DuPage County, Illinois Genealogy
Guide to DuPage County, Illinois ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
DuPage County was named for DuPage River. The county seat is Wheaton and the county was organized on February 9, 1839. The county is located in the northeastern area of the state.[1]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
DuPage County Courthouse
505 N County Farm Rd
Wheaton, IL 60187
Phone: 630-407-8700
DuPage County Courthouse
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Cumberland County are kept, see the DuPage County Courthouse page.
DuPage County, Illinois Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1879 | 1839 | 1879 | 1839 | 1835 | 1839 | 1810 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
|
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
|
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[3]
| Cities | ||
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| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Townships | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Prior to County Formation
- 1790-1801 - DuPage part of Knox County and the Northwest Territory
- 1801-1812 DuPage part of St. Clair County
- 1812-1815 DuPage part of Madison County
- 1815-1816 DuPage part of Edwards County
- 1816-1819 DuPage part of Crawford County
- 1819-1821 DuPage part of Clark County
- 1821-1823 DuPage part of Pike County
- 1823-1825 DuPage part of Fulton County
- 1825-1831 DuPage part of Putnam County
- 1831-1839 DuPage part of Cook County
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
A Family Bible belonging to the Hill family of Du Page County is included in an Ancestry database ($).[4]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- Du Page at 150 and those who shaped our world; pub. 1989 FS Library Book 977.324 D3m
- Historical encyclopedia of Illinois : history of Du Page County : historical and biographical, Newton Bateman and Paul Selby. Chicago, IL, Munsell Pub. Co., 1913. Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 1, FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 2
- History of Du Page County, Illinois; pub. 1882 FS Library film 934982 Item 5 at FamilySearch Catalog
- Portrait and biographical record of DuPage and Cook counties, Illinois : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with biographies and portraits of the presidents of the United States Lake City Pub., Chicago, IL 1894. Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library
- The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a DuPage County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of DuPage County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
For information and tips on accessing census records online, see Illinois Census.
- 1850-1880 Illinois Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
Federal
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1840 | 3,535 | — |
| 1850 | 9,290 | 162.8% |
| 1860 | 14,701 | 58.2% |
| 1870 | 16,685 | 13.5% |
| 1880 | 19,161 | 14.8% |
| 1890 | 22,551 | 17.7% |
| 1900 | 28,196 | 25.0% |
| 1910 | 33,432 | 18.6% |
| 1920 | 42,120 | 26.0% |
| 1930 | 91,998 | 118.4% |
| 1940 | 103,480 | 12.5% |
| 1950 | 154,599 | 49.4% |
| 1960 | 313,459 | 102.8% |
| 1970 | 491,882 | 56.9% |
| 1980 | 658,835 | 33.9% |
| 1990 | 781,666 | 18.6% |
| 2000 | 904,161 | 15.7% |
| 2010 | 916,924 | 1.4% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- 1840 federal census: DuPage County, Illinois FS Library Book 977.324 X28d 1840
- 1850 DuPage County, Illinois Federal Census FS Library Book 977.324 X28r 1850
- 1860 Du Page County, Illinois, federal census FS Library Book 977.324 X2r
- 1870 federal census of Du Page County, Illinois FS Library Fiche 6100878, Book 977.324 X2r
State
- Name index to early Illinois records FS Library films
- 1855, State census Ancestry ($), FS Library film 976181
- 1865, State census Ancestry ($), FS Library film 972750
1840 Pensioners
- A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. Washington, D.C., 1841. FS Library 973 X2pc 1840; FS Library 2321. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Illinois, DuPage County on page 186.
Church Records[edit | edit source]
- Peters, Marjorie Herlache, editor. Du Page County, Illinois Churches and Their Records, 1833-1920. Lombard, Illinois: Lombard Suburban Genealogical Society, 1981. Includes indexes. FS Library film 6087343, book 977.324 K2d The 2006 revised edition is available from the DuPage County Genealogical Society.
- DuPage County Illinois Genealogical Society. Necrology Records of Selected Townships in DuPage County: Includes Cemetery, Funeral Home & Church Records. Wheaton, Illinois: DuPage County Illinois Genealogical Society, 2007. This CD-ROM includes Addison, Downers Grove, Lisle & York Townships and records for Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bensenville, Illinois, 1837-1938 and a "souls register" 1888.
