Welcome To
Last updated May 21, 2009
 The Mercer County Historical Society is an organization of people whose main concern is preserving the history of Mercer County in Illinois. They have established a museum ( Essley-Noble Memorial Building located at 1406 SE 2nd Ave, Aledo, IL.) with many displays of historical facets of Mercer County including a one-room schoolhouse and a machine shed full of the county's antique artifacts and vintage farm machinery. The organization has approximately 400 members and their expenses are met to a great degree by membership fees and donations. They publish a newsletter that is mailed out four times during the year which can be costly to the organization. The Mercer County Historical Society is a non-profit organizationThe Mercer County Historical Society's goals are to preserve artifacts and provide educational opportunities concerning articles and information of historical value and significance to the history and life of residents of Mercer County, IL. MCHS has a genealogy division with extensive data and related documents for the researching of family histories. Much of the data has been collected by MCHS members. It consists of obit records; marriage records; cemetery records; Census records; family histories; etc.  
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Mercer County FactsMercer County was created on January 13, 1825 (Laws, 1825, p. 93) and was formed from unorganized land (Pike County). County organization was completed in 1835. Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in: Attached to Warren County [Laws, 1831, p. 68.] (1831–1835), Attached to Peoria County [Laws, 1826, p. 76.] (1826–1831), Attached to Schuyler County [Laws, 1825, p. 95.] (1825–1826), Pike County (1821–1825), Madison County (1812–1821) and St. Clair County (1795–1812). The County was named for Hugh Mercer, a General of the Revolution, killed at the battle of Princeton. The County Seat is Aledo . Prior County Seats was New Boston—Temporary designation (1835–1837), Millersburg (1837–1847), Keithsburg (1847–1857) and Aledo (1857–Present). See also County History for more historical details. Counties adjacent to Mercer County are Rock Island County (north), Henry County (east), Knox County (southeast), Henderson County (south), Warren County (south), Des Moines County, Iowa (southwest), Louisa County, Iowa (west). Mercer County Townships include Abington, Duncan, Eliza, Greene, Keithsburg, Mercer Name changed from Centre), Millersburg, New Boston, North Henderson Name changed from Liberty), Ohio Grove Name changed from Ohio), Perryton, Preemption Name changed from Fairfield), Richland Grove, Rivoli Name changed from North Pope), Suez Name changed from Palmyra) Mercer Communities - Aledo, Illinois * - Alexis, Illinois - Boden, Illinois - Burgess, Illinois - Cable, Illinois - Eliza, Illinois - Gilchrist, Illinois - Hamlet, Illinois - Joy, Illinois - Keithsburg, Illinois - Mannon, Illinois - Marston, Illinois - Matherville, Illinois - Millersburg, Illinois - New Boston, Illinois - New Windsor, Illinois - North Henderson, IL - Norwood, Illinois - Petersville, Illinois - Preemption, Illinois - Reynolds, Illinois - Seaton, Illinois - Shale City, Illinois - Sherrard, Illinois - Sugar Grove, Illinois - Sunbeam, Illinois - Swedona, Illinois - Viola, Illinois - Wanlock, Illinois |
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The Times Record
Mon May 11, 2009, 10:09 AM CDT
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 Aledo, Ill. - Ruth Cabeen Giffin, 93, of Aledo, a Mercer County historian, died peacefully Sunday, May 3, 2009 at the Mercer County Nursing Home. Funeral Services were Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Sunbeam United Presbyterian Church, rural Aledo. Burial was in Candor Cemetery. Visitation took place Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Speer Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Mercer County Nursing Home or the Sunbeam United Presbyterian Church. Condolences may be left for the family at www.speerfuneralhome.com. Ruth Ella Cabeen was born on Nov. 24, 1915 to Thomas Elmer and Catherine Ann (Saunders) Cabeen on the family farm in Ohio Grove Township, Mercer County. She was a graduate of Aledo High School. She married Everett Lee Giffin on Dec. 6, 1934 in Roseville. He preceded her in death on July 20, 1980. Ruth's vocation was history. She was a devoted Curator of the Essley Nobel Museum and one of the founding board members of the museum, retiring in the early 1990s. She truly enjoyed giving tours to visiting classes and going out to the schools to educate. Ruth enjoyed geneology and helped many families with research. The history of Mercer County was very special to her, as the Cabeen family settled in this area in 1835. Ruth was a lifelong member of the Sunbeam United Presbyterian Church, of which she was the first woman Elder; a member of the William Dennison Chapter of NSDAR for more than 50 years; a former member of the Order of Eastern Star #126, Aledo and was an avid reader. Those left to cherish Ruth's memory include her children and their spouses: Neil (Virginia) Giffin of Prophetstown, Debra (Gary) Finch of Aledo and Barbara (Allen) Haim of San Rafael, Calif.; grandchildren: Tammie and Steve Sandrock, Susan and David Russell, Paul and Shari Giffin, Jeremy and Lisa Finch, Jaime and Rob Kernan, Jill and Jon Escajeda and Tom and Rosalinda Haim; great-grandchildren: Scott and Brad Sandrock; Morgan Giffin Russell; Sydney Giffin; Taylor, Tristen, Lauren Ruth and Natalie Finch and Griffen and Trevor Kernan; and a niece and nephew, Richard Cabeen and Kay Kilgariff. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother, Hugh Cabeen; and a brother, James in infancy.
OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY
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Grandstand events have also been scheduled. Harness racing will open the fair on Monday, July 13 at 1:00 pm. This is the only day of horse racing at this year’s fair and no other fair events will take place on Monday.
The Queen Pageant will be held in front of the grandstand on Tuesday, July 14 at 6:30 pm. A new event at the fair this summer is a 4X4 truck tug-of-war on Wednesday, July 15. Starting time is 6:30 Wednesday.
Senior Citizens Day, offering reduced admission prices for seniors, is Thursday, July 16. The Mercer County Community Band, under the direction of Rusty Ruggles, will play at the shelter at 5:30 pm. Following the band the New Windsor Drill Team will perform in front of the grandstand at 6:30 with a draft horse show at 7:00 pm.
Friday, July 17 will find the truck and tractor pull on the straight-a-way in front of the grandstand, while the popular Demo Derby will showcase local drivers on Saturday evening, July 18. Both events begin at 6:30 pm.
Kid’s Day is Wednesday, July 15, from noon to 4:30 pm, with the armband costing $15.00.
The second week of July is the traditional date for the fair, officials of the Mercer County Ag Society said. The Ag Society has been the sponsor of the Mercer County Fair in the first county fair in 1853. This year marks the 156rd year of the annual agricultural exposition.
MCHS Membership Form |
1882 History Of Mercer County Reprint |
ONE ROOM SCHOOL |
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MCHS & Essley-Noble Museum are located at 1406 SE 2nd Avenue, Aledo, IL 61231NEW Mailing address is MCHS, PO Box 269, Aledo IL 61231 Museum Phone: 309/582-2280
Opening Day , WED. April 1st, 2009; Hours: 1:00 - 5:00 pm Wed., Sat., & Sunday April 1ST through the end of October . |
Family Search |
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MCHS Officers & Board of Directors for 2009-2010
Newsletter Address changes may be sent to Jim Runyon 756 State Hwy #94 Aledo IL 61231 |
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Send emails to us!
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Please visit ..... www.mercercommunities.com
Illinois State Library, 300 South 2nd Street, Springfield, IL 62701-1796; Phone: (217) 785-5600
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All departments below at located at the Mercer County Courthouse, P.O. Box 66, Aledo, IL 61231 , unless a different address is listed below. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time. Mercer County Circuit Court Clerk has Probate Records from 1837 and Court Records from 1836 and is located at the address above. Phone Number: (309) 582-7122 The Clerk of the Circuit Court, commonly known as the Circuit Clerk, is the keeper of the files and records of the Circuit Court. The Circuit Clerk works at the direction of Circuit Court, Appellate Court and Supreme Court of Illinois and is mandated to follow and enforce the laws of the State of Illinois. The Circuit Clerk's Office processes all documents in criminal law, chancery, support, probate, adoption, juvenile, drainage, local improvement, mental, small claims, traffic, ordinance violations, prepares appeals to the higher court, issues passports, summons jurors, tax deeds and handles approximately ten million dollars in costs, fines, restitution, investments and support each year. The Office also issues summonses, writs, attachments, subpoenas and all other tasks as mandated by the courts. Mercer County Recorder has Land Records from 1834 and is located at the courthouse. Phone Number: (309) 582-7021
The County Recorder of Deeds serves the people of County by receiving, filing and maintaining all records related to real property in our county. These documents range from all types of conveyance deeds, mortgages, releases and assignments, property liens, as well as, assorted federal, state and local liens. The Recorder’s office is responsible for the recordation and storage of plats of subdivision, land surveys and monument records. Many other types of miscellaneous documents are recorded, such as; foreign birth certificates, foreign marriage licenses, and military discharge paperwork to name a few. Mercer County Clerk has Birth / Death Records from 1877 and Marriage Records from 1835 and is located at the courthouse. Phone Number: (309) 582-7021 The County Clerk maintains records and issues certificates of vital statistics (birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage certificates) for the entire County. |
Newsletter Editor
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Mercer County Historical Society Story of Marsh Journals:two-part series examining the journals of early Mercer County settler William A.B. Marsh and his son, Wilson V. Marsh.
5th Grade Tours
Inside Essley-Noble Museum
MCHS Ice Cream Social
RMA PHOTO GALLERY
Illinois Societies |
Henry Co.,ILKnox Co.Louisa Co.,IAMercer Co.,ILOld Map of Mercer County
Rock Island Co.,ILHenderson Co.,ILWarren Co.,IL |
INDIANA STATEWIDE MARRIAGE INDEX THRU 1850
Social Security Death Index |
Surname Index |
Cemetery Index |
IL Cemetery Locations |
War of 1812 Military Tract MAP |
Moline Public Library Genealogy Department |
Rock Island County Historical Society |
| Illinois State Genealogical Society |
