Lee County was created on February 27, 1839 (Laws, 1839, p. 170) and was formed from Ogle County . Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in: Ogle County (1836–1839), [Eastern Part: LaSalle County (1831–1836), Putnam County (1825–1831)], [Western Part: JoDaviess County (1827–1836), Fulton County (1823–1825), Pike County (1821–1823)], [Eastern Part: Clark County (1819–1821), Crawford County (1816–1819), Edwards County (1815–1816)], [Western Part: Bond County (1817–1821), Madison County (1815–1817)], Madison County (1812–1817) and St. Clair County (1801–1812).
The County was named for Richard Henry Lee, an orator and statesman of the Revolutionary period, a member of the Continental Congress, a Representative in Congress and United States Senator from Virginia. The County Seat is Dixon (1839-Present). See also County History for more historical details.
Lee County Townships include Alto (Formed from Willow
Creek on February 28, 1860), Amboy, Ashton (Formed
as Ogle from Bradford on February 12, 1861; name changed
to Ashton on November 7, 1867), Bradford, Brooklyn, China (Name
changed from Fremont on May 14, 1850), Dixon, East
Grove (Formed from Hamilton on November
9, 1864), Hamilton, Harmon (Formed
from Marion on March 3, 1857), Lee
Center, Marion (Formed
from Hamilton and Amboy in September, 1854), May (Formed
from Hamilton in September, 1854), Nachusa (Formed
from China on February 8, 1871), Nelson (Formed
from Dixon on February 28, 1860), Palmyra, Reynolds (Formed
from Brooklyn in September, 1858), South
Dixon (Formed from Dixon on February
12, 1867), Sublette (Name
changed from Hanno), Viola (Formed
as Stockton from Brooklyn on February 12, 1861; name
changed to Viola in September, 1861), Willow
Creek (Formed from Wyoming in September,
1854), Wyoming (Name
changed from Paw Paw on May 14, 1850) Townships
Cities, Towns and Communities include Amboy, Ashton, Compton, Dixon, Franklin Grove, Harmon, Nelson, Paw Paw, Steward, Sublette, West Brooklyn
PLEASE READ!! 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 http://www.countyoflee.org/. All departments below at located at the Lee County Courthouse, P.O. Box 329, Dixon, IL 61021 , unless a different address is listed below. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.
Lee County Circuit Court Clerk has Probate Records from 1839 and Court Records from 1840 and is located at the address above. Phone Number: (815)
284-5234 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.
Lee County Recorder has Land Records from 1838 and is located at the courthouse. Phone Number: (815)
288-3309 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.
Lee County Clerk has Birth / Death Records from 1877 and Marriage Records from 1839 and is located at the courthouse. Phone Number: (815) 288-3309 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 Lee County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Lee County Court Records by clicking the link below:
Illinois Immigration & Emigration Records - Immigration records help the family historian to understand the movements of their ancestry as they relocated to different parts of the world.
Click Here to Search Illinois Birth, Marriage & Death Records! - Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.
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.
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. 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.
Processing Time: 6 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering below
Below is a list of online resources for Lee County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Lee County Vital Records by clicking the link below:
Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE - 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.
Click Here to Search Illinois Voter Lists & Census Records! - 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.
Below is a list of online resources for Lee County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Lee County Census Records by clicking the link below:
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 Lee County Maps. Email us with websites containing Lee County Maps by clicking the link below:
Click Here to Search Illinois Military Records! - 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 Lee County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Lee County Military Records by clicking the link below:
Southern Claims Commission from the State of Illinois (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings.
Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
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 Lee County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Lee County Tax Records by clicking the link below:
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 Lee County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Lee County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:
Illinois Regional Archives Depository, Northern Illinois University, c/o Regional History Center, Founders Memorial Library, Room 400, DeKalb, IL 60115; Telephone: (815) 753-1807. Map and Directions. Covers the following counties: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, DuPage, JoDaviess, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago. Hours: Monday – Friday, except state holidays 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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.
