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Illinois (territory) -- Edwards (county)


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County Quick Reference

County Seat: Palmyra

County Name: Named for Ninian Edwards, governor of the Illinois Territory.

 
Boundary Changes
(click on the name of a change to see more information)
 
Date
Area
Change
28 NOV 181447,666Edwards County created out of Gallatin and Madison counties.
11 DEC 181647,598Edwards County lost a small amount of land in exchanges with the newly formed State of Indiana.
31 DEC 18162,543Crawford County created from Edwards County.
   

 

 

Authority
(click on a title below to view laws involved in the formation or governance of the area)
  
1814An Act for the division of Galletin County
  
1816An Act to enable the people of the Indiana territory to form a constitution and state government, and for the admission of such state into the Union on an equal footing with the original states
  
1816An Act for the division of Edwards County
  


Background
(general information on the area to put it in the context of history)

Edwards County was formed on 28 November 1814 by by Territorial law [click here for more information]. The county's boundaries would change twice prior to statehood.

The following map shows the original size of the county at its founding (in red with yellow border) superimposed on a modern map

.

Edwards County in 1814

 

Census
(click on a year below to view information on the population of the area)


DatePopulationChange
18181,948---


Bibliography
(click on the title of the following works to learn more about life in the area; for those items not available online, check with your local library for availability)