- 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Search WorldCat to identify a library near you which holds books of compiled church records for DuPage County.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Batavia Branch, Record of Members, 1936-1948. Members of the Batavia Branch, which was discontinued in 1957, lived in Cook, DuPage, and Kane Counties, Illinois. FS Library film 7695
Catholic
- 1800-1976 Illinois, U.S., Catholic Diocese of Joliet, Sacramental Records, 1800-1976 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Lutheran
- Grosse, T. Johannes, et al. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery and Burial Records, 1837-1988 & Souls Register, 1888. Includes full-name indexes. This was the first Lutheran church in DuPage County with boundary lines encompassing much of the county. FS Catalog book 977.324 V3z
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for DuPage County are kept, see the DuPage County Courthouse page.
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
African Americans
- African American Research (US) has more information about the kinds of records
- Illinois African-American Resource Guide by the Illinois State Archives describes what records are at the State Archives with an online method for ordering records.
- African-American Resources for Illinois
Native Races
- Potawatomi Indians of DuPage County; pub. 1974 FS Library 970.3 P847s
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Original land records are held in the office of the County Clerk . See Illinois Land and Property for more information about using land records.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Family Maps of DuPage County, Illinois (2007) plats the land of many nineteenth-century DuPage County residents. The publisher's bookstore includes a free online surname index. FS Library Book 977.324 E7b
- Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
- 1796-1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry ($)
- Illinois Public Land Purchase Records at Ancestry ($). This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence.
- Beginning 1820 Land Patent Search See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database.
- Federal Township Plats of Illinois
- DuPage County Federal Township Plats
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Wheaton Public Library has created a detailed list of historic towns in DuPage County on their website.
- The History of DuPage County. By C.W. Richmond. Aurora, Illinois : Knickerbocker & Hodder, 1877. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry ($).
- The History of DuPage County. By Rufus Blanchard. Chicago, Illinois : O. L. Baskin & Co., 1882. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry ($).
- Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Du Page County. Chicago: Munsell Pub. Co., 1913. Online at: Ancestry ($).
- The Stoddard Project
The Stoddard Project is an ambitious attempt to inventory and index genealogical and historical resources in all the DuPage County repositories initiated by John Stoddard, for whom it is named. The two-part project includes a listing of reference works and the individual libraries that house them, plus an index of individuals named in those reference works. The project incorporates histories of the county and of individual towns, high school yearbooks, histories of individual churches, maps and plats, old city directories and telephone books, holdings of back issues of local newspapers, etc.
For more information about the Stoddard Project, see the DuPage County Genealogical Society web site.
Rededication of Hobson Pioneer Marker, Pioneer Park, Du Page County, Illinois: 2:30 P.M., October Twelfth, Nineteen Hundred Fifty-two. Hillside, Ill.: P. Troost Monument Co., 1952. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
- Township Map of 1870 DuPage County, Illinois with numerous small settlements. (My Genealogy Hound)
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Civil War
Regiments. Civil War service men from DuPage County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of DuPage County.
- - 8th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies D and E.
- - 12th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company C.
- - 13th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
- - 17th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company H.
- - 33rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
- - 55th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.
- - 105th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, D, F and I.
- - 141st Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company H.
- - 156th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
- - 69th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company D
World War I
- The DuPage County Genealogical Society (DCGS) provides a listing of all men from DuPage County who served in World War I. DCGS has also compiled an inventory of books and periodicals relating to the Naper Post 468 of the G.A.R.
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Index to the Naturalization Records of DuPage County. The index covers 6,000 individuals, and includes the full name, date, locality, country of birth; and the date and port of entry into the United States. FS Catalog book 977.324 P42i
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1800-1998 Illinois, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1856-1991 Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 at Ancestry - index and images ($)
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 1800s-Current Illinois, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and EventsIndex, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- Aurora Daily Express - over 5,000 full-text digital issues in Google News Archive; covers 1882-1901
- Aurora Daily Star - over 800 full-text digital issues in Google News Archive; covers 1921-1932
- The DuPage County Genealogical Society has created abstracts from 1896-1908 from the Hinsdale Doings, a newspaper published in Hinsdale, Illinois. The index includes mentions of births, marriages, deaths, and other local news like family visits.