Illinois Newspapers & Periodicals Records - Newspapers and periodicals are the diaries of local communities. They are excellent sources of family history details - often recorded nowhere else. Look for obituaries, marriages, legal notices, and more found in our Historical Newspaper Archives.
Click Here to Search Illinois Obituary Records! - This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. 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.
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.
Below is a list of online resources for Lee County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Lee County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:
Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of Illinois obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a Illinois newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers from Illinois.
Click Here to Search Illinois Family Tree Records! - 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 Lee County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Lee County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:
Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
Illinois Family & Local History Records - The Family & Local Histories Collection lets you read journals, memoirs, and other first-hand historical narratives right on your computer. Gathered from some of the world's finest libraries, these materials may provide hard-to-find town, county, and state information; tax records and wills; military, church, and court records; as well as photographs, stories, and maps.
In the early years of the 1800's this area, with its broad prairies which were then only traversed in all directions by herds of deer and antelope along with the bands of Indians which lived and hunted in this region. This section of the country was at the time the undisputed home of the red man and no white man was then a citizen of what was to become Lee County. A few white settlers had tried unsuccessfully to stake their claim but were quickly run off by Indians.
In 1818 Illinois attained statehood and was rapidly sectioned off into areas known as counties. It would be some 21 years until the county of Lee would be formed.
The earliest settlement that was made within the county was where the City of Dixon now stands. The early part of 1828 would have a half-breed named Joseph Ogee build a log cabin and establish a ferry across the Rock River. A year later a post office was established with a man named John Gay becoming the postmaster. On April 11, 1830, John Dixon a native of New York came here and located. He and Ogee were the entire population at the time. It was shortly thereafter that Mr. Dixon would purchase the interest of Ogee for a reported $1,800 and the place then shortly became known as Dixon's Ferry.
The Black Hawk War which was a fierce and bloody struggle lasting for several months kept the growth of Dixon's Ferry and the surrounding country from becoming inhabited. But in two to three years after the war, with the Indians having all been removed, settlers began to migrate to this beautiful area.
One such person was Zachariah Melugin who came to Dixon's Ferry on his way to the mining country in Galena. Being out of money he asked John Dixon for help. he was a blacksmith by trade, so Mr. Dixon furnished him with a set of tools. He abandoned his trip to the mines, settled and worked at his trade here until 1834.
James P. Dixon had received a contract for carrying mail from Chicago to Dixon's Ferry and it became necessary to establish a station some distance southeast of Dixon. Mr. Melugin quit his job as blacksmith and went to an area where the station would have to be located and made the first settlement in the county aside from Dixon's Ferry. This area became known as Melugin's Grove.
Organization Of Lee County
Previous to 1836, Jo Davies County embraced all of the northwest part of the state, which included the present territory of Lee and was called the Rock River precinct of Jo Davies County. In December of 1836, Ogle County was organized and now the territory of Lee was part of Ogle County. On the 27th of February, 1839 the act of the General Assembly creating Lee County was approved and it became a law recognizing Lee as one of the counties of the commonwealth.
It was shortly thereafter on the 31st of May that Dixon was selected as the capital of the county. The County of Lee was named in honor of Richard "Lighthorse" Henry Lee, an orator and popular statesman of the Revolutionary Period. The county lies between 41 and 42 degrees of North Latitude. Its Longitude is about 12 degrees and 30 minutes west. It is bounded on the north by Ogle County, on the west by Whiteside, on the south by Bureau and LaSalle, and on the east by DeKalb. The county runs 36 miles east and west, and by 22 miles north and south. There are 22 townships located within which comprises 792 square miles or 506,880 acres.
Pioneering Spirit
The stories of early settlers which ventured across this vast land that we now call the United States along with the recollections of their early treks, some of which have been preserved in family bibles, books and family tales are just as interesting today as when they occurred.
As the population of the country steadily moved Westward, those that perhaps had left many of the cities, towns and villages in the East with the then modern day comforts and conveniences, only to venture into the wilderness were appropriately called pioneers.
