I invite you to enter a query for your Will County ancestors by adding a comment to this page.
A few basic rules for posting your query:
- Your query must have an Will county connection or it will not be posted.
- Please put the date, your name and email address on the first line.
- Please do not post queries for tracing living individuals.
- Please do not post information on living individuals.
- Please be specific, do not just list a surname in your query.
- Please be sure to include at least one date in your query, even if its approximate.(See example)
- Please use capitalization on surname only.(See example)
Example of a good query: Looking for information on John DOE, b: abt 1842 in GA, d: unk. Family tradition has it that John came to Will County abt 1885 with friends he fought with in the Civil War.
Hello, via Find a Grave I found the death and burial of Harold E. Johnson, born Aug 8, 1902 in Illinois, died June, 1968, buried at the Oakwood Cemetery, Wilmington, Will County, Illinois.
On the same stone were is two wives Wavy and Mildred Johnson.
But the most I am interested in Harold E. Johnson, 1902-1968, and looking for an obituary or even a death certificate because of the eventual information of his parents.
According to the SSDI was his last residence; 60418 Custer Park, Will, Illinois.
So, if someone can help me with a obituary and/or a death certificate on Harold E. Johnson I would be very grateful.
Greetings, Irma
Hello. I am researching the Chris and Sophia Salzmann family, especially Sophia’s family, the Heinrich/Henry and Dorothea Sophia Schoff family. Henry died abt 1870 in Cook Co, and Dorothea Sophia Schoff died in 1872 at her daughter Sophia’s residence. I am trying to find the location of Henry and Dorothea Sophia’s graves. Also their death dates. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!
There is an erroneous Civil War veteran’s marker at Oakwood Cemetery, Joliet, and I would appreciate anyone willing to research it and find the correct information for whoever is buried in that grave. Photos of the marker for “Sheldon H. POST” can be seen on both Find A Grave and the Illinois Headstones websites. It would appear the marker is in a Civil war section of the cemetery. It is clearly a replacement marker of fairly recent vintage, as it is flat without the recessed shield (the government is again producing the ones with the recessed shield, however). It is also engraved with the dates “1833-1884”, which I do not know was engraved by the government or a third party.
This marker denotes that “Sheldon H. POST” was a member of Company A, 83rd Illinois Infantry. However, I have collected a number of documents showing that the Sheldon Post of Company A, 83rd Illinois Infantry was born in 1818 (Civil War draft record), was born in Broome, New York and enlisted at Monmouth, Illinois (enlistment record). He was discharged during the war for disability, returned to Monmouth, Illinois, and remarried there in 1865. He was later admitted to the Warren county alms house, and was then transferred to the Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Home in Quincy, Illinois a few months after that facility was opened in 1886 (patient #43, admitted from Warren county on 24 March 1887, Co. A 83rd IL Infantry). He died there in 1892, and was buried in Sunset cemetery, Quincy. Of all of the records I have found, not one lists a middle initial or name. I have copies of his military marker order from 1893, and his replacement marker in 1939, both showing his burial in Quincy. A photo of his marker can also be found on Find A Grave. His second wife remained in Monmouth, and was buried in Monmouth Cemetery; she received a widow’s pension. Warren county records show only one Sheldon Post in Company A, as does the original muster rolls maintained by the State of Illinois.
I have found no record of a “Sheldon H. Post” in any record source. Even if whoever is buried in the grave was named Sheldon H. Post, he clearly was not the one who served in Company A of the 83rd IL Infantry, although he may have been among about 120 other men who served in that unit and survived the war (there were no similar names in that unit). I would love to research this in person, but I cannot afford the time off work to travel 180 miles one way to Joliet. Possible helpful records would include the cemetery sextons records, local GAR records, and perhaps death certificates and newspapers or newspaper indexes.
If anyone researches this issue, please keep me informed. Thank you!
Looking for Newspaper article from an unknown newspaper published in Peotone, Illinois. Ginter, Mrs. Henry (Harriet Rowan) October 27, 1932. Need copy of original article for DAR documentation. Thanks!
“Death of Mrs. Harriet Ginter
Mrs. Harriet Ginter passed away Wednesday, October 19, at the home of her daughter, Mrs John A. Dopp of Forest Grove, Oregon.
Mrs. Ginter’s maiden name was Harriet Rowan and she spent her early years with an aunt near Jacksonville, her parents having died when she was an infant. She was 86 years old the 19th day of last March.
After her marriage she and Mr. Ginter moved to a farm northwest of town now occupied by Elmer Hagenow. they lived there until their children were grown up. They moved from the farm to Peotone and made their home here until 1925 when they went to Oregon to live with Mrs. Dopp. Mr. Ginter died June 30, 1927. There were four children. They are Dr. Arthur E. Genter, Sheboygan, Wis., Mrs. John A. Dopp,
Forest Grove, Ore., Mrs. Walter Erickson, Valparaiso, Ind,. and Wallace Ginter, of Glidden, Ia. There are seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Ginter was a woman of culture and refinement and transmitted to her children ambition and a desire for intellectual advancement.
