Pope County was created on January 10, 1816 (Territorial Laws, 1815-1816, p. 66) and was formed from Gallatin and Johnson Counties. Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in: Gallatin County (1812–1816), Randolph County (1801–1812), Johnson County (1812–1816) and Knox, Northwest Territory (1790–1801).
The County was named for Nathaniel Pope, first Territorial Secretary of State (1809–1816), and last Territorial Delegate to Congress from Illinois.. The County Seat is Golconda. Prior County Seats was Sarahsville—Name changed to Golconda on June 24, 1817 (1816–1817) and Golconda (1817–Present). See also County History for more historical details.
Pope County has never adopted township form of government. The county has been divided into precincts. Pope County Precincts include Eddyville No. 6, Golconda No. 1, Golconda No. 2, Golconda No. 3, Jefferson No. 4, Webster No. 5 Precinct
Cities, Towns and Communities include Eddyville, Golconda
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.popeco.net/. All departments below at located at the Pope County Courthouse, P.O. Box 216, Golconda, IL 62938 , unless a different address is listed below. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.
Pope County Circuit Court Clerk has Probate Records from 1816 and Court Records from 1817 and is located at the address above. Phone Number: (618)
683-3941 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.
Pope County Recorder has Land Records from 1816 and is located at the courthouse. Phone Number: (618)
683-4466 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.
Pope County Clerk has Birth / Death Records from 1877 and Marriage Records from 1813 and is located at the courthouse. Phone Number: (618)
683-4466 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 Pope County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Pope 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 Pope County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Pope 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 Pope County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Pope 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 Pope County Maps. Email us with websites containing Pope 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 Pope County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Pope 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 Pope County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Pope 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 Pope County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Pope County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:
Illinois Regional Archives Depository, c/o Special Collections, Morris Library – 6632 Southern Illinois University, 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.
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 Pope County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Pope 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 Pope County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Pope 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.
Although we have some prosperous citizens, Pope County's real wealth does not accumulate in bank accounts. We take pride in our historic heritage, our great natural beauty and the organizations and events which give meaning to our lives.
Even though there are reports of white explorers in the area now known as Pope County, as early as 1780, the first permanent settlement was in 1798 at the site of present-day Golconda. The town began with a primitive ferry in 1798, operated by Major James Lusk, a revolutionary war veteran, and his wife Sarah McElwaine Lusk, daughter of a Virginia senator, who led a party of 34 that left Waxhall, South Carolina in April 1796 on a trek to Livingston County, Ky. The group was on their way to their "promised land". They arrived at the Ohio river, opposite what is now Golconda, May 4, 1796.
In 1797 Major Lusk secured a ferry license from Kentucky. He was quickly disenchanted with his situation when the terms for admission of Kentucky to statehood included the right to own slaves (His first wife, Laetitica Thomas, had been murdered by a slave. Lusk disposed of all his slaves, at once, and was henceforth a bitter opponent of the trade.)
Lusk decided to leave Kentucky for Illinois and petitioned Governor William Henry Harrison of Indiana Territory (which included Illinois at the time) for a ferry license for the "north bank" of the creek which now bears his name. Gov. Harrison denied his request until such time as the Delaware Indians left the area.
Lusk was impatient, moved across the river, and operated his ferry without a license. He completed a two-story frame house in 1798, from keel-boat lumber, at the intersection of the river and the creek. He operated the ferry from this "Ferry House," sometimes called the "Tavern House." The Lusks thus became the first settlers between Kentucky and Kaskaskia in the Illinois area.
Before Lusk died in 1803, he completed a road six feet wide to Green's Ferry on the Mississippi as a plan to create business for the ferry. Sarah became the proprietor of the business, and in 1804 became the first woman in Illinois to obtain a ferry license, making the business legitimate.
When the first steamer passed down river in 1811, it stopped here to take on fuel. Thousands of immigrants crossed the ferry to follow westward trails. In 1838-1939 some 13,000 Cherokees crossed on their "Trail of Tears" To Oklahoma.
The town and county were both organized in 1816. The County got its name from Nathaniel Pope who was the secretary of the Illinois Territory. The town was named Sarahsville in honor of Sarah Lusk. Just how the town evolved from Sarahsville to Golconda contains a small amount of mystery. Court records show the platting of Sarahsville on August 28, 1816. On January 24, 1817, the name "Corinth" was ordered. That same day another entry says: "Order that the town now called Sarahsville, the present seat of justice for Pope County, hereafter be called Golconda, at the request of the proprietors" -- County Records Book A. There is no explanation for the shuffling of names. The traditional meaning of the word "Golconda" is "land of wealth," and, to us, it is appropriate.