For the adventures that would be shared and the trails they would open to others that would follow them, would leave its mark in history. The hardships were many, some giving up and returning to their points of departure. Others, steadfast and unwavering ventured onward to the unknown, but with expectation and hope for a better life.
Those that settled in this area of the Rock River Valley would encounter some hardships but not nearly as severe as others who would venture further West through the plains and mountainous regions. For those that stayed here and started a new life with only what a wagon could carry, would find that there was plenty of good land and an abundance of food and water. But why Illinois? And why this particular area?
There were several reasons why people chose to come to this area later to be called Lee County, in what was designated as the "Great Illinois Country." The love of adventure and the sights of new scenes brought some pioneers West. These were men much in the spirit of Daniel Boone. Others came with the idea of quickly making great profits in the new country. But most of those early settlers came because of the vision that here an opportunity existed to buy cheap land, to establish new homes and to give to their families a far better living than they could back East.
Due to the panic in 1837, times were hard in the Eastern part of the country. In Europe, because of the number of recent wars, times there were bad also. Additionally, many of the Eastern States only allowed property owners to vote. This excluded a vast number of people who were just as interested in their government and its issues.
In Illinois, from its earliest days, the state gave the right to vote to any man who had lived in the state a year and could pay their county tax. Other significant factors were many of the settlers came with the idea of working in the lead mines at Galena, at least part of the year, or of profiting in some way through the seasonal migration of people to Galena. It would be a lucrative business, many thought, for travelers must have food and shelter along their journeys.
In 1837 land was cheap, yet at $2 per acre, with a minimum of 640 acres, few people could buy it. But it was shortly afterward the price of land was lowered to $1.25 per acre, with a new minimum now set at 40 acres. Many could now afford to buy enough land for a really large farm.
The thick groves of tall oak trees and areas along waterways provided the best home sites as these were quickly gobbled up. The trees would provide logs for a home, firewood, material for furniture, fencing and shade during the summer days.
Pioneer homes in the early stages within this region were all very much alike. They were made of unhewed logs, chinked with wood and plastered over with clay mortar. Shakes for the roof were made of split trees, as was the floor. If shelves for dishes and pans were made, they were usually done by boring holes in the logs and driving long pins in, then laying boards across the pins.
The room was warmed by a fireplace which also served for cooking. Bread was often made by being baked in iron kettles with iron covers, the kettle being placed in one side of the fireplace and then covered with coals and ashes.
Corn was the staple food and found its way served in a variety of forms, bread, pudding, hominy and mush. Mills were located far away as a rule, so often the corn had to be pounded into a rough meal at home. Sweets consisted of wild honey and maple syrup.
Wild fruits, such as plums, cherries, crabapples, grapes and berries were used and often were dried for use in the winter months. Nuts were usually plentiful in wooded areas. As soon as settlers were able to raise their own pork and beef, they then did their own butchering. Most of the meat was dried or cured for later use.
The endurance, fortitude and will of the pioneer was strong. And so it was, a simple life filled with hardship and often tragedy, but the "pioneer" endured and conquered the obstacles placed before them. For those that lasted, it opened new trails for those that would follow in their footsteps.
Growth And Prosperity
In 1840 the population of the county was 2,035, by 1845 it had risen to3,282, with 1850 showing a rapid rise to 5,289. By 1870 the county population had grown to 27,252. Homes, places of business, and industrial undertakings were springing up and modern school buildings were replacing cabins.
Undoubtedly the railroads played a significant part in the development of the county. Towns sprang up all along the routes. Compton, Amboy, Ashton, Franklin Grove, all started to prosper for now there was a way of moving farm goods and materials easily and rapidly back and forth with major areas such as Chicago and Peoria.
Gone are the days with the sound of the pioneer's axe, waging destruction to the tall majestic forest trees, the stillness and monotony which later on became broken by the shrill whistle of the "iron horse" or the almost ceaseless hum of machinery that filled the air.