  • 1865 State Illinois Census of Edwards County. Albion, Ill.: Edwards County Historical Society, 1994.
  • Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations ... and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers. Philadelphia, J. L. McDonough & co., 1883.
  • Angle, Paul M. The English Settlement in Edwards County, Illinois.
  • August Gast Bank Note & Lithographing Company. "Edwards County, Illinois, 1890." St. Louis: Aug. Gast Bank Note & Litho. Co., 1890.
  • August Gast Bank Note & Lithographing Company. Edwards County, Illinois, 1890. Microfiche. St. Louis: Aug. Gast Bank Note & Litho. Co., 1891.
  • Beeson, Betty. Born in Wayne County, Illinois : Married in the Illinois Counties of Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Lawrence, Wabash. 2006.
  • Birkbeck, Morris. Extracts from a supplementary letter from the Illinois; an address to British emigrants; and a reply to the remarks of William Cobbett, esq. Second edition. London, Printed for James Ridgway, 1819
  • Birkbeck, Morris. Letters from Illinois. London : Printed [by T. Miller] for Taylor and Hessey ..., 1818
  • Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Edwards County, Illinois : With Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. Deluxe ed. Norman Okla.: Arphax Pub. Co., 2007.
  • Chalcraft, Edwin L. Genealogical Data Relating to the Families of Richard and Lucy Chalcraft, and Richard and Emily Elizabeth Pickering, Early Members of the English Settlement in Edwards County, Illinois, Established by George Flower and Morris Birkbeck in 1818. Seattle: 1939.
  • Colyer, Walter. [Map of Edwards County, Illinois]. Albion, Ill.: 1907.
  • Currie, Bill P. Heads of Families in 1820 Edwards County, Illinois, and Their Wives, Vol. 1. Illinois: B. Currie.
  • Dannehl, Margaret Lindsay, Kenneth L. McCaw, Daughters of the American Revolution. Illinois Society. Genealogical Records Committee., Daughters of the American Revolution. Skokie Valley Chapter (Kenilworth Ill.), Daughters of the American Revolution. Bonpas Chapter (Albion Ill.), Daughters of the American Revolution. Princess Wach-e-kee Chapter (Watseka Ill.), Daughters of the American Revolution. Elias Kent Kane Chapter (Saint Charles Ill.), Daughters of the American Revolution. William Dennison Chapter (Aledo Ill.) and Daughters of the American Revolution. Downers Grove Chapter. County Records : Cannon, Edwards, Iroquois, Kane, Mercer, Tazewill [Sic]. 1 vols. Illinois Dar Genealogical Records Committee Report. Series 2. Illinois: Illinois DAR Genealogical Records Committee, 1993.
  • Daughters of the American Revolution. Bonpas Chapter (Albion Ill.). Edwards County, Il Obituaries. Albion, Ill.: The Chapter : Illinois DAR Gemealogical sic Records Committee, 1994.
  • Daughters of the American Revolution. Illinois Society. Genealogical Records Committee. Cemetery Inscriptions of Edwards County, Illinois. Volume I, Old Albion Cemetery, Albion, Il. Illinois: Illinois DAR Genealogical Records Committee, 2000.
  • Daughters of the American Revolution. Illinois Society. Genealogical Records Committee. and Daughters of the American Revolution. Bonpas Chapter (Albion Ill.). 1865 State Census of Edwards County, Illinois Illinois Dar Genealogical Records Committee [Report]. Series 2. Illinois: Illinois DAR Genealogical Records Committee, 1995.
  • Drake C.B. and Frank D. Mayes. "Map of Edwards County, Illinois." [Albion, Ill.?]: The Author, 1927.
  • Dukes, Edgar Louis. Yester Years in Edwards County, Illinois; a Simple Tale for Simple People. 3d ed. Albion, Ill., 1950.
  • Eberhart, Elsie Swartz. Edwards County, Illinois: 1825 State Census, Early History, Marriages, and Patron List from 1813 to 1880. Rockford, Ill.: Ancestry Trails and Tales, 1973.
  • Eberhart, Elsie Swartz. Edwards County, Illinois 1825 Census : With Additions, Early History Beginnings of Pioneers, Marriages, and Patrons List from 1813 to 1880. Indianapolis, IN: Heritage House, 1985.
  • Edwards County [Illinois] Historical Society [Newsletter]. Albion, Illinois.
  • Edwards County Historical Society (Ill.). 1820-1840 Federal and State Census Records, Edwards County, Illinois. [Albion, Ill.?: Edwards County Historical Society?]
  • Edwards County Historical Society (Ill.). 1820, 1825, 1830, 1835 and 1840 Census Records of Edwards County, Illinois. Albion, Ill.: Edwards County Historical Society.
  • Edwards County Historical Society (Ill.). 1850 Census Edwards County, Illinois. Albion, Ill.: The Society.
  • Edwards County Historical Society (Ill.). 1855 Census, Edwards County, Illinois. Albion, IL: Edwards County Historical Society.
  • Edwards County Historical Society (Ill.). Census Records, Edwards County, Illinois, 1820-1840. 1 vols. Albion, Ill.?: Edwards County Historical Society?
  • Edwards County Historical Society (Ill.). Marriage Records of Edwards County, Illinois, 1815-1844. Albion, Ill.: The Society.
  • Edwards County Historical Society (Ill.). Edwards County, Illinois, Bone Gap Cemetery and Trinity-Rice Cemetery. S.l.: s.n., 1979.
  • Edwards County Historical Society (Ill.). A History of Edwards County, Illinois. 2 vols. Albion, Ill.: Edwards County Historical Society, 1980.
  • Edwards County Historical Society (Ill.). 1860 Census, Edwards County, Illinois. 1982 ed. Albion, IL: The Society, 1982.
  • Edwards County Historical Society (Ill.). 1870 Census, Edwards County, Illinois. 1986 ed. Albion, Ill.: The Society, 1986.