In 1818, Illinois entered the Union as a free state. Two of our original settlers helped write the Illinois State Constitution. The constitution did not specifically regulate against slavery already established. It was legal to keep an indentured servant for one year, but this time limit was generally ignored. The first emancipation certificates of freedom found recorded in Pope County were issued in 1823 and the last certificate was issued in 1850. There were no slaves in Illinois in 1860.
The population of Pope County reflected the emigration of Europeans to America that occurred in the 19th century. At the peak of population, which mainly consisted of Scotch, Irish, French, English, Welsh, German, and African immigrants, many small communities dotted the county. Usually they consisted of a church, school, post office, mill, blacksmith shop, and a general store. The rural communities were important trading centers in areas where roads were often impassable and a trip to Golconda was an all day endeavor. The social life of the rural community was centered around the church and school. The population steadily increased from 2,610 in 1820 to a peak of 14,017 in 1890. The population declined to 4,250 in 1980.
The Golden Age of Pope county occurred from 1870-1930. Growth in the county was marked by economic prosperity. Businesses flourished when Golconda became the commercial center of the area. The era of the railroad brought freight and passenger service to rural communities isolated from river transportation by poor roads. River transportation continued to serve the area until after the 1937 flood when construction of the flood wall cut off access to the river. The affluence within the county between 1870 and 1900 was reflected in the substantial houses built at that time.
The Great Depression affected Pope County the same way it affected the nation, everyone experienced some degree of poverty. In Pope County three banks closed. Schools paid the teachers with tax warrants, many citizens declared bankruptcy and others lost their life savings.
At this time (1933), the government established the Shawnee National forest in Southern Illinois, which was meant to relieve small farms of worn out land. Many farmers responded to this opportunity to sell their land. Thousands of acres were acquired in southern Illinois. A pine plantation project was initiated which would eventually return money to the county from the sale of the trees. This money was to be used solely for education and roads within the county.
The National Government gave assistance through Relief and CCC. Several CCC Camps were located in Pope County. The Purpose of CCC was to put food on the table of many American families by putting young men in camps where they learned trades that were followed throughout the years.
One of these camps, a Forest Service Camp, was located at Eddyville with the concern of building roads and making recreational areas throughout the Shawnee National Forest. They also planted several hundred thousand trees, along with walnuts, acorns, and hickory nuts.
Pope County was fortunate to have this CCC camp. They made many long term improvements to the Shawnee which are still being utilized today by natives and tourists.
Assistance to Pope County was also offered by the University of Illinois when they established the Dixon Springs Agricultural center. Here experiments were conducted for the purpose of improving farming and animal husbandry techniques.
In the 1950's, school consolidation that occurred in much of rural America was experienced in Pope County. Gradually, as the population declined from 1940-1960, small schools closed and students were bused to larger attendance centers in Eddyville, Robbs, New Liberty, and Golconda. In 1969, it was voted to build one new grade school across from the high school which was built in 1954. Attendance began at the new grade school in the fall of 1971 and the Pope County Community Unit School District #1 was in operation. County-wide busing brought the entire school population to one attendance complex.
Our scenery is unsurpassed--the Shawnee National Forest, which covers one third of the county--gives us lakes and creeks, rock formations and caves, wooded hills and valleys that are most excellent for hiking, camping, bird watching, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, and to just get away.
Events such as the River-to-River Relay, Trail of Tears Commemorative, Farmer's Market, 9-day Trail Ride, Fall Festival, Deer Festival, and Christmas House Tour are among our yearly events.
Our local organizations such as Main Street Golconda, Pope County Historical Society, Golconda-Pope County Chamber of Commerce, and Golconda Rotary are joined by other civic groups and local businesses in working to welcome our many visitors. Many of the individuals involved in these organizations as well as others strive to maintain and gather information about the rich history of Pope County and the people who have lived here.
We all believe that Pope County, Illinois is the place to be. I think that you could ask anyone raised here and they would say that it is "HOME."
Information supplied by Mildred B. McCormick & Pope County Historical Book, Volume 1 April 1999