- Wheaton Public Library has created a Vital Records Index based on nineteenth-century Wheaton newspapers. As of 30 June 2011, the database appears to be undergoing construction.
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- Du Page County, Illinois Obituary and Death Notices Collection Free from GenealogyBuff.com. From various funeral homes in the Lombard, York, Naperville, Wheaton, Downers Grove, Bartlett, Elmhurst, Villa Park and surrounding area.
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Medical Records
- Ledger book of Dr. Theodore Hoffman, 1864-1868; pub. 1982 FS Library film 1307594 Item 13, book 977.3 U2b
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1772-1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
- 1819-1988 Illinois Probate Records 1819-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
- Genealogical records of Boone, DuPage, Kane, and Knox Counties, Illinois: bible records; index of wills, 1839-1900; marriages, 1830-1851, cemetery records and family records. FS Library Book 977.3 V2g
School Records[edit | edit source]
- Benedictine College University Yearbooks - available from the 1930s - 1980s; digitized and freely available at the Internet Archive.
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Birth[edit | edit source]
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- To-1850 Illinois Marriages to 1850 at Ancestry–($);Index, INCOMPLETE
- 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($) — index
- 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index
- 1790-1860 Illinois Marriages, 1790-1860 at Ancestry–($);Index, INCOMPLETE
- 1805-1985 Illinois, Church Marriages, 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1810-1940 Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1833-1889 Illinois, Civil Marriages, 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index
- 1839-1861 DuPage County Marriage Index 20 June 1839 - 28 November 1861
Originally transcribed by the DAR from Record Book A in the DuPage County Clerk's office, and later compiled for publication by the DuPage County Genealogical Society - 1839-1889 Marriages FS Library Book 977.324 V22d Two Volumes. also FS Library Film 848650 items 4-7 One of 2 films.
- 1839-1906 Marriages FS Library Book 977.324 V2d
- 1840-1861 DuPage County Marriage Records
- 1851-1900 Illinois Marriages, 1851-1900 at Ancestry–($);Index, INCOMPLETE
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1749-1999 Illinois Deaths and Burials, 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1916-1947 Deaths and Stillbirths
- 1916-1950 Illinois Death Certificates 1916-1950
- Searchable index of names of indivduals buried in cemetaries in DuPage County
- 1916-1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index ($)
- 1951-1971 Illinois Death Certificates, 1951–1971 at Illinois State Archives - index
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in DuPage County. For state-wide facilities, see Illinois Archives and Libraries.
- Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)
The Illinois Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD), managed by the Illinois State Archives, houses the archival records of local Illinois counties, townships, municipalities and school districts. The seven Regional Depositories are housed on state university campuses scattered throughout Illinois. The Northern Illinois University (IRAD-NIU) holds the records for DuPage County. Learn more about finding and using their records.
- Illinois Regional Archives Depository
c/o Regional History Center
Founders Memorial Library, Room 400
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115
Telephone: (815) 753-1807
FamilySearch Centers[edit | edit source]
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Buffalo Grove Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Chicago Heights Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Chicago Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Chicago Illinois Hyde Park FamilySearch Center
- Crystal Lake Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Joliet Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Naperville Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Orland Park Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Schaumburg Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Westchester Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Wilmette Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Arlington Heights Memorial Library - an affiliate library
- Barrington Area Library - an affiliate library
- Cook Memorial Public Library District - an affiliate library
- Glenview Public Library - an affiliate library
- Lake County IL Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
- Oak Lawn Public Library - an affiliate library
- Schaumburg Township District Library - Hoffman Estates - an affiliate library
- Valparaiso Public Library/Porter County Public Library System - an affiliate library
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in DuPage County. For state-wide library facilities, see Illinois Archives and Libraries.
- Genealogical holdings of the Du Page LibrarySystem: as submitted by each library, September 1, 1975 FS Library film 928168 Item 5, book 977.324 A3L
- Bibliographies of genealogical materials available at Elmhurst Historical Society: and selected libraries in the Illinois Suburban Library System; pub. 1975 FS Library film 928279 Item 4
- Du Page County, Illinois genealogical records: located in Du Page County repositories; libraries, historical societies, colleges, etc; pub. 1992 FS Library Book 977.324 A3s
The following DuPage County libraries have collections of particular interest to genealogists.
