Welcome to Madison County ILGenWeb
Madison County ILGenWeb Coordinator - Beverly Bauser
Welcome
to the newly designed Madison County ILGenWeb website! In
the weeks, and months ahead, I will be adding new material and
improving this website to make it more organized and informational for you. I hope you will visit often, as new
information will be added regularly. Don't be alarmed if you
discover one of your favorite pages has disappeared - it will
return soon! ~Bev Bauser,
Coordinator
BRIEF HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Named after James Madison, the fourth President of the United
States and father of our Constitution, Madison County was
established in the Illinois Territory on September 14, 1812 from Randolph and St. Clair Counties. At the
time it was established, Madison included all of the modern
state of Illinois north of St. Louis, as well as all of
Wisconsin, part of Minnesota, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In
1814, the formation of Edwards County removed almost half of the
eastern part, and the final boundary change came in 1843, when a
small portion on the northeast corner of Madison County became
part of Bond County.
On September 19, 1812, Illinois Territory Governor Ninian Edwards appointed Isam Gilham as the first Sheriff of Madison County, with William Rabb, John G. Lofton, and Samuel Judy as judges; and Josiah Randall as Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas. Josiah Randall was named Recorder, and Robert Elliott, Thomas G. Davidson, William Gilham, and George Cadwell were appointed Justices of the Peace.
Edwardsville, the county seat, was laid out in 1815 on the site designated by Governor Edwards in his proclamation organizing the county. It was named in his honor, and later became his residence.
VISIT OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES: Jersey Macoupin Montgomery Bond Clinton St. Clair All Illinois Counties
USGENWEB LINKS: ILGenWeb Project ILGenWeb Archives USGenWeb Project World GenWeb