  • Edwards County Historical Society (Ill.). Earliest Marriage Register 1815-1819, Edwards County, Illinois. Albion, IL (212 W. Main St., Albion 62806): Edwards County Historical Society, 1986.
  • Edwards County Historical Society (Ill.). 1850 Census Records, Edwards County, Illinois. Mount Carmel, Ill.: Mount Carmel Public Library, 1988.
  • Edwards County Historical Society (Ill.). Obituaries of Edwards County, Illinois from the Albion Journal-Register Albion, Illinois. Albion, Ill.: The Society, 1989.
  • Edwards County Historical Society (Ill.). History of Edwards County, Illinois. 2 vols. Dallas, TX: Curtis Media, 1993.
  • Edwards County Historical Society (Ill.). Index to Death Books 1-4, Edwards County, Illinois, Dec. 1877 - Apr. 1933. 1 vols. Albion, Ill.: Edwards County Historical Society, 1994.
  • "Edwards County, Illinois: 1891." St. Louis: Aug. Gast Bank Note & Litho. Co., 1891.
  • Edwards County Resources Committee (Ill.). Churches of Edwards County. 1 vols. Illinois: Edwards County Resources Committee.
  • Flower, George. History of the English Settlement in Edwards County, Illinois : Founded in 1817 and 1818 Chicago Historical Society's Collection V.1. Chicago: Fergus Printing Co., 1882.
  • Flower, Richard. Letters from the Illinois, 1820. 1821. Containing an account of the English settlement at Albion and its vicinity, and a refutation of various misrepresentations, those more particularly of Mr. Cobbett. By Richard Flower. With a letter from M. Birkbeck; and a preface and notes by Benjamin Flower. London, Printed for J. Ridgway, 1822.
  • Fordham, Elias Pym, Elias Pym Fordham, and Hubert de Lasere Spence. Extracts from Letters Written, on a Journey to the Western Parts of the United States : And During a Residence in the Illinois Territory / 1818.
  • Fordham, Elias Pym. Personal narratives of travels in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky : and of a residence in the Illinois Territory: 1817-1818. Cleveland, Ohio : The Arthur H. Clark company, 1906
  • Friedens Evangelical Church (United Church of Christ), Browns, Edwards County, Illinois. microform . Evansville, Ind.: Data Business Group, 1999.
  • Geo. A. Ogle & Co. "Standard Atlas of Edwards County, Illinois : Including a Plat Book of the Villages, Cities and Townships of the County, Map of the State, United States and World : Patrons Directory, Reference Business Directory and Departments Devoted to General Information, Analysis of the System of U.S. Land Surveys, Digest of the System of Civil Government, Etc. Etc." Chicago: Geo. A. Ogle & Co., 1907.
  • Goodson, Allen, Kathleen Stanfield Cook, Janet Gilles Hansen, Kenneth L. McCaw, Helen Thompson Murray, Daughters of the American Revolution. Stephen Decatur Chapter (Decatur Ill.), Daughters of the American Revolution. Salt Creek Prairie Chapter (Mason City Ill.) and Daughters of the American Revolution. Illinois Society. Earliest Marriages of Edwards County, Ill. : Albion, Ill. 7 vols. Illinois Dar Genealogical Records Committee Report. Series 2. Ill.: Daughters of the American Revolution Illinois Society, 1989.
  • Goodson, Lois and Edwards County Historical Society (Ill.). Marriage Book B, Edwards County, Illinois : Complete Alphabetical Listing of Males and Females. Albion, Ill.: Edwards County Historical Society.
  • Goodson, Lois and Edwards County Historical Society (Ill.). Marriage Records, Edwards County, Illinois, 1815-1844. Albion, Ill.: Edwards County Historical Society.
  • Goodson, Lois Jean. Obituaries of Edwards County, Illinois Appearing in the 1958 Albion Journal-Register. Albion, Ill.: Edwards County Historical Society.
  • Goodson, Lois Jean and Daughters of the American Revolution. Illinois Society. Genealogical Records Committee. Edwards County, Il Obituaries. Albion, IL: Bonpas Chapter, 1994.
  • Gresham, John M., Rufus Blanchard, Ada Douglas Harmon, George Flower and Cox Library (Tucson Ariz.). Illinois County Histories, Books 101-107. Microfilm. Tucson, Ariz.: Americana Unlimited, 1979.
  • Hall, William and James Monaghan. From England to Illinois in 1821 : The Journal of William Hall.
  • Harlow, Leo, Daughters of the American Revolution. Illinois Society. and Daughters of the American Revolution. Bonpas Chapter (Albion Ill.). Dewitt County, Il. Marriages. Books A.B.C.D : 1839-1901. Edwards County Marriages, Book B. 3 vols. Illinois Dar Genealogical Records Committee Report. Series 2. Illinois: Daughters of the American Revolution Illinois Society, 1993.
  • Harper, Terry L. History of Edwards County, Illinois. Volume Ii Chicago Historical Society's Collection Vol. 2. Dallas, TX: Curtis Media Corporation, 1993.
  • Illinois. Division of Highways. "Traffic Map, Edwards County, Illinois." Springfield, Ill.: The Div., 1937.
  • Illinois. Division of Highways. "General Highway and Transportation Map, Edwards County, Illinois." Springfield, Ill.: The Div., 1950.
  • Illinois. Division of Highways. Bureau of County Roads., Illinois. Division of Highways. Bureau of Local Roads., Illinois. Division of Highways. Bureau of Local Roads and Streets. and Illinois. Dept. of Transportation. Office of Planning and Programming. "[West Salem Street Maps]." 1949.
  • Illinois. Division of Highways. Bureau of Research and Planning., Illinois. Dept. of Transportation. Office of Planning Programming and Environmental Review., Illinois. Dept. of Transportation. Office of Policy and Planning. and Illinois. Dept. of Transportation. Office of Planning and Programming. "Traffic Map, Edwards County, Illinois." Springfield, Ill.: The Bureau, 1953.