- Bloomingdale Public Library
101 Fairfield Way
Bloomingdale, IL 60108
Phone: (630) 529-3120
Website
- History Room offers collections of local interest as well as an online obituary index
- History Room offers collections of local interest as well as an online obituary index
- Downers Grove Public Library
1050 Curtiss St
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Phone: (630) 960-1200
Website
- The library has materials on the history of Downers Grove and DuPage County.
- The library has materials on the history of Downers Grove and DuPage County.
Naperville Public Library (Nichols Library)
200 W. Jefferson Ave.
Naperville, IL 60540
Phone: (630) 961-4100
Website
- The Reference and Local History collections include DuPage County indexes, local histories, maps, newspapers, and more.
- The Reference and Local History collections include DuPage County indexes, local histories, maps, newspapers, and more.
Wheaton Public Library
225 N. Cross St
Wheaton, IL 60187
Phone: (630) 668-1374
Website
- The library's Genealogy and Local History collection includes local histories, biographies, indexes, directories, maps, newspapers, yearbooks, and more.
Museums[edit | edit source]
DuPage County Historical Museum
102 E. Wesley Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
Telephone: (630) 510-4941
Website
A facility of the County of DuPage, the museum provides staff-assisted local history services of its photographs, maps, archives, and records.
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in DuPage County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Illinois Societies.
Bloomingdale Historical Society
101 Fairfield Way
Bloomingdale, IL 60108
Phone 630-582-8101
Email:hellobonnie@aol.com
Website
Carol Stream Historical Society
301 W. Lies Rd
Carol Stream, IL 60188
Phone 630-473-8308
Email:carolstreamhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Website
Downers Grove Historical Society
PO Box 663
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Phone 630-660-6767
Email:info@downersgrovehistory.org
Website
DuPage County Genealogical Society
PO Box 3
Wheaton, IL 60187-0003
Email:webcoordinator@dcgs.org
Website
DuPage County Historical Society
PO Box 1460
102 E. Wesley St.
Wheaton, IL 60187
Email:dupagehistory@yahoo.com
Website
- Dupage County (IL) Genealogical Society surname project; pub. 2001? FS Library Book 977.324 D2d
- Dupage County (IL) Genealogical Society surname project; pub. 2001? FS Library Book 977.324 D2d
Fox Valley Genealogical Society
PO Box 5435
Naperville, IL 60567-5435
Email:info@ilfvgs.org
Website
- Surnames; pub. 1983, 1994 FS Library film 1425262 Item 30, book 977.32 C4h 1982-1983, 977.32 C4h 1989-1994
- Surnames; pub. 1983, 1994 FS Library film 1425262 Item 30, book 977.32 C4h 1982-1983, 977.32 C4h 1989-1994
Glen Ellyn Historical Society
800 N Main Street
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Phone 630-469-1867
Email:director@gehs.org
Website
Hinsdale Historical Society
Phone 630-789-2600
Email:nfo@hinsdalehistory.org
Website
Villa Park Historical Society
220 S Villa Ave.
Villa Park, Illinois 60181
Phone 630-941-0223
Email:info@vphistoricalsociety.com
Website
Warrenville Historical Society
PO Box 311
3S530 2nd St
Warrenville, IL 60555-3134
Phone 630-393-4215
Email:info@warrenvillehistorical.org
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- DuPage County IL Genealogy
- DuPage ILGenWeb
- DuPage County, IL Linkpendium
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "DuPage County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DuPage_County,_Illinois 04/012/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), DuPage County, Illinois. Page 192-199 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 194-197.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "DuPage County, Illinois," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DuPage_County,_Illinois, Last accessed 2 January 2020.
- ↑ Illinois Miscellaneous Genealogical Records: From Counties, Bond, Boone, Calhoun, Cook, Crawford, Du Page, Johnson, Knox, Lake, Will, Pope: Kentucky county, Mercer: Missouri county, Ralls. Evanston, Ill.: Illinois Society, D.A.R., 1946. Digital version at Ancestry ($).