Knox County, Illinois
Genealogy & History

News

What's New?  Lots!  Tell us what you think!

Contact a site coordinator (listed at the bottom of this page) to make suggestions or express your thoughts about the changes and additions we make to this site.

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2007-2008

Pat Thomas is now site coordinator and will update as she can, thanks

19 Mar 2003 - Added a link to the beginnings of a RootsWeb WorldConnect Database for Knox County.  It is an attempt to accumulate as much genealogical information as can be found in the various old Knox County atlases and histories into a single, comprehensive GEDCOM file on WorldConnect, with all sources clearly documented.  The creation of this file should enable researchers from across the country and beyond to more easily become aware of their ties to Knox County, Illinois.

5 Dec 2002 - The entire 1880 Federal Census is now available online FREE through FamilySearch.  This is site that is definitely worth exploring!

5 Dec 2002 - Added a transcript of the Persifer Township 1850 Federal Census in Excel spreadsheet format (requires that you have Excel and either Internet Explorer or AOL installed on your computer) or in HTML format that will work with any browser.  Generously contributed by Jeremy Atack.

22-23 Sep 2002 - Added alphabetical lists of names associated with Haynes Cemetery, McCallister Cemetery, and Ferguson Cemetery in Orange Township.

10-12 Sep 2002 - Added alphabetical lists of names associated with Rio Baptist Cemetery, Rio Cemetery and Timber-Deatherage-McMurtry Cemetery in Rio Township.

7 Sep 2002 - Added alphabetical lists of names associated with Kightlinger Cemetery and Clesson Family Cemetery in Elba Township.

6 Sep 2002 - Added alphabetical lists of names associated with Westfall Cemetery and John Knox Cemetery in Copley Township.

5 Sep 2002 - Added a alphabetical list of names associated with Hunt Cemetery in Indian Point Township.

3 Sep 2002 - Added some great early pictures of Saint Augustine (Street Scenes, Railroads, and Churches) contributed by Patti Lawson.

2 Sep 2002 - Added a alphabetical list of names associated with Trenton Cemetery in Persifer Township.

10 Aug 2002 - Added alphabetical lists of names associated with Myers Cemetery and Bradford Cemetery in Persifer Township.

27 Jul 2002 - Added a alphabetical list of names associated with Housh-Walter-Sumner Cemetery in Maquon Township contributed by Todd Walter.

24 Jun 2002 - Added links to information about Knox County and Illinois newspapers.

15-20 Feb 2002 - Added 127 property views from the 1870 Atlas Map of Knox County.  These great pictures were contributed by Todd Walter.

28 Jan 2002 - Added a alphabetical list of 3,443 names found in the Knox County Honor Roll 1917-1918-1919 Service Record, published by The Wagoner Printing Company, Galesburg, Illinois, in 1920.  Included in the list, when available, is the town of residence, birth date, birth place, parents or nearest relative and spouse, and the page in the book where the name is found.

21 Jan 2002 - Added excerpts from the 1919 Latimer - A Brief History and Genealogy of George Griswald Latimer by Madison C. Bates, published by the Wagoner Printing Co. Galesburg, Ill.  This interesting material was transcribed and contributed by Cynthia Nye.

22 Dec 2001 - Added alphabetical lists of names associated with Mather Cemetery and Cook Cemetery in Orange Township contributed by Todd Walter.

20 Dec 2001 - Added a alphabetical list of names associated with Catterton Cemetery in Elba Township contributed by Todd Walter.

19 Dec 2001 - Added a alphabetical list of names associated with Elba Cemetery in Elba Township contributed by Todd Walter.

15 Dec 2001 - Added a alphabetical list of names associated with Harper Cemetery in Chestnut Township contributed by Todd Walter.

13 Dec 2001 - Updated the Thurman Cemetery listing to reflect recent research contributed by Todd Walter.

2 Dec 2001 - Added an alphabetical list of 1,360 names associated with Williamsfield Cemetery located on 5 acres of land about a half mile north of the town of Williamsfield in Truro Township.

20 Nov 2001 - Added a nice photograph of Cherry Grove School, probably from the very early 1900's.  [Contributed by Jim Ferris.]

19 Nov 2001 - Added St. Joseph's Alumnae Literary Association Program for 1914-1915.  Included is a list of 217 alumnae of St. Joseph's Academy.

9 Nov 2001 - Added a really interesting autobiography of Margaret E. Jones Dickson Alexander who arrived with her family in Maquon around 1850.  The story was written for her granddaughter in 1925 and includes detailed descriptions of early farm life, references to many early Maquon area settlers, and stories about the Civil War.

6 Nov 2001 - Added an alphabetical list of 3,615 burials in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery located on thirty-three acres just west of Galesburg.  This cemetery was opened in June, 1891, and continues to be actively used today.

30 Oct 2001 - Added "History of the Galesburg High School" for a thorough description and many pictures of Galesburg High School from 1861 through 1899.  Includes a 1,200-name list of all graduates for the years 1863-1898 and all attendees during the 1898-99 school year.

29 Sep 2001 - Added an alphabetical list of 350 names associated with St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in East Galesburg.  Opened in 1863, this was Knox County's first Catholic Cemetery.  Lots were sold only until June, 1891, although burials continued until at least 1980.