Services were held Saturday at the funeral home in Forest Grove and burial was in Forest Grove cemetery.
Data from C.H. “Gus” Genter, ggnephew”
Looking for information on Fred (Friedrich Christian) BARTELS family, who came to Will County from the village of Meerbeck in the principality of Lippe-Schaumburg, Lower Saxony, Germany in 1869 and stayed until 1878. I have conflicting information about what church the family was associated with, either St. Paul or Zion. Looking for confirmation and baptism records or their several children and where their son Johann Heinrich August BARTELS (b. 30 Nov 1875, d. 5 Apr 1878) was buried. I tend to think that St. Paul’s is correct but need to somehow confirm this.
Hello. I am looking for any information on Christoph and Sophia (Schoff) Salzmann, as well as information on Sophie’s parents, Heinrich and Dorothea Schoff. They lived in Washington Township, Will Co, IL. Christoph and Sophie are buried in the Lutheran Cemetery NW of Beecher, and I have added information for them on FindAGrave.com. I also have their family tree information on my tree on Ancestry.com as Sophie was the sister of my great great grandmother. I am willing to share that link if requested.
I am trying to find information on Heinrich (died in Oak Park 1870) and Dorothea Schoff, Sophie’s parents. Dorothea lived with Christoph and Sophie between 1870 and 1972, when she passed away at Sophie’s home. I am trying to locate their burial sites and any additional information available on them, including church records. I also would be interested in connecting and sharing with Sophie’s descendants.
Also, it is possible that her brother or brothers, Wilhelm/William and John, may also have lived in Will County for a time. I would be interested in anything on them as well. Please feel free to email me at [email protected]. Sincerely.
I am reseaching John H Cloyes. Illinois Marriages show he married Abby Cutting in 1855 in Will County. His will show he had two children from a former wife in Will County, Elijah Cloyes and Isabella Cloyes. I can find no record of Abby Cutting Cloyes. I did find and Elijah Cloyes, age 13, living with John and Abigail Cutting, ages 59 and 54, and Inez Cutting in the 1870 census. Does anyone have further information on Abby Cutting Cloyes?
Thank you for any assistance you may provide. Please email me at [email protected]
I am looking for help in finding the grave of Dorothea KNUST. Her husband is buried in St. John’s Cemetery in Beecher, Washington township, Will County, IL. He died in 1906. Dorothea died sometime between 1880 (she appears in that census of Will County) and 1900 (she is absent in that census of Will County). Frederich Knust is listed as a widower in the census of 1900, living with his daughter-in-law and grandson, William.
QUERY:
DEATH/BURIAL of Elisaph SMITH 1810-1890 in Will county.
Born in Vermont. Moved to Will county in 1850’s.
I am looking for info on the PARK family. Delson also spelled Dellison in census and Cordelia “Delia” PARK married in Will County on August 24, 1863. According to Woodson Co. KS 1880 census all 6 of their children born in IL: Gertrude abt. 1865, Fred abt. 1866, Addie abt. 1868, Dellson abt. 1873, Robert abt. 1876 and Burt abt. 1878. I would appreciate any help, I’ve hit a wall. Thanks, Kristy
I am looking for information about the Matthew KOLICH family. Matt and Theresa immigrated to Joliet about 1887. Matt died in 1945 and Theresa in 1949; both are buried in St. Joseph Cemetery. In particular, I am looking for information about their son Matthew, who died in 1919 and daughter Theresa, who died between 1920 and 1930. Any other information about the family is welcome.
I am looking for information on the Heuer family. In the 1860 census, the name was spelled Hyer and in the 1870 census it was spelled Hanier. Hans Heuer was born August 24, 1826 and was married to Anna Margaret Schroeder in 1852. They had a daughter Christina, born in 1853 and then came to the US in 1854. Hans’s parents were with them and only one survived the trip to the US. I cannot seem to find any record of his parent that survived and probably died between 1854 and 1860 because there is no parent living with them in the 1860 census in Joliet, Will, IL.
I am looking for the burial location with birth and death dates of James F. Branch (1832-Jul 12, 1867), 2LT, Co. F, 20th Illinois from Will County. In 1867, he was killed in Grundy County, IL in a train collision. Info according to widow pension request.
His father Wait Branch Jr. (1801-Aug 27, 1854) is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Will County. according to Find-A-Grave, but no photo of gravestone.
