Throughout 2018 we're celebrating the Illinois State Genealogical Society's 50th anniversary and the Illinois Bicentennial! As we honor our Illinois ancestors, we'll be sharing names of people who settled in Illinois in or before 1818 from our popular Prairie Pioneers project each month until December 2018. This is the second post in our Prairie Pioneers series. To view the other names, click the Prairie Pioneers Certificates tag.
Here are some of our earliest Prairie Pioneers:
|
SURNAME
|
FIRST
NAME
|
COUNTY
|
YEAR
|
|
STEELE
|
John
|
Randolph
|
1798
|
|
CAMP
|
Ichabod,
Rev. Dr.
|
Clinton
|
1799
|
|
PULLIAM
|
Robert
|
Randolph
|
1799
|
|
CRAIN
|
James
|
Randolph
|
1800
|
|
CRAIN
|
John
Benjamin
|
Randolph
|
1800
|
|
JONES
|
Claiborne
|
Sangamon
|
1800
|
|
SHOOK
|
Lawrence
|
St.
Clair
|
1800
|
|
STALLINGS
|
Henry
|
St.
Clair
|
1800
|
|
MCDOWELL
|
James
|
St.
Clair
|
1801
|
|
BOUCHER
|
John/Jack
|
St.
Clair
|
1802
|
|
CAIMS
|
William
|
St.
Clair
|
1802
|
|
COMPTON
|
Levi
|
Wabash
|
1802
|
|
GILLHAM
|
John
|
Madison
|
1802
|
|
GRAYHAM
|
Levi
|
Alexander
|
1802
|
|
GREENE
|
George
|
Randolph
|
1803
|
|
GREENE
|
John
|
Randolph
|
1803
|
|
GREENE
|
Lucy
Jones
|
Randolph
|
1803
|
|
HUNSAKER
|
Abraham
|
Union
|
1803
|
|
JARVIS
|
John
|
St.
Clair
|
1803
|
|
KIRKPATRICK
|
Thomas
Newton
|
Madison
|
1803
|
|
PRIMM
|
Elizabeth
H.
|
St.
Clair
|
1803
|
|
PRIMM
|
John
|
St.
Clair
|
1803
|
|
PRIMM
|
Thomas
|
St.
Clair
|
1803
|
|
RADCLIFF
|
Edward
|
Randolph
|
1803
|
|
BANKSON
|
James
|
St.
Clair
|
1804
|
|
BRADLEY
|
William
H.
|
St.
Clair
|
1804
|
|
DUNCAN
|
Joseph
|
Madison
|
1804
|
|
ESTES
|
Joseph
|
Franklin
|
1804
|
|
FINLEY
|
John
|
Pope
|
1804
|
|
HUITT
|
John
|
St.
Clair
|
1804
|
|
JORDAN
|
Elias
|
Franklin
|
1804
|
|
MCBRIDE
|
William
Sr.
|
Randolph
|
1804
|
|
ROBINETT
|
Enoch
|
Greene
|
1804
|
As a way of honoring the National Bicentennial, the Illinois State Genealogical Society created the Prairie Pioneer certificate program. A Prairie Pioneer is a person who settled in Illinois any time prior to statehood (1818) through the year of 1880, and whose direct lineage can be proven from the applicant back to the pioneer generation.
About Prairie Pioneers:
There are three styles of certificates:
- Pre-Statehood certificates receive an embossed gold seal and blue ribbon.
- 1819-1850 certificates receive an embossed gold seal.
- 1850-1880 receive an embossed certificate.
How to Apply:
A primary proof of residence is required for the Pioneer. This means a document that bears the date, location in Illinois and the pioneer’s name. The most common forms of primary proof of residence includes census records, land records, other official governmental records and church sacramental records, and in some cases, early family bible records.
Each birth, marriage and death must be proven with a document for each generation. Secondary sources, such as newspaper obituaries, wedding announcements, and birth announcements, may be used if necessary.
Complete an application and a straight line lineage chart. A fee is charged for each application. Additional family members may apply at the same time for a reduced fee by completing the application packet and submitting their proofs together with the first applicant’s package. The fee is $20.00 for the first certificate and $10.00 for additional certificates completed at the same time.
All applicants should check the ISGS Prairie Pioneer database to see if their ancestor has already been proven. If so, you would only have to submit proofs up to the point you intersect with the prior approved application.
Requesting Prairie Pioneer records:
It is possible to purchase a copy of the supporting documentation for the Illinois Prairie Pioneers appearing in our database. The cost of purchasing a Prairie Pioneer file is $25.00 for ISGS members and $35.00 for nonmembers.
Prairie Pioneer files can contain a wealth of information. Some applicants submit tons of documents, beyond what is required, and some that are not proofs at all. Some send photos of relatives. Some send proof documents for the spouses in addition to the direct line. Other applicants may just send enough to get the certificate. For privacy reasons, ISGS redacts information on anyone who is under 110 years old and does not have a proof of death on file.
If you are interested in purchasing a copy of a file, please submit a written request to ISGS, PO Box 10195, Springfield, IL 62791-0195. The request should include the name of the Pioneer and the Pioneer Number (both from the Certified Prairie Pioneer database). Include the relevant fee payable to Illinois State Genealogical Society.
The holdings of Illinois State Genealogical Society’s certificate programs may prove to be most helpful in your research. It is certainly an area you don’t want to overlook!
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