Using the "Illinois, Northern District Naturalization Index, 1850-1950" to Locate Original Naturalization Records

Many have used the "Illinois, Northern District Naturalization Index, 1850-1950" available through www.familysearch.org.  In this collection you may have discovered an index card for one or more of your ancestors.  However, did you know this card can lead to more than just the date of arrival and naturalization?  You may also discover further information the person abstracting the information did not index.  Take for instance the following index card for John Maslan.

From this index card we see that John Maslan naturalized on December 13, 1915.  His citizenship was granted by the Will County Circuit Court in Joliet, Illinois.  However, missing from the index card is the date and port of arrival.  Not to fret though; this card gives us all the information we need to locate the original record!  In order to locate the original record you must contact the following: 

Will County Circuit Court Archives*

806 N. Nicholson St.

Joliet, Ill.  60435

(815)-774-7494

You may submit a written request to the address above, or make a request via the phone number above.  When making a request provide the following:  name of the individual (as it appears on the card), certificate/volume/page number, and date of naturalization.  Additionally, if submitting a written request provide your name, address, and phone number.  The phone number will help if the archivist searching has any questions regarding your request.  

Once the search has been completed you will be notified of the findings.  In some cases; although rare,  the document may have been lost or misfiled.  If the documents are found you will be charged a copy fee.  Payment** must be received before they will mail copies of any records.  

In the case of John Maslan his "Petition for Naturalization" was located with the indexed information.  

From this we learn additional information regarding John and his family.  We learn the ship he arrived on; the date he arrived; and the port he arrived in.  Also, is listed the place of his wife's birth, and name and birth dates of his children.  He also stated that he made his "Declaration of Intent" at the circuit court in Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois (If the "Declaration of Intent" and "Petition for Naturalization" were both filed in Will County the archivist will generally provide copies of both).  

With the information from this document you have the option of locating several more documents.  You may write the circuit court in which the "Declaration of Intent" was made, and request copies of that document.  Also, available is the original ship manifest from his arrival to the United States.  In the case of John it was located on www.ellisisland.org.  

*The Will County Circuit Court Archives is a separate facility maintained by Will County.  Admittance is by appointment only, and access to records is limited to archivist.  

**The Will County Circuit Clerk only accepts payments in the form of cash or money orders.  Personal checks are not accepted by the circuit court.  

World War II Newspaper Clippings from a Joliet Township High School Yearbook

Several years ago my great-aunt had to be admitted to a nursing home.  After being admitted my cousin sent me many family photographs and mementos.  I was entrusted with these items as I had become the family historian nearly a decade before.  Among those items was a 1937 issue of "The J".  This was the yearbook for Joliet Township High School.  My great-aunt had been a member of this class.  In 1987 she returned to Joliet from Fresno, California to attend her 50 year high school reunion.

Contained in the yearbook were the dates of class members marriages.  These were noted under the names of individuals in the margins of the pages.  Additionally were newspaper clippings for members of the class that had enlisted in the armed forces.  I do not believe it to be a comprehensive collection of members who joined.  Perhaps they were the women and men my great-aunt had been friends with.

Below in no particular order are some of the men and women who served in various branches of the armed forces.

Robert Larson

Lt. Robert W. Mitchell

Pvt. Anton Popek, Jr.

Vincent Zielinski

George Strunk

Robert Lang

Sgt. David Lind

John Hartong

Edward F. Cleghorn

Lt. Donald L. Jasinek

Charles Hughes

J.F. Moretti

Sgt. William B. Weigerding & Sgt. Richard W. Weigerding 

Cadet William C. Elms

Lt. M.L. Wells

J.E. Coyle

Althea M. Overton

Staff Sergt. Bert Larson

Pvt. Robert S. Hodgdon

Pvt. Robert E. Miller

Pvt. Russell S. Brown

Pvt. William Cutler

Pvt. John Koncar

Sgt. Chester Cooper

Norman E. Johnson

George Arthur

Dale Beasley & Robert Beasley

Mary Hammel

Cadet Richard L. Adler

Mark L. Hanna

Chester Olroyd

Lucille A. Ambrose

Illinois Marriage Certificates, 1860-1917

Today I thought I would share copies of marriage certificates that have occurred over time in the state of Illinois.  A majority of these marriages occurred in Will County.  However, there are a few that occurred outside of the county.  Prior to 1877 a marriage license provides little genealogical information.  After 1877 the marriage certificate includes a "Return of a Marriage to the County Clerk".  This document includes questions that both the bride and groom had answer.  This includes parental information, birth information, age, and number of marriages.  Although that does not mean they were always answered.  Or answered truthfully by both parties.

Marriage certificate for a couple married in Will County in 1861.

Filing information for the couple married in Will County in 1861.  The witnesses to the marriage signed just above where the words Marriage License is printed.  

Marriage certificate for a couple married in Will County in 1865.

Filing information for the couple married in Will County in 1865.  Once again the witnesses signature are present above the words Marriage License.  

Marriage certificate of a couple married in Will County in 1872.  

Filing information for the couple married in Will County in 1872.

Affidavit of marriage for couple married in Will County in 1872.  

Marriage certificate for a couple married in Kankakee County in 1876.  However, the marriage license was applied for and on file at the Will County Clerk's Office.

Affidavit for marriage of couple married in Kankakee County in 1876.  

Marriage certificate for a couple married in Will County in 1892. 

Filing information and "Return of a Marriage to County Clerk" for a couple married in Will County in 1892.

Marriage certificate for a couple married in Kane County in 1910.

Filing information for a couple married in Kane County in 1910.

"Return of a Marriage to County Clerk" for a couple married in Kane County in 1910. 

Marriage certificate for a couple married in Kane County in 1917.

Filing information and "Return of a Marriage to County Clerk" for a couple married in Kane County in 1917.  

Marriage affidavit for a couple married in Kane County in 1917. 

The "Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900"can be an aide in locating marriages that occurred in Illinois.  Marriages are searchable by the bride and grooms name.  Searches can be narrowed by county as well.  Currently 90 of Illinois' 98 counties are fully indexed and searchable.  Only four of the 98 counties have no entries.  Additionally, some counties go beyond the cutoff year of 1900.