Hi all
I am looking for the grave of Joseph F. Foster. He is listed in the 1910 census at 87yrs old. He didn’t make it to the 1920 census. He is from Germany/Bavaria. He owned a farm near his daughter Mary Koerner and her husband Adam in Wilton. I have called every cemetery in the area. I drove to Wilmington and checked at library (they were of no help). The vital records state they don’t go back that far, but yet I found a Dept of Health cert on his wife Cate who died 20 yrs prior and is resting at the old catholic cemetery. Please help. Thanks Deb
Charles Taft at [email protected] July 19, 2016
I am looking for information on Samuel Taft born approximately 1815 I believe in Vermont. I believe he lived with the Bloom family as seen in the 1850 census for Rockville, Will County, Illinois. He married Harriet Franklin September 27, 1851 in Will County. I see that Harriet remarried after Samuel’s death to a Darwin Dodd on August 6, 1854. I suspect that Samuel and Harriet may have had at least one child, but cannot find any information. My Great grandfather Henry F Taft may have been one of their children born approximately January 1852. I would be delighted to share any information you could find with my father. Thank you.
Looking for information on John PETERSON, b 1840 Sweden, Supt of Ice Company, Custer Park, Il in 1900, d 1907 Chicago, Cook, Il.
Trying to confirm middle name is Peter. May have photos of him and family members.
Looking for information on Dr. A.B. (Alric/Aleric/Alaric) Mead, b: abt 16 May 1813 in CONN, d: 7 November 1879 Joliet Will County buried in Oakwood Cemetery.. Family tradition has it that Dr Mead came to Will County (Wilton Center from Ohio abt 1842 with his brothers-in-law Alfred Warner & Alonson Williams. Stayed there about 4-5 yrs . During that time the Post Office was established at Wallingford. Dr. Mead was appointed Postmaster and mail carrier between Wallingford and Wilmington (pony express). He received the procedure of the office for his service. He then moved to Joliet IL I am having a hard time finding more on him as to where he was actually born and lived before Ohio and IL. Also would like to find more documented information on him in IL.
Im looking for any info about Mary E Eisenbise. She was born Mary E Hill, married Samuel A Haldeman. She married Royal E Eisenbise in 1954. They are in the 1956 city directory. She would have been abt 77 years old then.
Two years later, her husband Royal is found in the Arcadia, California city directory, but without her. I assume she must have died between 1956 & 1058 in Joliet
Hello David, Maybe you have found Mary already but wanted to post this.
https://old.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=71597889
Died July 1957
Seeking information on WILMA JEAN FORT SMITH (also spelled Forte after 1935) — born 20 Feb 1930 in Plainfield Twp, Will County, Illinois. She died 8 August 1968, Illinois and is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery II in Joliet.
Wilma was the daughter of Warren Fort 1881-1935 of Will County, and Elizabeth Fort 1892-1969 of Will County. According to the very sparse paper trail, she married a SMITH at some point between 1947 and her death in 1968.
Does anyone know who Mr Smith was and how did Wilma Jean actually die? How did Warren Fort die? Any tips on where to research in Will County?
Thanks so much.
June 6, 2017
I’m looking for information on John & Rachael (Regina Zipf) LIKER. They were married in Joliet, Will, Illinois on Dec, 27, 1856. John was born in 1826 in Prussia. Rachael was born in 1939 in Germany, They had four sons, Joseph, An.drew, John Jr, and Martin, and one daughter, Rosa. John came to the US in 1855. I am interested in dates of death and where they are buried. as well as any other information on them and their famliy
I am looking for my Grandmother’s brother who moved to Illinois from Minnesota. He was the son of John Weir and Bridget Kelly. He died 26 May 1945 in Wilmington, Will County, Illinois and I think is buried at Mt Olivet Cemetery. His wife was Laura and I think he had a son and daughter John C and Dorothy. Would like to find his gravesite.
I am seeking the name of the Parents from Ireland of Patrick Burke, born 1830 and his complete birth date. He married Mary Gleason in Will County, IL 11/13/1855. They had 8 children. Patrick was a farmer with 2 Parcels of land (N1/2 of Section 18, twp 33, Range 12, 80A) & (E1/2 of the SW1/4 Section 5, twp 33, Range 12, 80A). Patrick died 4/19/1872 and is buried in Mt. Olivet in Wilmington, Ill.
Looking for information on JOHN GEEDESON, b: abt 1848 in Denmark, d: abt 1879. His wife was MInnie Geedeson. According to many years of City Directories for JOLIET, she was the widow of JOHN GEEDESON. I have never been able to find evidence of his death. Minnie’s given name might have been Wilhelmine Trumneer. They had two children, Harry and Clara. I am trying to find information on this JOHN GEEDESON since the name is spelled exactly like my Gr-Gr- Grandfather spelled his name and I think that they be one in the same. Thank you.
