McDonough County Lineage Certificates

The McDonough County Genealogical Society takes pride in offering the McDonough County First Citizens Program to honor early McDonough County families.  Your work in proving your ancestor’s early years will be preserved for future generations by the MCGS.

Your application and accompanying documentation will make a significant contribution to the record of our county’s heritage and your family’s participation in that heritage. Upon approval of your application, your paperwork will be sealed for restricted access to ensure information about living individuals is not accessible to the general public.

Founding Citizen

Ancestor proven to have resided in McDonough County in 1830 or before.

Pioneer Citizen

Ancestor proven to have resided in McDonough County in 1850 or before.

Civil War Citizen

Ancestor was a Civil War Veteran either from McDonough County or a veteran that later resided in the county.

Century Citizen

Ancestor proven to have resided in McDonough County in 1900 or before and has descendants still living in McDonough County.

In order to comply with genealogical standards of evidence, we ask that all applications include a complete set of the supporting documentation for all generations from yourself to the ancestor you are honoring. Please send only photocopies of the documents. The application may be shared with other genealogists, however, information on living persons and those born within the past 100 years will be withheld.

 All applications and supporting documentation become the property of the McDonough County Genealogical Society. Applicants need not be members of MCGS. Each application must include a non-refundable fee of $20.00 U.S.

McDonough County First Citizens Application