Genealogy

Discover Coles County and its history

A brief overview of Coles County, Illinois’ history

Edward ColesColes County was formed December 25, 1830 and was named for Edward Coles, who was the second Governor of the State of Illinois, serving from 1822 to 1826. The original county was formed from parts of the already existing counties of Clark and Edgar, both now to the east. Records pertaining to the area prior to 1831 may be found in the county seats of Clark and Edgar Counties.

On March 2, 1843, Cumberland County, was formed from the southern part of Coles County. Then on February 8, 1859, Douglas County, was formed from the northern part of Coles County, being the second to the youngest of Illinois’ 102 counties. In other words, if your ancestor lived in “Coles County” before 1859, you have a much larger area to search, than what currently comprises Coles County.

Charleston was chosen as the County Seat and has always remained the center of county government. The earliest records kept at the courthouse include land and marriage records, dating to late 1830. Pioneers flooded into the area during the aftermath of the Black Hawk War, 1832, when the Native Americans had been relocated west of the Mississippi River and white settlers felt more safe. Coles County has always been primarily a farming community, with some of the most fertile and flattest land in the world in the northern part of the county. Abraham Lincoln’s father and step-mother, with various other relatives came into Coles County in the Spring of 1831, after the “Winter of the Big Snow.”

With the later coming of the railroads, Mattoon developed very quickly and was incorporated as a village in 1857. Ashmore, Bushton, Cooks Mills, Campbell/ Farmington, Diona/Dogtown, Dorans, Etna, Fairgrange, Humboldt, Hutton/Salisbury, Janesville, Lerna, Loxa, Oakland, Paradise, Rardin are other communities through-out the county, where people gathered to live.

The Fourth Lincoln-Douglas Debate took place on the county fairgrounds on Saturday, September 18,1858. The Coles County Fair is still held there annually and is the oldest continually running county fair in the State.

Coles County contributed liberally to the North’s cause during the American Civil War. Coles County ranked near the top of the 102 counties in the State. The population of Coles County in 1860 was 14,174. The total troop quota for the war was 2,728, and Coles County furnished 2,741 in all, or 13 more men than the quota demanded. The Charleston Riot, which is sometimes considered to be the furthest north and west battle of the Civil War took place on the Charleston Square on March 28, 1864. Nine men were killed and 12 were wounded. Coles County has done it’s patriotic duty providing service men and women ever since then.

Established in 1895 as the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, Eastern Illinois University continues to serve the college education needs of the area.

While mainly an agricultural county, Coles County has also welcomed many businesses and industries to the area over the years. There is a centrally located airport. The main hospital, Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, located in Lafayette Township, serves a large portion of east central Illinois.

There is no known history of a courthouse disaster in this county. The original records are housed at the County Courthouse or at Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) at Eastern Illinois University, in Booth Library. Both Charleston and Mattoon have large public libraries. The 2010 Federal Census reported that there were 53,873 people living within the County.

In summary, Coles County is an area rich in history.

Links

Mattoon History Center
Family search
Find A Grave
Illinois State Genealogy Society
Cyndi’s List
Five Mile House
Coles County Historical Society

Galbreath photograph
Ashmore Citizens Band

Pioneer Certificate program

If you are a DIRECT DESCENDANT of an ancestor who settled in Coles County prior to 1880 you could qualify. 
Click on the links below for instructions and forms. These make great gifts for family members!
Chairperson of this project is Brenda Taber. Please email Brenda at colescoilgensoc75@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments. 

Click below to download PDF instructions
and Pioneer Certificate Application.

DOWNLOAD

Pioneer Certificates Awarded

Our Collections

Charleston Public Library

Charleston Carnegie Library
The Charleston Carnegie Public Library is one of the 1,689 libraries that Andrew Carnegie funded across the United States with his vast income obtained in the steel industry in the early 19th century. Carnegie’s funds helped to open the building near the courthouse square on January 15, 1904. North & South additions were constructed in the 1960s and in 2008, a two-story addition to the west of the existing building. The 2008 $7 million addition matches the Carnegie style. Following the expansion, the 1904 building was renovated while retaining many original features, including wood trim, coffered ceilings, and fireplaces.
 
The Charleston Carnegie Public Library has a room devoted to the historical/genealogical collection, it houses the materials in the Library collection & the Coles County, Illinois Genealogical Society. Click here or on Charleston Public Library above to see a list of our collection and to search the library collection.
 
This collection concentrates on local history materials of Coles County and surrounding counties: Edgar, Clark, Cumberland, Shelby, Moultrie, and Douglas.
 
The Genealogy Room is open the same hours as the Library. Assistance is provided by volunteers and they will make every effort to be available as follows:
 

Monday: 1:00PM – 4:00PM
Tuesday: 1:00PM – 4:30PM
Wednesday: 1:00PM – 4:00PM
Thursday: 1:00PM – 4:30PM
Friday & Saturday: Contact us and we will try to find a volunteer

FAMILY FILES AVAILABLE
Charleston Carnegie Public Library
Charleston Carnegie Public Library
Genealogy Room
Genealogy Room
Genealogy Room
Genealogy Room

Recent Acquisitions and Donations

A recent donation of several 1930’s and 1940’s Westfield yearbooks and military photos, 1940’s Warbler Yearbooks (EIU) and a 1993 Cumberland County History

Westfield Yearbooks photo

FAMILY HISTORIES:
Ellis Branson of Romine Township, Marion County, Illinois (977.3794 BRANSON)

COUNTY MATERIALS:
Clark County, Illinois: History & Families 2019 (977.371 HISTORY 2019)
Douglas County Plat Books: 1962,1971,1978,1980,1982,1995,2003-2009 (977.368 PLAT…)

YEARBOOKS:
Charleston High School Recorder 1941, 1938, 1924, 1932, 1936, 1943, 1959 (373.77372 RECORDER)
Charleston Jefferson JR High Skywriter 1970, 1971, 1972 (373.77372 SKYWRITER Jefferson Jr High)
(Charleston) Teachers College High School Porthole 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943 (373.77372 TEACHER COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL)
Mattoon Central Junior High Yellow Jacket 1959/60 thru 1976-77 (373.77372 YELLOW JACKET (MCJH)

A recent donation of several Porthole (Eastern Illinois State Teachers College High School) yearbooks from the 1940’s

The Porthole photograph

Events and Calendar

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Events
  • A User's Guide to the Online Coles County Newspaper Archives
    • 09/20/2026
    • Charleston