Gallatin County History and Information

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Gallatin County was created on September 14, 1812 (By Proclamation, Territorial Record of Illinois, p. 26) and was formed from Randolph County. Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in: Randolph County (1801–1812) and Knox, Northwest Territory (1790–1809) .

The County was named for Albert Gallatin, a statesman and financier, Representative in Congress from Pennsylvania, Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, and Minister to France and England. The County Seat is Shawneetown . Prior County Seats was Shawneetown (1812–1827) , Equality (1827–1848) and Shawneetown (1848–Present) . See also County History for more historical details.

Counties adjacent to Gallatin County are White County (north) , Posey County, Indiana (northeast) , Union County, Kentucky (east) , Hardin County (south) , Saline County (west) , Hamilton County (northwest) .

Gallatin County Townships include Asbury, Bowlesville (Name changed from Saline on January 19, 1891) , Eagle Creek, Equality, Gold Hill, New Haven (Name changed from Reno on July 9, 1894) , North Fork (Name changed from Elba on January 19, 1891) , Omaha (Name changed from Bear Creek on January 19, 1891) , Ridgway (Name changed from Fillingim on March 18, 1891) , Shawnee Townships

Cities, Towns and Communities include Equality, Junction, New Haven, Old Shawneetown, Omaha, Ridgway, Shawneetown

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Records at the County Courthouse

See Also Illinois Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Search Illinois Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

PLEASE READ FIRST!!!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

The Official County website is located at N/A . All departments below at located at the Gallatin County Courthouse, Lincoln Boulevard, PO Box 550, Shawneetown, Illinois 62984-0249 , unless a different address is listed below.

NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.

Gallatin County Circuit Court Clerk has Probate Records from 1814 and Court Records from 1813 and is located at the address above. Phone Number: (618) 269-3140

The Clerk of the Circuit Court, commonly known as the Circuit Clerk, is the keeper of the files and records of the Circuit Court. The Circuit Clerk works at the direction of Circuit Court, Appellate Court and Supreme Court of Illinois and is mandated to follow and enforce the laws of the State of Illinois. The Circuit Clerk's Office processes all documents in criminal law, chancery, support, probate, adoption, juvenile, drainage, local improvement, mental, small claims, traffic, ordinance violations, prepares appeals to the higher court, issues passports, summons jurors, tax deeds and handles approximately ten million dollars in costs, fines, restitution, investments and support each year. The Office also issues summonses, writs, attachments, subpoenas and all other tasks as mandated by the courts.

Gallatin County Recorder has Land Records from 1813 and is located at the courthouse. Phone Number: (618) 269-3025

The County Recorder of Deeds serves the people of County by receiving, filing and maintaining all records related to real property in our county. These documents range from all types of conveyance deeds, mortgages, releases and assignments, property liens, as well as, assorted federal, state and local liens. The Recorder’s office is responsible for the recordation and storage of plats of subdivision, land surveys and monument records. Many other types of miscellaneous documents are recorded, such as; foreign birth certificates, foreign marriage licenses, and military discharge paperwork to name a few.

Gallatin County Clerk has Birth / Death Records from 1877 and Marriage Records from 1813 and is located at the courthouse. Phone Number: (618) 269-3025

The County Clerk maintains records and issues certificates of vital statistics (birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage certificates) for the entire County.

Below is a list of online resources for Gallatin County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Gallatin County Court Records by clicking the link below:

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • Gallatin County, Illinois Court Books at Amazon.com
  • Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
  • Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.
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County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Illinois

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records, 605 W. Jefferson St., Springfield, IL 62702-5097. It can take up to 6 weeks to get a vital record from Illinois.

A number of resources are available for individuals doing genealogical research using vital records filed in the state of Illinois. Births and deaths before January 1, 1916 and marriages before January 1, 1962 are recorded only in the office of the county clerk where the event occurred. Most county clerks have indexes to the records that are prior to 1916 that are available for the purpose of genealogical research. These indexes generally provide the name, date and place of occurrence and are located in county courthouses located throughout the state. Although self-service access to the indexes is generally permitted, the law limits physical access to the individual records to the clerk's staff. When you locate a record from the index, it will be necessary for the clerk to pull the record for you once you have paid the appropriate search fee. Please check with the county clerk for fees and policies on reviewing indexes.