I am looking for any information on my 2nd Great Grandfather Oscar Scott Kendall, who died in Will County on July 4, 1891. Looking primarily for his parents names. Earliest information in Will County is Marriage to Minnie Clark in 1875.
Howard,
I do not have a whole lot of information on Oscar Scott Kendall, but I have some information on his wife Minnie. She was a sister to my great great grandfather, John Clark. I recently figured out who Minnie and John’s parents are. You can contact me via email or if you have ancestry, my user name is tracyperrine and they are in my Perrine Family Tree. (Some of my other stuff is a guess, but I am fairly confident about Minnie, John, and their parents.)
Shari Ameling [email protected]
I am looking for information on Herman Edward AMELING born Dec 1873 in Beecher, Will, Illinois. He is my husband’s great grandfather. I believe his parents were Doratha LENNAMANN who married August AMELING in Kane, IL in 1867. However in the 1880 census she is married to/with Louis STRUCKMAN. (1880 Washington, Will County, Illinois; Roll: T9_261; Family History Film: 1254261; Page: 504.2000; Enumeration). Additionally, my husband’s DNA results do not have any AMELING’s, and can’t seem to connect anyone on his father’s father’s side Was Herman really born to Doratha and August? Any help would be wonderful.
Hi,
I did a little sleuthing on the August that you were looking to find. If you are familiar with the familysearch.org site, you should look at KD12-BR7, Carl Heinrich August Amelung. I found some pretty solid records to indicate that this very much looks like the August you were searching for. He entered the USA in 1854 with his first wife and son Heinrich. The record on this Carl Heinrich August is incomplete as it doesn’t go on to include him remarrying after the death of his first wife and, of course, doesn’t include the info from the 1870 census where August is remarried. I went on to search for William, who is listed on the 1870 census and found him with his mother, Dora Amelung, in the 1910 Census at Will, Illinois. William b. 12 Nov 1867 Edgmont Station, Illinois d. 25 Nov. 1933 at Chicago Heights and was buried at Will, Illinois. Dora, you may already know is found at FAG b. 1832 d. 1915–same cemetery as William.
I hope this helps
Name: Mary Tilstra Email: [email protected] Posted: 22 July 2018
I am seeking an obituary and/or will record for Darius Houghton who died in Will County 25 Apr 1866. According to Find A Grave he is buried in Wesley Cemetery in Resthaven, Will County, Illinois. I am specifically trying to prove that he had a son, Leland Houghton (1808-1882), who later moved to Gilman, Iroquois County, IL. This is needed as a proof for a DAR application. While Darius was living with Leland on both the 1850 and 1860 censuses this is not adequate to prove the relationship to the satisfaction of the DAR. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
I am looking for any records in existance for my ancestor Martin Sonnenberg. I know he was married in Will Co in 9/10/1859 by Father Charles Kuemin and that at least his first two or more children were baptised there by Father Kuemin in the Church of St. John the Baptist, the family was Catholic. Martin and his wife Katharina Schmidt had 13 children. Martin served in the Civil War. He came with his parents and sister from Prussia in 1854, they are listed on the Hamburg Ships lists as being born in Rogasen, Posen, Prussia. I am looking for information on what church they belonged to in Prussia if possible.
I am looking for any information, public records, biography, pictures, obituaries, newspaper articles, anything related to my relatives Dr. Joseph Perry, from Crete, IL (1820-1887), and his son Joseph Ferris Perry, born in 1846. Both of them lived in Crete, IL since 1854. There are short articles about the son in the Will Cty. genealogies. Dr. Perry was a medical doctor, who practiced in Crete from 1854 until 1887. He and his son were born in Fairfield, CT.
My Mother was born in Joliet, Il April 9,1931. She was placed for adoption in 1932. Her biological father was Meyer Wisheretsky AKA/ Wishnoff born 12/12/1900 son of Morris who possibly father 10 children that I know of. Her biological mother was Helen Ziesemer born 2/6/1903 and succumb to TB in 1933. I was also informed that Meyer and Helen were arrested at one time? Info on that would be great. Her Grandfather Morris Wisheretsky aka Wishnoff born July 4, 1870 in Russia and many similar last names owned a Bakery at 595 1/2 Chicago Street. Morris was Married to Bessi/Lena Larman/Lehrman who died of cancer in 1914. He remarried a woman named Gussie Griper who was attacked during a robbery at their bakery in 1928 and died. He also married Esther Schlossman and another woman named Beila. Any information that you may have about Morris and his family I would love to know and share with my mother who is 88 years young. I do know that Morris migrated from Russia to the UK time unknown then New York in 1908. Also, Did the address or zoning change on 595 S Chicago Street to 427 S Chicago Street? My Great Grandfather Morris leased the bakery out to Frank Soffiantini on October 2, 1923. Also what was the original address for Soffiantini’s store? Thank you in advance for your assistance.