  • Illinois. Division of Highways. Bureau of Research and Planning., Illinois. Division of Highways. Bureau of Planning., Illinois. Dept. of Transportation. Office of Planning Programming and Environmental Science. and Illinois. Dept. of Transportation. Office of Planning and Programming. "General Highway Map, Edwards County, Illinois." Springfield, Ill.: The Bureau, 1951.
  • Index of of Names [in] History of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash Counties, Illinois. Philadelphia; Kokomo, Ind.: J.L. McDonough & Co.; Selby Pub. & Printing, 1883.
  • Mann, Betty M. 1880 Census, Edwards County, Illinois : Albion & Albion Precinct by Horace J. Craig, Grayville, French Creek & Dixon by John J. Harris, West Salem & Salem by Gaither C. Walser, Shelby by Morris Colyer. Lansing, Mich.: Mann, 1975.
  • Mann, Betty M. The Manns of Edwards County, Illinois. Lansing, Mich.: Mann, 1977.
  • Mann, Betty M. The Neals of Edwards County, Illinois. Lansing, Mich.: Mann, 1977.
  • Mann, Betty M. The Manns of Edwards County, Illinois. Rev. 1993 ed. Lansing, MI: B.M. Mann, 1993.
  • Mary Smith Fay Genealogy Library (Carmi Ill.). White County Cemeteries. Carmi, Ill. (203 North Church Street, Carmi 62821): Mary Smith Fay Genealogy Library, 2001.
  • Mayne, Ben L. "Edwards County, Illinois." Albion, Ill.: Ben L. Mayne and Walter Colyer, 1907.
  • Pictures from the Past-- Edwards County, Illinois. Volume 1. Albion, Ill.: S & R Media, 2003.
  • Priest, Lyman W. Johannes and Elisabeth (Löliger) Strub, Basel-Land, Switzerland, Rowan, Surry, Stokes, Forsyth Counties, North Carolina, Bartholomew County, Indiana, Edwards County, Illinois, 1719-1884 : A Three Generation Study : Related Families Include Alberty, Aldridge, Billetter, Boehlo/Belo, Bonn, Brietz, Butner, Chitty, Geiger, George, Greter, Hamilton, Hanke, Hauser, Henning, Hinkston, Holland, Kenyon, Loesch, Mücke/Mickey, Pfaff, Pfohl, Rights, Ruede, Seiler, Sims, Spach, Stoltz, Stolz, Transou, Vickrey, Wesner. Charlottesville, Va. (1428 Oxford Rd., Charlottesville 22903): L.W. Priest, 1988.
  • Rand McNally and Company. "Map of Edwards County, Illinois." Chicago, Ill.: Rand McNally & Co., 1910.
  • Richland County Genealogical and Historical Society. and United States. Census Office. 1880 Census by the United States of America of Edwards County Illinois. Olney, IL: Richland County Genealogical and Historical Society, 1981.
  • Rockford Map Publishers Rockford Ill. Atlas & Plat Book Wabash-Edwards County, Illinois / Rockford Map Publishers. Rockford, Ill.: Rockford Map Publishers, 1972.
  • Rockford Map Publishers. "Farm Plat Book with Index to Owners, Edwards County, Illinois." Rockford, Ill.: Rockford Map Publishers.
  • Rockford Map Publishers. Farm Plat Book and Business Guide : Edwards County, Illinois. Rockford,, 1951.
  • Rockford Map Publishers. "Farm Plat Book and Business Guide, Edwards County, Illinois." Rockford, 1951.
  • Rockford Map Publishers. "Triennial Atlas & Plat Book, Edwards County, Illinois." Rockford, Ill.: Rockford Map Publishers, 1970.
  • Rockford Map Publishers. "Wabash-Edwards County, Illinois, Atlas & Plat Book." Rockford, Ill.: Rockford Map Publishers : Distributed by Bank of Mount Carmel, 1972.
  • Rockford Map Publishers. Atlas & Plat Book, Edwards-Wabash County, Illinois, 1978 Retrospect Historical Archives. Rockford, Ill.: Rockford Map Publishers, 1978.
  • Rockford Map Publishers. "Edwards-Wabash County, Illinois, Atlas & Plat Book : 1978." Rockford, Ill. Mt. Carmel, Ill.: Rockford Map Publishers; Distributed by Bank of Mount Carmel, 1978.
  • Sanborn Map Company. "Albion, Edwards County, Illinois, May 1910." New York: Sanborn Map Co., 1910.
  • Sanborn Map Company. "Albion, Edwards County, Illinois, July 1926." New York: Sanborn Map Co., 1926.
  • Sanborn Map Company. "West Salem, Edwards County, Illinois, April 1927." New York: Sanborn Map Co., 1927.
  • Schonert, Janet and Wanda Shelby. Edwards County, Illinois, Cemetery Inscriptions. Decatur, Ill.: Printed by Decatur Genealogical Society, 1969.
  • Smith, Charles W. A Contribution toward a Bibliography of Morris Birkbeck and the English Settlement in Edwards County, Illinois, Founded by Morris Birkbeck and George Flower, 1817-18. [Springfield, Ill.?], 1906.
  • Smith, Marjorie Corrine. 1850 Census of Edwards County, Illinois. Thomson, Ill.,: Heritage House, 1972.
  • Stevenson, Dan and Albert P. Haupert. Walk's Family. 1 vols. [4th rev.]. ed. Leucadia, CA: Dan Stevenson, 1983.
  • Streleski, Nelda. Edwards County, Illinois 1830 Federal Census (Heads of Family Only). Decatur? Ill.: Printed by the Decatur Genealogical Society, 1968.
  • United States. Surveyor General. and Illinois State Archives. Federal Township Plats of Illinois (1804-1891). Edwards County. Springfield, Ill.: Illinois State Archives, 2002. http://landplats.ilsos.net/Flash/Welcome.html.
  • W.W. Hixson & Co. "Edwards County, Ill." Rockford, Ill.: W.W. Hixson & Co., 1919.
  • W.W. Hixson & Co. "Edwards County, Ill." Rockford, Ill.: W.W. Hixson & Co., 1926.
  • W.W. Hixson & Co. "Plat Book of Edwards County, Illinois." Rockford, Ill.: W.W. Hixson & Co., 1926.
  • W.W. Hixson & Co. and Acme Bookbinding. "Plat Book of Edwards County, Illinois." Charlestown, Mass.: Acme Bookbinding, 2007.
  • Woods, John. Two Years' Residence in the Settlement on the English Prairie, June 25, 1820-July 3, 1821 Early Western Travels,. Cleveland, Ohio,: Arthur H. Clark, 1904.
 