  • Birth, Death Certificates: The Division of Vital Records and Statistics maintains birth, death and marriage records that occur in Illinois from 1916 to the present.
    • Cost: Initial search and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $17.00 (long) or $10.00 (uncertified) per certificate by mail [application for birth records, application for death records].
      Make your check or money order payable to "Illinois Department of Public Health". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. The cost of each record includes a ten-year search if the exact date or place of event is not known. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep check amount for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • In Person: In-person orders can be dropped off for mail out within two business days at the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records office, 605 W. Jefferson St., Springfield, on Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays. (Large volume orders may take longer.) PLEASE NOTE: the person requesting the record will be asked to show a valid picture identification card.
  • Marriage & Divorce Certificates:The Division of Vital Records also maintains an index of marriages & divorces from 1962 to the present. Copies of the marriage & divorce records are available from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the marriage license was obtained or divorce was granted. Fees vary.
    • Cost: $5.00 by MAIL. Make your check or money order payable to "Illinois Department of Public Health". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. The cost of each record includes a ten-year search if the exact date or place of event is not known. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $5.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.

Below is a list of online resources for Gallatin County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Gallatin County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

  • VitalChek Express Certificate Service - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
  • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREEicon - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
  • Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Illinois newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
  • Database index on death certificates for the years 1916 to 1950
  • Statewide Marriage Index, 1763 to 1900
  • Illinois Marriages to 1850: This database of Illinois marriages to 1850 contains over 155,000 names.
  • Illinois Marriages, 1790-1860: This database is an index to individuals who were married in Illinois between 1790 and 1860.
  • Illinois Marriages, 1851-1900: This database is an index to approximately 707,000 individuals who were married in select areas of Illinois between 1851 and 1900.
  • Gallatin County, Illinois Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
  • Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.
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County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Illinois

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Gallatin County, Illinois are 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930.Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Gallatin County, Illinois are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.

The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.

Below is a list of online resources for Gallatin County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Gallatin County Census Records by clicking the link below:

  • Gallatin County, Illinois Census Books at Amazon.com
  • Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.
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County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Ohio and other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Illinois showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps

You can view rotating animated maps for Illinois showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries.

Below is a list of online resources for Gallatin County Maps. Email us with websites containing Gallatin County Maps by clicking the link below:

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County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Illinois

Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Gallatin County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Gallatin County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

The first known tax authorization in Illinois fell under the jurisdiction of the Territory of the United States North West of the River Ohio. The tax was based on every hundred acres of unimproved uncleared prairie or wood land, divided into three classes based on quality of earth surface and soil. The rates were thirty, twenty, and ten cents, to be paid annually. Property with delinquent taxes was sold at public auction. There do not appear to be any surviving tax records from this territorial period.

Beginning with statehood, tax records form a large part of county archival material. The 1819 laws provided the first taxation process, imposing taxes on land, bank stock owned, slaves and indentured negroes or mulattoes, plus a poor tax. The tax was collected by the county with income divided between the county and state. Taxpayers lists were eliminated in 1824, and in 1825 a county road tax and school taxes were enacted.

Original and microfilmed tax records at Illinois Regional Archives Depositories include taxable land lists, assessors books, railroad tax books, road tax records, and collectors books, the earliest record dated 1817. Other county tax records are located in county seats.

Below is a list of online resources for Gallatin County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Gallatin County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Gallatin County, Illinois Tax Books at Amazon.com
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County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Illinois Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Gallatin County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Gallatin County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

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  • Illinois Regional Archives Depository, Southern Illinois University, c/o Special Collections, Morris Library – 6632 , Carbondale, IL 62901-6632; Telephone: (618) 453-3040. Map and Directions. Covers the following counties: Alexander, Clinton, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Massac, Monroe, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, St. Clair, Saline, Union, Washington, White and Williamson.
    Hours: Monday – Friday, except state holidays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mail requests should be sent to the address above. However, the depository is located on McLafferty Road one-third mile south of its intersection with Chautauqua Street — not in Morris Library. Visitors unfamiliar with Carbondale may wish to call the depository for directions.
  • National Archives - Great Lakes Region(Chicago), 7358 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, Illinois 60629-5898; 773-948-9001; E-mail: chicago.archives@nara.gov (Maintains retired records from Federal agencies and courts in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.)
    General Information Leaflet
  • Illinois State Archives, Norton Building, Capitol Complex, Springfield, IL 62756; TELEPHONE: (217) 782-4682, Fax: (217) 524-3930; HOURS: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • The Illinois State Historical Society, 210 1/2 S. Sixth, Springfield, IL 62701-1503; Phone: (217)525-2781, Fax: (217)525-2783, [EMAIL]
  • Illinois State Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 10195, Springfield, IL 62791; Phone: (217) 789-1968, [EMAIL]
  • Illinois State Library, 300 South 2nd Street, Springfield, IL 62701-1796; Phone: (217) 785-5600
  • Illinois State Historical Library, Old State Capitol, Springfield, IL 62701
    County histories, plat books, census indexes, cemetery indexes, city material, family and association files, microfilmed newspapers, manuscripts, and photographs are located beneath the restored old state capitol between 5th and 6th streets and Washington and Adams streets.
  • Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
  • Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
  • Illinois Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Illinois

Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Gallatin County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Gallatin County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Despite the early Catholic missionaries in Illinois, their church had almost totally disappeared from the state by the time of the American Revolution. Later migration of English-speaking Catholics reestablished the church in the state. In 1850 the largest religious denomination in Illinois was the Methodists. Baptists, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, Lutherans, and Congregationalists followed. Episcopalians had organized in the state in 1835, the Disciples of Christ were in Illinois prior to 1830, and the Lutherans grew in numbers with the German and Scandinavian emigration of the 1840s.

The Genealogical Society of Utah and the Daughters of the American Revolution have compiled cemetery records for the state of Illinois. Soldiers' Burial Places in State of Illinois for Wars 1774-1898 is available on thirty-one reels of microfilm from the FHL. Local genealogical societies may have information and possible printed records of cemeteries in their locale.

Below is a list of online resources for Gallatin County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Gallatin County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Gallatin County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Gallatin County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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Extended History

 

The village of Shawneetown was the first settlement on the eastern side of Illinois, founded by Michael Sprinkle in 1800. It was built near Half Moon Lick, a natural salt spring, which had previously attracted Native Americans and a French fort. A land office was established in the town in 1814, two years after Gallatin County was formed, and the state's first bank was opened by John Marshall in 1816. The Marquis De Lafayette visited Shawneetown on his American tour in 1825, demonstrating the town's prominence. A long-standing legend is that a delegation from the newly-chartered village of Chicago visited Shawneetown in 1833--the date varies--and was told that Chicago was too far away from Shawneetown to ever amount to anything. Other versions place the loan rejection just after the Chicago Fire of 1871, but no evidence supports this historic myth.

The Second Bank of Illinois, an imposing sandstone structure boasting 5 Doric columns, was built in 1840 at a cost of $86,000. Besides river commerce and agriculture, coal and iron ore mining were major industries. The salt industry fueled the county's early economy, and led to the growth of Equality, located near Lower Lick in the southern portion of the county. Special provisions in Illinois law allowed slaves to provide most of the labor in the salt-making operation, and for many years the home of salt and land baron John Crenshaw has been a tourist attraction as the Old Slave House, where runaway slaves and unfortunate free blacks were held before being sold in Kentucky or Tennesee. (The home closed to tourists in September, 1996 and the owners are threatening to auction the contents if the State of Illinois refuses to purchase the property.) Equality served as county seat from 1827 to 1847.

Some prominent early Gallatin County names were Logsdon, Posey, Wilson, Brinkley, Wargel and West. Prominent journalist Robert Green Ingersoll moved to Shawneetown in 1836. Many of the early settlors are buried in Westwood Cemetery, located between Old and New Shawnee.

Several factors led to the decline of Gallatin County: The closure of the salt works in 1873, improvements in rail transportation, the decline of immigration to Southern Illinois, the depletion of nearby resources, and most especially, major floods of the Ohio River, most recently in 1898, 1913, and 1937. The great flood of 1937, which paralyzed much of the midwest, inundated the earthen levy started in 1859 and improved after every subsequent flood, and destroyed most of the records in the Gallatin County Courthouse, even though they had been carried to the second floor for safety. The misery caused by the winter flood was too much: Most of the town moved to higher ground, creating the current city of (New) Shawneetown and the decaying village of Old Shawneetown, consisting of a few taverns, the two bank buildings, and about 350 residents attracted by the town's outlaw reputation.

The first bank building was moved off the levy and restored by the Gallatin County Historical Society in 1974, while the State of Illinois seems to hope that the second bank will fall in before it can be restored.

To the north of Shawneetown, Irish families, led by General Michael Kelly Lawler, established Pond Settlement around 1820, and later Ridgway, built along the railroad right-of way and now the county's second city. Ridgway, home of Blevins Popcorn Company, proclaims itself "Popcorn capital of the world" each September during the annual Popcorn Day festival.

Gallatin County currently is home to approximately 8000 residents in its 324 square miles. Some former county settlements were Gold Hill, Bowlesville, Saline Mines, Crawford, Doherty, Dorsey Valley and Elba. Tiny New Haven and Omaha exist on the northern border of the county near White County, and Junction is located on the southern section. The history of the county is the subject of a beautiful mural in the Gallatin County Courthouse in Shawneetown. A revised county history was published in 1986, edited by Lucille Lawler, and includes several entries for the following names: Winters, Abell, Moye, Vickery, Spivey, Skaggs, Sheets, Downen, Skates and Rister.

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