28 Sep 2001 - Added an alphabetical list of 686 burials in St. Augustine Catholic Cemetery, Union Township, Fulton County, IL, where many early Catholics were buried prior to the 1863 opening of St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Knox County.

22 Aug-2Sep 2001 - Added transcripts of 1861 Plat maps for all Knox County townships.

20 Aug 2001 - Completed transcribing the 1870 Plat maps for all Knox County townships.

10 July 2001 - Added Peggy to the list of those volunteering to do lookups.  She has a 1939 Knoxville City Directory containing names, occupations and addresses.

26 June 2001 - Added 1870 Plat maps for all Knox County townships.

25 June 2001 - Added a really interesting biography of Horace L. Sage who lived in Knox County from 1839 to 1869 before moving on to Kansas.  It includes information about many of the early Knox County families including McConchie, Osborn, Mosher, and Jones.  The material was contributed by Keith Jones.

24 June 2001 - Added 14 great portraits of Civil War soldiers.  Twelve of the photos are of men who served with Company "C" 42nd Illinois Infantry that was organized August 10, 1861, in Knox County.  All photos were contributed by Keith Jones.

23 June 2001 - Added a great link to the complete city burial records for East Linwood Cemetery, Galesburg.

3 Jun 2001 - Added 25 more Knox County resident biographies contributed by Todd Walter.  Most of the these come from publications unrelated to Knox County.  Use one of our Search engines to see if any of your lines were added.

27 May 2001 - Added 28 Knox County resident biographies contributed by Todd Walter.  Most of the these come from publications unrelated to Knox County.  Use one of our Search engines to see if any of your lines were added.

3 May 2001 - Added alphabetical listing of burials in Galesburg's Hope Cemetery.  See the Cemeteries section for a complete list of cemetery links.

29 Apr 2001 - Added alphabetical listings of burials in Blakeslee, Housh-Walter-Sumner, Ouderkirk, Parker, Summit-Douglas, and Thurman cemeteries.  See the Cemeteries section for a complete list of cemetery links.

10 Apr 2001 - Added a transcript of the Knox County Almshouse 1900 Federal Census in Excel spreadsheet format (requires that you have Excel and either Internet Explorer or AOL installed on your computer) or in HTML format that will work with any browser.  Generously contributed by Tom Lundeen.

4 Apr 2001 - Added a complete recap and index of the 1878 History of Knox County.  It provides Name, Birth Date, Birth Place, Parents, and Spouse(s) for over 800 Knox County residents!

3 April 2001 - Added the complete 8-page description of the Alms-house from the 1878 History of Knox County.  This provides a really interesting view of pauper life in Knox County during the years 1856-1878.

30 Mar 2001 - Added to the Date-Specific Records page a scan of an 1886 subscription receipt for a page view of the "residence and surroundings" of Thomas R. Walter, and 40 extra copies of the view.  Generously contributed by Todd Walter.

21 Mar 2001 - Added several pictures, including Maquon Schools, Maquon Lumber Yard, Maquon Methodist Church, Wolf Covered Bridge, the Spoon River Bridge near Williamsfield, and the Knoxville Public Square.  All were generously contributed by Todd Walter.

16 Mar 2001 - Added a Guest Book to the site.

27 Feb 2001 - Added a complete alphabetical index to the 1899 Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Knox County.  It provides the page number for the portraits and/or biographies of 738 Knox County residents.  It also lists the names of all spouses who are mentioned in the biographies.

25 Feb 2001 - Added a history for the city of Williamsfield in Truro Township.

12-24 Feb 2001 - Added some great pictures of Galesburg taken from a booklet titled Twelfth Annual Excursion Galesburg Merchants' Association June 25th, 1903.  The pictures were generously contributed by Cindy Lowe.  See them in Commercial Buildings, Hospitals, Street Scenes, and Recreation Areas.

10 Feb 2001 - Added a compete history of Knox County taken from the 1878 History of Knox County thanks to the generous volunteer help of Pat White and Charlotte Babicki.

8 Feb 2001 - Added missing histories from the 1878 History of Knox County for all townships.

2 Feb 2001 - Added histories from the 1870 Atlas Map of Knox County, Illinois, for the county and all townships.

26 Jan 2001 - Added histories for Sparta and Truro townships.

25 Jan 2001 - Added menus at the top and bottom of each page to further improve site navigation.

25 Jan 2001 - Added pictures of Standish Park and Knox College's Alumni Hall.

13 Jan 2001 - Added links to 12 new images taken from the 1886 Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County.

12 Jan 2001 - Added a complete transcript of the subscribers to the 1870 Atlas Map of Knox County.  It provides Name, Residence, Business, Nativity, Knox County Arrival Date, and Place Arrived From for over 1900 Knox County residents!

12 Jan 2001 - Reorganized much of the information on the site to make it:
1) easier for you to navigate and explore, and
2) faster for you to find what you want.

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This page was last updated Wednesday, 25-Jun-2008 12:26:48 EDT .
The pages at this site are always being worked on.  Please report any problems to a site coordinator.