924
Naturalization
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent, Circuit Court1840–1929
- Naturalization Record, Final, Circuit Court1857–1902
- Naturalization Record of Soldiers, Circuit Court1865–1888
- Naturalization Record, County Court1880–1903
- Naturalization Record, Final, County Court1903–1906
- Naturalization Record of Minors, County Court1904–1906
- Naturalization Record, Circuit Court1904–1925
- Naturalization Petition Record, Circuit Court1906–1929
Military and pensions
- Militia Roll Record (Galena)1861–1862
- Military Discharge Record1898–1921
Tax records
- Collector's Books1848–1900
- Assessor's Books (Galena)1865–1866
- Collector's Books (Galena)1865–1941
- Tax Lists, Delinquent (Galena)1867–1876
- City Tax Bond Record (Galena)1869–1870
- Poll Tax Notices (Galena)1873
- Collector's Book Index (Galena)1888
Court records
- Board of Supervisors' Minutes1827–1931
- Circuit Court Record1828–1838
- Justice of the Peace Dockets1828–1966
- Circuit Court Dockets1829–1840
- Circuit Court Fee Books1837–1853
- Circuit Court Execution Dockets1838–1853
- Circuit Court Judgment Dockets1838–1851
- Circuit Court Appearance Dockets1845–1925
- County Court Appearance Dockets1845–1850
- County Court Execution Dockets1845–1853
- Justice's Transcript Record1847–1873
- Recorder's Miscellaneous Record1853–1883
- City Order and Bond Expense Record (Galena)1860–1865
- Civil War Bounty Order Registers1864–1865
- and 4 more series in the full listing
Schools
- School Treasurer's Annual Reports1865–1943
- School Teachers' Annual Reports1912–1950
- School Election Papers1913–1949
- School Treasurer's Account Books (Galena)1921–1947
- School District Annual Audit and Financial Reports1954–1968
Town and city records
- City Council Minutes (Galena)1831–1876
- City Treasurer's Account Books (Galena)1843–1950
- Bridge Toll Books (Galena)1848–1856
- City Treasurer's Cash Books (Galena)1849–1856
- License Record (Galena)1851–1944
- City Charter Ordinance (Galena)1853
- City Claims Registers (Galena)1857–1924
- City Receipt Books (Galena)1857–1891
- City Expense Journals (Galena)1869–1883
- City Treasurer's Daybooks (Galena)1886–1887
- Firemen Roster (Galena)1887–1888
- Waterworks Commission Daybooks (Galena)1918–1921
- Insurance Company Premium Reports (Galena)1927–1934
- City Financial Statements (Galena)1972–1973
County government
- Railroad Bond Registers (Galena)1860–1873
- Budget Record (Galena)1969–1977
Other records
- Road Petition Record1828–1871
- Almshouse Registers1846–1938
- Estray Record1846–1906
- License Record1862–1905
- Stallion Registration Record1910–1928
- Stallion Renewal Record1910–1918
- County Yearbooks1967–1968
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
- Jo Daviess 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, Jo Daviess" 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: Henry County, Mercer County, Putnam County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Henry County, Mercer County, Putnam County
Later formed partly from Jo Daviess County: Carroll County, Ogle County, Rock Island County, Stephenson County, Whiteside County, Winnebago County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1827, 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.