Related Content
(the links below contain information related to this area)

An Act for the division of Gallatin County, 1815

published by Matthew L. Helm on Sun, 06/16/2013 - 17:41

Be it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the Illinois Territory, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That all that tract of Country within the following boundaries, (to wit,) beginning at the mouth of the little Wabash running up the same to Joseph Boon's mill, thence due West to the third principal meredian, thence North to the South Best corner of Edwards County, thence with Edwards County line East to the Big Wabash, thence down the same to the beginning ; shall constitute a separate County to be called White ; and for the purpose of fixing the permanent seat of Justice for the said county the following persons be appointed commissioners (to wit,) James Ratliff, Benjamin White, Samuel Hay, Thomas E. Craig and Stephen Hog, which said commissioners or a majority of them being duly sworn before some Judge or Justice, of the Peace in this Territory to faithfully take into view the situation of the settlement, the geography of the county

Census of Illinois Territory, 1818, Edwards County

published by Matthew L. Helm on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 20:45
The census covers Edwards County. The census includes name of county and for each household name of head of household, numbers of free white males twenty-one years of age or older, other white inhabitants, free Negroes and mulattoes, and servants and slaves.

An Act forming a separate County out of Gallatin, White and the detached part of Jackson county, 1818

published by Matthew L. Helm on Fri, 04/19/2013 - 10:14
BE it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the lllinois territory, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That all that tract of country within the following boundaries, to-wit: Beginning at the corner of townships ten and eleven on the line, between ranges four and five; thence north with said line thirty-six miles; thence west twenty four miles to the third principal meridian ; thence south with the same to the line dividing townships ten and eleven ; thence east to the beginning, shall constitute a separate county, to be called Franklin: And for the purpose of fixing the permanent seat of justice for said county, the following persons be appointed commissioners

An Act for the division of Galletin County, 1814

published by Matthew L. Helm on Mon, 04/15/2013 - 09:31
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the Illinois Territory and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That all that tract of Country within the following boundaries (towit) Beginning at the month of Bompast Creek on the big Wabash, and running thence due west to the Meridian line which runs north from the mouth of the Ohio River. Thence with said Meredian line and due North ’till it strikes the line of upper Canada, Thence with the line of upper Canada to the line that separates this Territory from the Indiana Territory and thence with the said dividing line to the beginning shall constitute a separate county to be called Edwards and the seat of Justice for said county shall be at the Town now called Palmyra

An Act for the division of Edwards County, 1816

published by Matthew L. Helm on Sun, 04/14/2013 - 22:11
BE it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the Illinois territory, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That all that tract of country within the following boundaries, to-wit: Beginning at the mouth of the Embarras, and running with said river to the intersection of the line dividing townships number three and four, north of range eleven, west of the second principal maridian; thence west with said township line to the meridian, and due north until it strikes the line of Upper Canada; thence to the line that separates this territory from the state of Indiana, and thence south with said dividing line to the beginning, shall constitute a separate county to be called Crawford;

 

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