Illinois Death Certificates, 1877-1916

The official recording of deaths began in December 1877 in Will County, Illinois.  However, this does not imply that all deaths were recorded when they happened.  Stricter enforcement of death registration was not enforced until 1916.  At this time heftier penalties were applied for not registering deaths when they occurred.  Below are examples of deaths certificates spanning the years 1888 through 1918.  With the passing of time more information was required when a death certificate was filed.

Death Certificate filed in Will County, Illinois 26 August 1888

Death Certificate filed in Will County, Illinois February 1902

Death Certificate filed in Will County, Illinois 20 February 1904

Death Certificate filed in Will County, Illinois 01 May 1910

Death Certificate filed in Will County, Illinois 26 December 1914

Death Certificate filed in Will County, Illinois 17 July 1918

Still-Birth Certificate filed in Will County, Illinois 17 December 1887

There is currently a database named "Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950" available from the Illinois State Archives.  This page also includes a detailed history on the registration of deaths in the state of Illinois.  Also, available from the state archives is a database named "Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916".  This is an ongoing project by state archives.  Will County is not currently available in this index.  These databases do not provide actual images of the certificates.  However, names, date of death, and place of place can be discovered.  With this information the death certificate can be retrieved from the appropriate county clerk.  

Illinois Naturalization Records

Below is a chronological series of images featuring naturalization records that occurred in Illinois. As time progressed and laws changed more information was required for a naturalization.  For further information regarding naturalization records read "Types of U.S. Naturalization Records"

Naturalization that occurred in the circuit court of Will County, Illinois.

Naturalization of a Civil War Veteran that occurred in the county court of Grundy County, Illinois.  The normal residency requirement was waived for honorably discharged veterans.

A naturalization that occurred in 1876 in the county court of Will County, Illinois.  This man waited the required residency before he could naturalize. 

It is unusual that a married woman gained citizenship separate from her husband.  Prior to 1906 alien woman gained citizenship through their husband.  Margaret's husband had naturalized on October 03, 1866 in Grundy County, Illinois.  They had married October 26, 1865 in Syracuse, N.Y.  

A "Declaration of Intent" filed in the Will County, Illinois court in 1892.

Following the "Declaration of Intent" a "Petition for Naturalization" was filed.  This naturalization was filed in the Will County, Illinois court in 1894.

A "Petition for Naturalization" filed in the circuit court of Will County, Illinois in 1915.

A "Certificate of Arrival" for a "Declaration of Intent" filed in the circuit court of Will County, Illinois.

A "Declaration of Intent" filed in the circuit court of Will County, Illinois in 1939.

A "Petition for Naturalization" filed in the circuit court of Will County, Illinois in 1942.

The Beginning

I began researching my family the summer of 2002.  It was the summer between my junior and senior years of high school.  It started off with the request of two documents.  They were the original social security applications of my paternal grandmother's parents.  From there I began to ask questions.  My grandmother then told me that her paternal grandparents were buried at two separate cemeteries.  I asked how could this be?  She then explained to me that her grandmother was a lifelong Catholic.  Her grandfather did not covert and continued to practice in the Presbyterian Church.  Her grandfather was the first to die. If he would have been buried at the Catholic cemetery his casket would have not been allowed to touch the consecrated ground.  The grave would had to been lined with stone before the burial took place.  So at the time of their deaths they were buried in their respective family plots.  After 34 years of marriage they ended up being buried at cemeteries ten minutes apart from each other.  From these two documents and one story my research began.  Now approaching ten years of research I have begun researching for others.

In 2008 (with the encouragement of a friend) I launched a simple website offering a few look ups.  They included obituaries, city directories and and cemetery records in Will County, Illinois.  From there my offerings have grown.  I currently offer document retrieval as well as more detailed oriented projects.  My current offerings can be viewed at my website for Joliet Genealogy.  I have also offered some of my services through Genlighten.  Through Genlighten I offer look ups at a competitive rate.  I currently offer the only research service in Will County on Genlighten.  I also offer some limited research in Cook County.  Nearly a year ago the founder of Genlighten put me in touch with another company.  Through this contact I have begun to do more detailed research projects.  These projects go beyond simple document retrieval.  As well as being outside of Will County.  Most projects have required between 15 and 40 hours of time.  With my findings a detailed report is composed.  This includes major findings as well strategies to gain further information about the ancestors of a client.

What has started off as a hobby has now become my part-time job.  I could not be happier about that.  In the coming days and years I hope to make it a full-time one.  I still find myself a rarity among genealogy researchers.  It is common to hear people say they did not begin their journey until it was too late.  The people who knew the answers to their question were already gone. I am happy that I began young.  I have already seen the last people of a generation pass away during my lifetime.  I was lucky enough to meet them and ask my questions before it was too late.